North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-03-31
The Happy Pair.

The Happy Pair.
The following sketch, neat specimen
of brevity in story telling, is from the last
number Of Cassells Magazine:
Perhaps the happest couple in all the
world was King Cos and his queen Los.
He was kind, and good, and rich, and was
always making feasts for tho queen, and
giving her presents of jewels and dresses,
and dainty sweetmcats. As for the queen,
everything she did pleased King Cos, and
he thought she was the lairest and best
wife who ever lived but this was because
the kings eyes had been bewitched, and
had film over them, for nobody else
thought well of the queen. She was SO
cross that her maids were afraid Of her;
so ugly that no one liked to look at her
yet so vain and proud that the courticrs
had to pay her compliments every time
they came to the palace.
But to King Cos she seemed the model
of all goodness. lie gave her a rich purse
of gold, and said, "My dear queen, you
can spend this better than l can" He
gave her new flute to play on, and said,
"Your voice is swceter than the bulburs.'
lie brought her rich dresses, and said,
"These are for the loveliest of women"
One smile fram her lips, or one kiss, more
than paid him for all his trouble. So
King Cos and his queen Los lived very
happily for many years.
Now King Cos did not think he had
much wisdom, so he let Qlcen Los sit on
throne next to him whenever he talked
with his ministers of state, and King Cos
used to think that she spoke more wisely
than they all. As !or the ministers of
state and the courtiers, they talked with
one another and said, "Thc queen is as
stupid as she is ugly. She is as silly as
she is vain. But it is no business of ours.
The king may think just what he likes"
and wondered why the king did not see
found out that the kings eyes had been
bewitched. Then said the doctor to him
self, "Now can reach to high fortune.
1t looks very silly of the king to have
such stupid queen sitting by his side in
the council. l will cure his eyes, and
save him from that. 1t looks very silly of
the king to kiss such a cross, ugly old
woman. will cure his eyes, and then he
will not make himself so foolish any more;
and he will give me lot of money, and
make me great minister, because he will
know how clever am"
Taen the court doctor went and mixed
a lotion in the kings bath, and every day
when King Cos bathea, the film on his
eyes became thinner and thinner, and at
last all passed away. Meanwhile every
day the king liked Queen Los less ard less,
and at last he was quite angry with her,
and thought she had grown stupid, and
vain, and ugly all at once; and the king
was very, very sorry.
"Why have you changed like this?"
said he to the queen. IL cannot love you
if you talk so stupidity, and it you dress
so vainly and look so ugly. Turn back to
what you used to be, and then | will love
you"
"You stupid king, have not altered at
all y said the queen. sit is you who have
altered, and grown silly. These yellow
before; and my hair is the same dye; and
my voice, and my songs, and everything
is just the same. So why don't you love
me, end give me presents rs you used to-
This made the king very angry and very
grieved and he would not let Queen Los
sit on her throne that day, ard all the
courtiers saw that he looked very thought
full and very sad.
Now the court doctor had been waiting
for this to happen; so now he felt sure
that his fortune was made, and he went
into the secret chamber to sec the king.
"May it please your majesty" said the
court docter. sit is | who have cured your
eyes, so that you can see her royal high
ness Queen Los as she really is, because l
thought it u great shame that your majes
ty should be deceived, and look so foolish
before all the courtiers."
And then the doctor tod all about the
matter, and asked the king to make him a
great minister Of state, because he was SO
clever.
But the king sat silent and very unhap-
ry long time, and then he said
"Are you clever enough to cover my
eyes with the film again?' .
"No one in the world can do that, your
majesty" answered the doctor.
"What can be done, then, if do not
wish to sec how vain, and silly, and ugly
my wife really ?" asked the king.
'!lIave her head chopped off, and marry
a beautiful princess instead" said the
doc o.; "or put her away into a dark
dungeon"
"No," said the king. III will not do
that, for used to love her once. Is there
nothing that could be done to my eyes, to
prevent my seeing the queens faults?''
"Nothing, your majesty" replied the
doctor, 'except having your eyes put out"
"You have been very clever" said the
,, king. "Come into the council tomorrow,
and will reward you with place above
all my ministers of state"
Then the doctor went away rubbing his
hands, because his fortune was made.
The next day, all the ministers and
courtiers were assembled, and Queen Los
herself too, and the king commanded the
curt doctor to explain all that had hap
pened. And all the courticrs looked very
sorry. AS for the queen, at first she was
very angry, and then she began to cry.
"What reward do you expect for all
this? % said the king to the doctor.
"Your gracious and excellent majesty
has promised me place above all the
ministers of state," answered the doctor,
because have shown myself clever in
caring for your sacred majesty's hoaor
and dignity"
Then the king gave signal to Lis SER
wants, and they put a strong rope round
tic neck Of the court doctor, and swung
him up to place over the heads of the
ministers Of state, and there he hung till
he was dead.
And this is all the king said to him be-
fore he was swung up
What is the use of curing a man of his
H.,