Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-03-01
The Queen Who Couldn't Bake Gin.
gerbread.

| Inc hlHg OF MacdrOnl got up one
morning and sat on the edge of the bed.
The Lord Chamberlain stood before
him, and handed him his stockings, one
of which had IA great hole in the heel.
The stocking WAS artfully turned so
that the hole should not be visible to his
majesty's eyes, and though the King
generally didn't mind ragged stocking
as long as he had pretty boots, this time,
however, the hole attracted his atten-
tion. Horrified, he tore the stocking out
of the Lord Chamberlain's grasp. and
poking his forefnger through the hole
as far as the knHckle, he remarked, with
sigh, What is the use of being king,
if have no queenP What would You
say if should marry?"
"The idea is sublime, your majesty"
the Lord Chamberlain said, humbly.
"But do you think shall easily lind q
suitable wife?" asked the King.
Good gracious, yes! ten to one" was
tie reply.
Don't forget that am not easily sat
isfied. If am to like the Princess, she
must be very wise and beautiful. Then
there is another and very important
condition. You know how fond am Of
gingerbread There isn't person in
my kingdom who understands how to
bake it-at least, to bake it to turA, so
that it is neither too hard nor too soft.
but just crisp enough. The condition is,
the Princess must know how to bake
gingerbread.
The Lord Chamberlain was terribly
frightened on hearing this, but be man
aged to say that, without doubt, such a
princess could be found.
"Very WELL" said the King; suppose
we begin the search together" And
that afternoon, in company with the
Lord Chamberlain, he visited the neigh
boring sovereigns who were known to
have spare princesses to give away.
Among them all were but three who |
were both wise and beautiful enough to |
please the King. And, unhappily, none
of them could bake gingerbread
81 can not bake gingerbread, but
can make the nicess little almond cake |
you ever saw" said the first Princess.
Wont that do?"
No, it must be gingerbread" said the
King.
The second Princess, when the King
asked her. made up dreadful face, and
said, angrily, There is not princess in
the world who can bake gingerbread-l
gingerbread, indeedp
The King Jared worst when he asked
the third Princess, though she was the
wisest and fairest of all. She gave him
no chance to ask his question; even be-
fore he had opened his mouth, she de-
manded if he could play on the from
bone. When he acknowledged that he
could not, she said she was really sorry,
but that she could not marry him, as he
wouldn't suit. She liked him we'll
enough, but she dearly loved to hear the
trombone played, and she had decided
never to marry any man who couldn't
play it.
The King drove home with 1.-THE Lord
Chambelain, and as he stepped out Of
the carriage he said, quite discouraged,
$50 we are about as far in our plans as
we were before"
However, as king must have queen,
after time he sent for the Lord Cham
berlain again, and acknowledged that he
had resigned all hope of marrying a
princess who could bake gingerbread.
81 will marry the Princess who can bake
nice almond cakes" he added. Go, and
ask her If she will be my wife,"
When the Lord Chamberlain returned,
the next day, he told his majesty that
the Princess was no more to be had, as
she had already married.
So the Chamberlain was sent to the
second Princess, but be came back equal
ly unsuccessful, for the King, her faith
er, regretted to say that his daughter
was dead.
After this the King pondered a good
deal, but as he really wished to have
B queen, he commanded the Lord Cham
berIain to go to the third Princess. "Per- ,
haps she has changed her mind" he
thought.
The third Princess received the Lord
very graciously, and re-
marked that she had once decided never q
TO marry man who could not play the |
trombone. But that was dream,-a
youthful, idle dream. she sighed. a hope
never to be realized. and as she liked I
,he King in spite of this awback, why
she would marry him.
The Lord Chamberlain whipped up {
his horses and tere down the road to the G
palace, where the King. overjoyed at the t
good tidings, embraced his faithful SER 9