, 1889-08-24

have forgotten eVerythlngI he could
not decline mensa, he could not parse n
common noun, he could not give the
multiplication of tens, he did not know
where London is. He was in an alarm
ing state of ignorance.
What have you lone TO himy" cried
the king in n fury, and dismissed the
professor-in-chief on the spot, while the
tutor was promoted to his place with
double salary.
What did l do, to be surey' muttered
the old man, as he crept away. land
why did not the charm work as well in
my hands as in hisy" After long thought
the truth suddenly flashed upon MIN. He
had rubbed in the wrong direction. Rub
bling from right to left had reversed the
charm. and had drawn out of poor Prince
Q~uickly's brain all the learning it had
ever contained. Having come to this
opinion, he did not despair, but watched
his chance.
The education of the princes, under
the new professor-in-chief, went on
charmingly, of course. Prince Slowboy
had gained such a start, through the
laundering application of the charm to
his brothers head. that he always kept a
little in advance Of him, though both
"tAp OtNOAAAA6 lAsADAt 6ahto. Nv MIX
was SO well satisfied that for some weeks
he had not examined the boys at all.
Such was the condition of affairs when
the princes, after a long ramble in the
woods, one hot day, lay down and fell
sound asleep. They were all alone. Not
quite alone, however. Soon, from be-
hind a large tree trunk peeped n great
pair of spectacles, and behind them the
----Il.-- -. - ~ Ia --E--
chief. On his back he carried an enor-
nous bundle of books. These unfasten-
ing, he sat down back of the two boys
as they lay OF the ground, and softly
and noiselessly, with wonderful swift
ness and patience, rubbed page after
page and volume after volume over the
heads of both princes, and in the wrong
direction. This done, with n chuckle he
gathered up his books and set off to the
kings palace.
Your majesty" said he to the king,
when admitted after some difficulty, 81
fear you are mistaken in regard to the
ability of the young man who occupies
at present the position of p~rofessor-in-
chief. His methods are questionable;
his results are therefore questionable.
May l inquire how recently you have
examined the princess"
And when the king confessed that it
was now some weeks since he had in
quired into their progress the old man
continued:
Then | advise you to investigate the
matter at once. Call the young man and
his pupils, and if everything is well l
will be off and never trouble you again"
The king thought this a very easy and
reasonable way of getting rid of the old
gentleman, and so he sent for the new
professor-in-chief and for the princes,
who had just returned, and proceeded at
once to ask questions.
Well, the result may be co~njectured.
Every trace of knowledge seemed to
nave vanished from the boys minds.
Indeed, they could scarcely read. Star
tied more and more, the king piled them
with every imaginable question. To
their own grief as well as his, they
found themselves absolutely ignorant.
Leave the palacel' shouted the king
to their dismayed teacher. "And, my
good sir, be pleased to resume your for
mer position as professor-in-chief, and
see what you can 10 for my poor sons,
if their minds are not utterly ruined"
"Your majesty" said the old gentle
man, Il will accept my former position
on condition that this young man be re-
tanned in your employment, and be Civ
en- equal honor with myself. We may
both be called professors, and there need
be no professor-in-chief. L nave learned
to admire his ability, and regret my un-
fairness in forcing him to teach only the
more stupid of your sons. We have
both been using magic, and l propose
we lay it aside from this moment, and
proceed on old fashioned principles"
81 agree, my dear SIR" cordially as
sented the former tutor, "for l fear that
this magic learning is Enthusiastically.
To be sure, it comes quickly, but it van
lshes as easily, l perceive. We nave
now an opportunity to make n fresh and
fair start with the princes, for their
knowledge is equal, since they both
know nothing. | promise your majesty
that though their future progress may
be slower than the past, it will be more
certain and satisfactory"
With this the two professors, the
young one and the old, retired from the
kings presence to consult and form plans
together for the education of the princes.
Having the rare opportunity of begin
ming again at the start after so much eN
perience with the same boys, they
thought that something wonderful should
be accomplished in the teachers art
And so it was; for the harmonious and
wise plans of the two professors, work
ing slowly but surely for many years,
gave the world two princes whose MAJ.
velous intelligence and wisdom were the
wonder, not only of the kingdom oveI
which they came to reign jointly, but OF
all men.
One word to my lazy readers and ]
nm lone. Doubtless the fairy charm OF
which l nave told you may appear so
tempting on the occasion of your next
hard lesson that you will wish to try it
on yourself, undismayed by its sad re-
suits in the case of the princes. But do
not venture. For everything depends
on moving the book from left to right,
but whether it is from left to right of
the book, or from the left to the right of