Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-12-15
GINGER NUTS.

The king of Macronia (the land of
macaroons), who for some time had
been in the prime of life, had just arisen
and was seated undressed beside his
bed. His house minister was there and
handed him his hose. In the heel of one
sock was hole. The king was won't to
pay more attention to his beautiful
boots than to whole socks. However,
the hole did not escape his sharp eyes,
In disgust he took the sock out Of the
minister's hand and pushed his fore
finger through the hole clear up to his
knuokle, saying:
tOf what use is it that ] am king
since I have no wife? What do you say
to my marrylng?"
"Your majesty, that is sublime
thought thought that would certain
~ have occurred to me. if may make
SO bold, had not felt that your maj.
esty most assuredly would deign to
utter it for yourself. I"
"Beautifulp replied the king. "But
do You believe that l shall be able to
find wife suitable for me?''
HPoohI Ten where others could find
but one p said the courtier.
ga princess to please me must be
clever and beautiful, and there is one
point on which I lay especial stress
You know how fond am of gingernuts
In my whole kingdom there is not a
person who understands how to bake
them exactly right, and the princess
whom choose must know how to do
this to perfection. +"
When the minister heard this, he
gave a whistle of dismay, but quickly
collecting himself said:
"A king like your majesty will with
out doubt find a princess who under
stands how to bake ginger nuts"
'sWe shall see, we shall seep' said
the king, and on the very same day, ac-
companisd by the minister, be began a
tour Of the kingdoms of his different
neighbors whom he knew had prin-
cesses to give in marriage.
Only three princesses were found who
we're beautiful and clever enough to
suit the king, and of these not one could
bake ginger nuts.
81 really cannot bake ginger nuts, y
said the first princess in answer to the
kings question, "but can make beau
tiful little almond cakes. Wouldn I
those suit you?"
enc" replied the king. II must have
ginger nuts. -
The second princess in reply to the
same question Knocked at the king and
said angrily:
"What nonsense Prinoesses who can
bake ginger nuts do not existl"
The king Jared worse at the hands OF
the third, who was the most beautiful
and the most charming.
She gave the king no opportunity tc
ask his question, but took things into
her own hands and demanded whether
he knew how to play on the jews harp,
and when he said be did not she sent
him away. He pleased her very much,
she admitted, but she was SO extrava-
gantly fond of the music of the jews
harp that she would never marry man
that could not play it.
The king and his minister returned
home, and as they alighted from their
| carriage the king said:
| "Nothing has come Of all this" |"
Nothing, your majesty said the
minister mournfully.
"What shall do?'' sighed the king.
81 must have a wife.
'.If you would only give up the ginger
nuts, " ventuTed the minister timidly.
''For the good of my people Wilt"
exclaimed the noble king, and he re-
solved to marry the princess whom he
had first sought.
"She is the one who knows how tc
bake almond cakes, he said. go and
ask her if she will be my wife.
The minister went, returned the next
day, and said she was no longer in the
matrimonial market, for she had mar
ried the king Of the Land of Capers.
"Then go to the second princess, y
said the king. Again the minister re-
turned without having accomplished
anything, for this princess had died.
Then tho king thought long time.
He absolutely must have wife, SO he
ordered the minister to go to the third
princess and see if she had changed he,
mind. The minister obeyed, though be
did it unwillingly, for his wife assured
him that his errand was a useless one.
The king anxiously awaited his re-
| turn. His mind was on her question
concerning the jews harp, and the re-
membranoe of it was most annoying.
The third princess received the min
lister very cordially. She said she had
changed her mind about marrying 9
man who could play the jews harp.
dreams are but vain and empty
things, especially those of youth. .
She realized that her wish could moi
be fulfilled, and as the king pleased
her she had decided to marry him.
The minister rode home as fast as hil