The Advocate and news., 1898-09-07
BY MABLE DIccs.

are they unhappy? Indeed, have no
idea, having never thought of it,"
"Blockhead, get one at once, then!"
thundered the Man What do have
ministers for, il not to make the people
happy? Talk quick!"
Perhaps, then, replied the Lord, look
ing rather hurried and uncomfortable
perhaps it is because they are not con-
tent with-th lot Providence has placed
them in
Drive on!" shouted the Man, his little
red eyes flashing with angry fire. my
Ministers are a pack of know-nothings.
To the palace Of the Chief Justice, driv-
ers!"
The Chief Justice took the quill from
behind his ear, and carefully adjusted
his powdered periwig, before he could
think what answer to make to his SOW
ereign's inquiry.
"SuCh question" he said, slowly,
scratching his nose with the top of the
quill, " is little out Of my line. But
since you ask my opinion, will say that
the unhappiness of these people is due
TO the fact that, seeing other people bet
ter off than themselves, they are natur-
ally discOntented with their own lot"
Fools, fools, fools!" screamed the
Man, which so frightened the sedate
Judge that his periwig fell into the dust
and left his little bald head shining like
fresh apple. "Not a gouty Minister
do ! possess who has the good Of the
people at heart. To the Herds, drivers!"
k6n dc 4c A1
that part of the capital city of the Moon
where dwell the lower orders of the peo-
pie in dirt and squalor. On reaching this
quarter, the first person who caught the
Mans eye was bent old woman hard at
work over her tiny tub When she
caught sight of the Man, her heart
jumped into her throat, and she bowed
so low that she almost fell into the suds
why are you unhappy" demanded
the king.
At this the old woman bowed thrice
again, and said:
Pardon, o, Man; but why should you
think me unhappy"
Are you not unhappy, then?" asked
the Man.
''No, sire" rejoined the woman. az
work hard, to be sure; but have enough,
and the children love me. And you ought
to know what a good king we have.
"Humph!" said the Man, looking per-
picked; and the two courtiers smiled
again in their sleeves. "You are content
with your lot, then, suppose"
Indeed, o, Man, there are many
worse; and dare say it's as good as l
deserve" responded the woman cheer
fully.
But" said the Man, Certainly there
Is enough Of unhappiness and discomfort
hereabout for hear nothing else Of
late"
Plenty, plenty, o, Mani"
What is the reason Of that?"
why, sire, because they're not con
tented with their lot"
"Earthshine," muttered the Man.
They're not all. like me, o, Man." the
little woman went on. I'm most no.
body. I'm content. But you know, sire,
that there Is law which forbids all not
OF noble blood ever to hold Office under
the king or to possess more than a thou
sand moonstones, no matter how hard
they toll or how clever they may be.
And there are those among us-your par
don, sire-who feel that they don't have
fair chance in the Moon"
ITO the palace" shouted the Man; and
the driver pricked the cats so hard that
in a very few miutes they arrived. The
next day the Man assembled his entire
court, and read to them the following
proclamation, which he afterward caused
to be published throughout the length
and breadth of the kingdom.
BE 1t known that from this time