The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-01-27
miscellaneous
GINGER NUTS.

The king of Macronia (the land of
macaro ons), 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 u hole. Tie king was
wont 10 pa, more attention to his
beautiful boots than to whole socks.
However, the hole did not escape his
sharp eyes. In disgust he took the
suck out of the minister's hand and
pushed his iorefinser through the hole
clear up to his knuckle, saying:
OF what use is it That L am king
since have no wife? What DO yoa
say 70 my ln9rrSipgY
YOUR majesty, that is 81 sublime
thought, a thought that would certain
ly have occurred to me, if l may ina Ike
so bold, had not felt that your majes
ty most assuredly would deign TO utter
it tor yourself"
Beautiful ~ replied he king. But
do you believe that should be able 10
find wife suitable for me?'
Pooh Ten where others could find
but ouer' said the courtier.
"a princess to please me must be
clever and beautiful, and there is one
point OF which / lay especial stress {:
You know how fond l am of ginger
nuts. In my Whole kingdom there is
not person who understands how to
bake them exactly right, and tie prin-
cess 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:
~ king like y our aJesty will with
out doubt iiud IL princess who under
stands how to bake ginger-nuts."
1--WE shall see, we shall zee ~ said the
king, and on the very same day, ac-
companied by the minister, he began
tour of the Kingdoms of his different
neighbors whom he knew had prin-
cesses To give III marriage.
Only three princesses were found
who were beautiful and clever enough
to suit the king, and Of these not one
could bake gipger-nuts.
II really cannot bake ginger-nuts, "
said the first princess in ans wer to the
kings question, but | can make
beautiful little almoni cakes
Wouldn't those suit you -
No" replied the king. II must
have ginger-nuts."
The second princess in reply to the
same..question Knocked at the king and
said angIily:
What nonsense Princesses who
can bake ginger-nuts do not exist ~
The king Jared worse at the hands
of the third, who was the most beauti-
full and most charming.
| She gave the king no opportunity to
| ask his quest on, but took things into
| her own hands and demanded whether
| he knew how to play on the jewsharp,
| and when he said he 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 a
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 l do - sighed the king.
II must have a wife"
"If you would only give up the
ginger-nuts,' ventured the minister
timidly.
For the good of my people l will ~
| exclaimed the noble king, and he re,
solved to marry the princess whom he
had first sought.
She is the one who knows how to
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 20 to the second princess
said the king. Again the minister re
turned without having accomplished
anything, for this princess had died.
Then the king thought long time
He absolutely must have wife, SO he
ordered the minister to 20 to the thrC
princess and see if she had changed hel
mind. The minister obeyed, though
he did it unwillingly, for his wife as
sured him that his errand was useless
one.
The king anxiously awaited his re
turn. His mind was on the question
concerning the jewsharp, and the re
membrauce of il was most annoying
The third princess received the min
lister very cordially. She said she hat
changed her mind about marrying
man who could play the jewsharp.
dreams are but vain and empt,
things, especially these OF youth"
She realized that her wish could no
be fulfilled, and as the king pleases
her she had decided to marry him.
The ministe rode home as fast as hi
horse could 20, and the king embrace,
him, and conferred so many decora
tiOns on him that he had to wear SOM
of them on his head.
The town was trimmed with bunt
ing, gariands were thrown across TIN
streets from house to house, and tn
, marriage was SO splendidly celebrated