The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-06-13
GINGER NUTS.

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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
knuckle, saying:
"Of what use is it that am king
since have no wife? What do you say
to my marrylng?"
'Your majesty, that is a sublime
thought, thought that would certain
ly have occurred to me. if ! may make
SO bold, had I not felt that your maj
esty most assuredly would deign to
utter it for yourself"
Beautiful" replied the king. "But
do you believe that I shall be able to
find wife suitable for me?"
''Poohl Ten where others could find
but one!'' said the courtier.
"a 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
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
"We shall see, we shall see" said
the king, and Oh the very same day, ao-
companied by the minister, he 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
were beautiful and clever enough to
suit the king, and of these not one could
bake ginger nuts.
81 really cannot bake ginger nuts, u
said the first princess in answer to the
kings question, "but can make beau
tiful little almond cakes. Wouldn't
those suit you?''
"No," replied the king. Unjust have
ginger nuts"
The second princess in reply to the
same question Knocked at the king an6
said angrily:
"What nonsense! Princesses who car
| bake ginger nuts do not existp'
The king Jared worse at the hands o1
| the third, who was the most beautiful
and the most charming.
She gave the king no opportunity tt
| ask his question, but took things int
her own hands and demanded whethe
he knew how to play Oh the jews harp
and when he said he did not she sen
him away. He pleased her very much
she admitted, but she was SO extrava
gantly fond of the music of the jew
harp that she would never marry mai
that could not play it.
The king and his minister returned
home, and as they alighted from thei
carriage the king said:
1 In las COlIl0 VI all blllSl
Nothing, your majesty" said tn
minister mournfully.
"What shall do?' sighed the king
81 must have wife,
eff you would only give up the ginge
nuts,'' ventured the minister timidly.
"For the good of my people will 7
exclaimed the noble king, and he re
solved to marry the princess whom h
had first sought.
"She is the one who knows how
bake almond cakes," he said. go an
ask her if che will be my wife"
The minister went, returned the mex
day, and said she was no longer in th
matrimonial market, for she had maj
. ried the king of the Land of Capers.
"Then go to the second princess,
/. said the king. Again the minister re
turned without having accomplishe
anything, for this princess had died.
Then the king thought long time
He absolutely must have wife, SO b
ordered the minister to go to the thir
princess and see if she had changed ht
mind. The minister obeyed, though 1
did it unwillingly, for his wife assure
him that his errand was useless one.
The king anxiously awaited his r.
turn. His mind was OH her questlo
concerning the jews harp, and the r
membrance of it was most annoying.
The third princess received the mil
t lister very cordially. She said she ha
changed her mind about marrying
t man who could play the jews harp.
"Dreams are but vain and emp
things, especially those of youth.
She realized that her wish could n
be fulfilled, and as the king please
her she had decided to marry him.
The minister rode home as fast as b