The Somerset reporter., 1899-01-05
GINGER NUTS.

Inc KING OF MaCrOnla tine lana 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:
"Of what use is it that l am king
since have no wife? What do you say
to my marrying"
Your majesty, that is a sublime
thought, thought that would certain
ly have occurred TO me, if / may make
80 bold, had l not felt that your maj
esty most assuredly would deign to
utter it for yourself +"
Beautiful replied the king But
do you believe that / shall be able to
find wife suitable for me?"
Pooh Ten where others could find
but one" said the courtier.
IA princess to please me must be
clever and beautiful and there is one
point on which | 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 l 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"
1--WE shall see, we shall see" said
the king, and on the very same day, &C
companied 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
were beautiful and clever enough to
suit the king, and of these not one could
bake ginger nuts.
81 really cannot bake ginger nuts
kings question. "but | can make beau
tiful little almond cakes Wouldn't
those suit you"
no replied the king. Il must have
ginger nuts.
The second princess in reply to the
same question Knocked at the king and
said angrily:
"What nonsense! Processes who can
bake ginger nuts do not exist -
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 to
ask his question. but took things into
her own hands and demanded whether
he knew how to play on the jew 4 harp,
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 marrya 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
II must have wife.
"If you would only give up he ginger
nuts, ventuIed the minister timidly.
For the good of my people | 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. SEQ and
ask her if she will be my wife. -
The minister Went returned the next
day, and said she was no longer N the
matrimonial market, for she bad mar
lied the king of the Land of Capers.
"Then go 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 a long time
He absolutely must have wife, so he
ordered the minister to go to the third
princess and see if she had changed her
mind The minister obeyed, though he
did it unwillingly, for his wife assured
him that his errand was useless one.
The king anxiOusly awaited his re
turn His mind was on her question
concerning the jews harp. and the re
membrance of it was most annoying.