Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-09-08
GINGER NUTS.

Inc king OF MacrOnla (the land Of
m%acaroons), who for some time haG
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 a hole. The king was won't tc
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 I am king
since / have no wife? What do you say
to my marrylng?"
"Your majesty, that is a sublime
thought, a thought that would certain
ly have occurred to me, if l may make
so bold, had l not felt that your mai.
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 a wife suitable for me?"
"Poohl Ten where others could find
but onep' said the courtier.
"a princess to please me must be
clever and beautiful, and there is one
point on which l lay especial stress:
You know how fond I am Of gingernuta
In my whole kingdom there is not a
person who understands how to bake
them exactly right, and the princess
whom I 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.
II really cannot bake ginger nuts"
said the first princess in answer to the
kings question, "but I can make beau.
tiful little almond 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 angrily:
"What nonsense! Princesses who can
bake ginger nuts do not existr"
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 Oh the jews harp,
and when he said he did not she sent
him away. He pleased her very much,
she admitted. but she was SO extrava-
fond Of the music Of the jews
harp that she would never marry q man
chat 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 thisl"
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 be re-
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 IL she will be my wife,"
The minister went, returned the next
day, and said she was no longer in the
market, for she had mar
tied the king of the Land of Capers.
"Then 60 to the second princess"
said the king. Again the minister re-
without having accomplished
anything, for this princess had died.
Then the king thought a long time.
he absolutely must have a wife, so he
the minister to 60 to the third
and see if she had changed her
mind. The minister obeyed, though he
lid it unwillingly, for his wife assured
aim that his errand was a useless one.
The king anxiously awaited his re-
|urn. His mind was on her question
concerning the jews harp, and the re-
nembranoe Of it was most annoying.
The third princess received the min
ster very cordially. She said she had
her mind about marrying q
nan who could play the jews harp.
Dreams are but vain and empty :
especially those Of youth" |
She realized that her wish could not
70 fulfilled, and as the king pleased
Tor she had decided to marry him.
The minister rode home as fast az his }