The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-02-03
GINGER NUTS.

Il Ill Cu6 pTlLuc VI liC, udu Juob diioCu anu
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 wont 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 hand and
pushed his forefnger through the hole
clear up to his knuckle, saying:
"Of what use is it that 1 am king since
have no wife? What do you say to nly
marrying?"
"Your majesty, that is a sublime
thought, a thought that would certainly
have occurred to me. if | may make so
bold, had not felt that your majesty
most assuredly would deign to utter it for
yourself.
Beautiful p replied the king. "But
do you believe that shall be able TO find
a wife suitable for me p
''Pooh Ten where others could find
but one p said the courtier.
"a 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 nay
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
whistle of dismay, but quickly collecting
himself said
"a king like your majesty will without
doubt find princess who understands how
to bake ginger nuts.
'sWe shall see, we shall see : said the
king, and on the very same day, accom-
panied by the minister, he began tour of
the Kingdoms of his different neighbors
whom he knew had princesses 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
king question, s'but can make beauti-
fuI little almond cakes. Wouldn't those
suit your
"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:
ssWhat nonsense Processes who can
bake ginger nuts do not exist p
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 jews harp, and when
he said he did not she sent him away.
He pleased her very much, she admitted,
but she was SO extravagantly fond of 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 aEghted from their
carriage the king said:
Nothing has come of all thisp'
Nothing, your majesty said the
minister mournfully.
ssWhat shall do?' sighed the king.
~ must have wife.
eff you would only give up the ginger
nuts, ventured the minister timidly.
"For the good of my people l will r
exclaimed the noble king, and he resolved
to marry the princess whom he had first
sought.
'sShe is the one who knows how to
bake almond cakes he said. go and
ask her if she viii be my wife,
The minister went, returned the next
day, and said she was no longer in the
matrimonial market. for she had married
; the king of the Land of Capers.
J 'sThen go to the second princess, sale
the king. Again the minister returned
without having accomplished anything,
) for this princess had died.
Then the king thought long time
, He absolutely must have wife, SO he or
} dered the minister to go to the third prin
cess and see if she had changed her mind
The minister obeyed, though he did it un
willingly, for his wife assured him that hi
: eIIduu was a useless one.
$ The king anxiously awaited his return
o His mind was on her question concerning
e the jews harp, and the remembrance O
: it was most annoying.
The third princess received the ministe
o very cordially. She said she had changet
: her mind about marrying man who coult
play the jews harp.
s dreams are but vain and empty things
: especially those Of youth.
4 She realized that her wish could not b
t fulfilled, and as the king pleased her sh,
$ bad decided to marry him.
The minister rode home as fast as hi
: horse could go, and the king embraces
, him, and conferred SO many decoration
on him that he had to wear some of then
: on his head.
The town was trimmed with bunting
garlands were thrown across the street
a from house to house, and the marriag
S was SO splendidly celebrated that the PEG
$ pie could talk of nothing else for fort
I night
a All went well with the king and queer
for year. The king had quite forgotten
his ginger nuts and the queen her jew
Q harp.
However, the king got out Of bed on
! morning with the wrong foot foremost
t and after that, of course, all went wrong
It rained the entire day; the imperial glob
fell down and the little cross on the toI
broke off; the court painter brought ne'
| pl0be ON which Macropia WAS oainfad re-,