The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-01-15
A FAIRY TALE.
BY ALEXANDER RICKETTS,.

Inc Ming was lOsl IN gloomy renee
tion. His crown was pulled down over
his eyes until 1t rested upon his royal
nose. his mustaches dropped limp and
discouraged. and even his golden
sceptre dangled loose and disconsolate
from his listless fingers.
IN do III" he exclaimed, bitterly,
at last IN be beheaded If | don't!"
lie pushed his crown back deter
minedly twisted up his mustaches
hercely, and glared around defantly.
I'll strike, that's what III d." he
announced, banging his golden sceptre
yehementy on the onyx arm Of his
throne. If every hodcarrier and ditch
digger and laborer in my happy realm
has a right to strike for what he wants,
why can't l. | won't stand it, anl |
will strike"
At these dreadful words the queen
shuddered, the little princess nearly
had a convulsion. and her goyerness
grew rigid with disapproyal.
As the king observed the consterna-
ton his awful threat produced he re-
Tented sufficiently to explain why be
felt the way he did.
Its no USE" he said, apologetically,
Il really can't go on this way any
longer. It's nothing but spend. spend.
spend, without a minutes let up, and
my beloved subjects won't stop paying
their taxes. They will pay EN-, moth
ing will induce 'em to stop. You'd
think 1t was the only pleasure thay
have. don't see what fun there is in
paying taxes myself, but they seem to
think It's the only bliss there Is in
life. They won't even swear some OF
EN- on, or dodge EN-, OF try to avoid
'em in any way but 90 right on year
after year cheerfully paying 'em up in
full, without any rebate even. Conse-
quenuy It keeps me lying awake
nights planning and calculating, and
figuring how to spend all the money.
I've got an army now 19 times bigger
than | have any use for, my navy Is
so enormous II chokes up all the har-
bors so nobody else can use 'em, I've
built new palaces til they're planted
so thick you can't breathe on account
of EN- II you step out Of doors; but |
no sooner get the treasury empty and
think I'm going to have a little peace
and comfort at last and maybe a few
lays holiday. than a new lot Of taxes
'omes pouring in and swamps me
again. | can't, and won't, and shan't
stand it any longer, and | will strike
II my subjects have to pay taxes to be
happy, let 'em get somebody else for a
iing, I'm through; or else turn this
nto a republic. and have to spend the
money themselves, and serve 'em
light"
The queen gasped. the little princess |
screamed, and the governess was al
most too shocked to speak-but that |
vas too much to hope for.
Sire" she demanded, fixing her eye
,lasses more firmly on her nose and ey-
ng him severely. why do not you
edict remitting all taxes.
nd forbidding anyone to pay under
lenalty Of being hung, instead Of maxi
ng a-er-hem-of yourself7"
Because can't. blast the luckl" re-
orted the king. impatently. Il tried
o, but the Lord High Sprag wouldn't |.
OF me. He says that taxation Is the
Of all governments, Just as
II governments are founded on taxa
ion; therefore they are so interde-
endent and correlated that If you de-
troy either you put an end to the 9th
r. and the result must be anarchy pure
nd simple There" he added under
is breath, Il hope thatll squelch her.
t did me-"
But the goyerness only smiled a gu
erior smile. fixed her eye glasses more
rmly on her nose. and began, didac-
cally, Doubtless, sire"
"Oh, excuse me. but can spare only
moment" interrupted a thin, high.
lusical voice. and all Immediately be-
anne conscious that an unmistakable
liry was addressing the king.
Il am your fairy godmother Whad-
,rdew otherwise known as the Mother
Z Invention" continued the voice.
and come only to those in the direst
Your majesty finds your
oney a burden? Then send your wife
nd family Immediately to that seaside
sort recommended by your friends IS
le cheapest they ever knew to spend
le summer"
Thanks. thanks, thanks!" cried the
ng, all his gayety returning. "Whatll
ou have to-er-that is, how can re-
ard your"
But the fairly had gone. suu. the
ieen was smiling joyously, the little
fncess giggled rapturously. and only {
.e governess shifted superciliously.- q
Y. Times.