The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-30

that neither OF the soldiers Chick had
spoken with made any attempt to question
the child. But afterward our friends
found that one OF the established laws
Of the island forbade any of the people To
ask questions either OF strangers or OF
those inhabiting the country on the OPP
posite side Of the wall. However. they
were not forbidden TO answer any ques-
tions properly addressed to them, and
by nature both the tall people and the
short people were extremely courteous
and polite.
Chick decided this queer law was to blame
for the Misunderstanding between the two
nations, for, as neither country knew any
thing at all about the other one a feeling
Of mutual contempt and indifference had
arisen between them.
KIM DOUGH AND HIS COURT
After the conversation with the soldier
Chick went back to the hall OF the castle
n told John Dough and Para Bruin what
the man had said.
They all expect a wise and Just ruler
who is not made Of flesh and blood, " reported
the little one. so I guess it's up to you,
John, to run this island"
I'm surprised said Para Bruin, that
they do not prefer a King who is made Of
pure rubber and can bounce. But IL they
wan John Dough instead Of me I'm willing
to yield in his favor"
you shall be my Chief Counsellor re-
piled John, only l reserve the right to act
As I please In case I do not like the ~counsels
you Offer
THAT is entirely fair and reasonable
declared Para Bruin, -and l thank you for
the honor you confer upon me-
I'm going to be Head Booleywag.' said
Chick gravely.
whats that?' asked John.
IT'S the one that rules the ruler said
the smiling Cherub. so just behave your
~selves-you and your Chief Counsellor-and
you'll both find 1 know my business"
Thereupon the child led John Dough to
the-KIng's attiring room and hunted in the
closets until a fine ermine robe and q crown
and sceptre were discovered. The crown
was q little furnished from lack Of use, but
the jewels in 1t still sparkled brightly, 80
the bear set 1t upon Johns head and put
the sceptre in his right hand.
Chick folded the ermine robe around him
In such a way that his missing left hand was
not noticed and then they led the ginger
bread man to the great hall and placed him
oil the royal throne.
He might have looked more digniied had
not his nose been badly Clipped and his left
glass eye so loose in its socket that IL rolled
every way but the right way; however. the
robe concealed the fact that his shirt front
was soiled and cracked n that several
lozenge buttons had broken of during his
recent adventures.
But kingly robes and a kingly crown
cover many defects, and when Para Bruin
and the Cherub stood back and took a oriti-
cal look at their friend they felt quite proud
Of his regal appearance.
When all had been made ready and John
was seated on the throne Chick went to the
west door Of the castle hall and threw IL
open and at the same time Para Bruin
opened wide the east door. Then together
they cried out to the people:
The King has come! Enter his castle,
all ye, Hilanders and Lolanders, and greet
the new ruler in a fitting manner"
So the tail and slender people trooped in
at one door and the short and fat people
trOoped in at the other, and all gazed with
awe and reverence at the strange form of
the gingerbread King, who was surely not
flesh and blood and might easily be a wise
and just ruler.
There was no disputing the fulhlment Of
the prophecy; 40 all bowed humbly before
John, whom Chick introduced to his sub
jects in a shrill, childish voice as King
Dough the First. Ruler of the Twin King
doms Of Inland and Loland.7
Afterward there were ~feasting and re-
ioicihR in both cities, and John made a
royal procession on both sides Of the great
wall, being everywhere ~sreceived with
shouts of enthusiastic JOY.
The gingerbread man proved a very
successful ruler; and, az neither he nor
Para Bruin ate anything and Chick re-
turned to a diet Of oatmeal and cream, the
Kings expenses were very light and he
was not obliged to tax his people to sup
port his royal state.
One Of the first laws he made was that no
one in the two nations should eat ginger
bread that was more than three days old,
under pain OF death; this prevented his
over being in danger hen he travelled in
either land.
Another thing he did was 10 engage a
fat little woman Of Leland to make and bake
him a new gingerbread hand having five
excellent fingers at the end of it. Also she
made gingerbread patches to fit his broken
ear and his crumbled nose and his dam
aged heel, as we'll as some lovely new coat
tails: and, when the hand and all these
patches we're placed where they belonged
John drank the cordial contained in tho
silver flask that the Beaver Fairy had given
him, and at once the new gingerbread be-
came a part of his body, and he was as per-
feet as the day he had left Monsieur Jules's
bakeshop.
The also repaired his ~frosting
and fastened some new lozenge buttons
to his waistcoat, after which John pre-
sented so fine an appearance that all his
people were very proud OF him.
Para Bruin also became a great favorite
in the two cities, and the tall and short folks
loved 10 watch him stand upon the high
wall that divided the two nations, from
which he would leap to the ground and i'm
mediately bound back again TO his station
on the wall. He was always good natur red
and cheerful. quite winning the hearts
OF the Hilanders by poking fun at the Lo-
landers, and aftervard delighting the Lo-
landers by jeering at the Hilanders.
So Para Bruins life was a happy one,
and for countless years he remained the