Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-28

she was too young to care about new
things. There was quite a panic in the
palace when the royal dressmaker asked
what would happen when the child out
grew her old clothes, but the prime min
lister solved the puzzle by stating that she
could have garments made over from old
ones that belonged to her grandmother
and great-grandmother and her great
reat-grandmother, which were all stored
up in the palace attic. He made one
stipulation. however. the royal dress
maker must not make the old garments
look AS good as new
For ten years matters went on very
badly in the kingdom of old King Fus-
of the curse. The court gowns grew
shabby the palace furnishings grew
dingy and the place was very dull, for
no new people could come to live in the
court and no new entertainments could
be presented in the old place.
Many people went away and the king
dom of the old king had fallen into great
disrepute among the other countries.
Ihere were no great !, festivals, for the
calendars had to be abolished, so that no
came, so the little princess had no Christ
mas, nor any Fourth of July nor any St.
Valentines day.
One afternoon one of the pages who
guarded the outer gates of the palace,
lest any new thing should come through,
clothing just outside the gate. He re-
ported the find to the prime minister,
who. in turn, reported it to the king.
Now, anything old was in high favor
with the king. and, being somewhat
wearied with life, he thought he might
pass away little time by examining the
bundle of old clothes. The page brought
it in and right before the face and eyes
of the king he unfolded the shabby
wrappings. There was a stir as of some
hinp al in ho Inv he tl,n
prime minister could interpose. the page
discovered to the full view of the king the
face of new baby.
The old kings heart quite stopped
beating. Every one in the court fell back
aghast, only the little princess sprang
forward and before any one could stop
her gathered the little baby in her arms
and climbed with it upon the throne,
close to her father.
open your eyes and look. daddy, dear,
a little new baby!'' she cried.
To the amaZement of every one the old
king opened his eyes and with a strange.
sweet smile on his face gathered the two
children IN his arms. Then he arose and
addressed the court.
THE curse is past" he said. in wonder
fully gentle tones. II have lost my old
heart. but l have new one AS he pro-
nounced the word that had been so long
forbidden a great cheer arose from the
threats of all his faithful retnue. and as
tney cneered the king race grew young
and merry again.
men suddenly the princess slipped from
her fathers arms. and between the two
stood the old. black witch
THE curse is removed" she said. harsh
ly. TT is the New Year that the page
found outside the gate. He came to the
gate wrapped in the garments of the old
year. for he knew that If King Fussen-
grumble should look upon his face there
would grow within him new and kinder
heart. The New Year is always merci-
full"
grumble was the happiest in the world.
The selfish young queen came back to
the court and in her also there was a
new heart of unselfshness. Soon every
thing was made new in the palace and
there was great feasting and rejoicing
And there came a time when to King
Fussengrumble a new name was given,
and all men called him King Content