The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-02

seller.
 The King was exceedingly merry at table that day. Again and again he praised his chief cook for the excellence of his cooking and the skill and original ity with which he always managed to find something choice and desirable. The cook, who knew what fine surprise was still to come, smiled meaningly and permitted himself a few modest and humble re- marks, such as: Tt is not yet every days evening"" or If the end Is good all is good" so that the princesses became most consumedly curious to know what other delicate thing was to appear.
 When the beautiful, richly colored and tempting fruit arrived general exclama- tion of surprise and desire escaped the lips of all How ripei How magnif- centl" cried the King. "Ahuli You are a fine creature and deserve our most par ticular and extraordinary benefcence!" Saying thus the King, who was won't to be very economical with such dainties, served them out with his own majestic hands. Each prince and princess got two. Each of the court ladies, the viziers and the agas received one. The others he took and began to devour with every symptom of keen enjoyment
 Goodness mel" suddenly exclaimed the Princess Amarza. How strange you look, oh, my father!''
 All gazed at the King and gasped with amazement. Monstrous ears had begun to sprout from his royal head. A fearful nose had grown and was already hanging below his chin.
 Scarcely had they looked at the King before the eyes of each one looked with the same engagement and fright at the rest. All were ornamented with the same horrible features.
 Clamor and screams filled the great din- Aol TT Rad +1,or or1f-t1n r, selves behind curtains and lamented, while the princes sent their slaves scurry- ing on horseback and foot for physicians and learned men. They came in hordes, not only from the city but from all the domain, hurried to the palace by speedy Arabian horses and fleet camels.
 They ordered pills and mixtures by the pound, but the noses and the ears re- mained unaltered in all their beauty. One brave prince consented to an operation; but as fast as an ear was cut off another and bigger one sprouted in its place.
 Muk had heard all about the success of his plan in his place of concealment. lie perceived that 1t was now time to act.
 He had already provided himself with costume that would disguise him as a learned man. A long white beard com- pleted his masquerade. Putting the heal ing figs into little bag that he concealed about him, he went boldly to the palace and introduced himself as foreign phy- sician who was greatly learned in the arts of curing diseases brought about by magic means.
 He was admitted with honors and forth with led before the King. All the other physicians had failed so lamentably that at first none of the sufferers felt much hope in his art They believed even less in him when he brought forth fig and declared that 1t would produce cure.
 D.if a fruit and ate it. Instantly his nose and ears shrank, withered away and disap- peared, to be replaced by his own original features Then, of course. every one tried to get cured first.
 The King, however, feared to let any one be cured before him. He commanded the weeping and impatient Princesses and the eager and humilated Princes and Vfziers and Agas to fall back. Then he took the physician by the hand and lea him silently into the treasure chamber
 He swept his hand around the great room. Here are my precious posses slons," said he "here Is all my wealth. Choose what you will Whatever 1t may be, it shall be yours if you Will Tree me from this fearful curse"
 This was as sweet music in the ears or little Muk. He had spied his slippers on the floor the moment he entered. Alongside of these he saw his cane. He walked around the chamber, as IT ne were marveling at the Kings treasures Gradually he edged toward the slippers. As soon as he was able to reach them without arousing suspicion he thrust his feet into them. snatched his cane ana turned to the King.
 Pulling his long beard from his face he showed the astonished ruler the features of his ill-treated little runner.
 Cruel King" said Muk, that payest faithful servants with ingratitude, pun isheth the innocent and sendest them forth to misery! Retain, as thy well de- served penalty, the hideous form that has been laid upon thee! leave you the nose and the asses ears that they may re- mind you every day anew of little Muk.
 Before the startled King could cry out to his guards the dwarf twisted himselI violently around on his heel, wished nim- self leagues away, and disappeared ike a gust of wind that swirls over the desert.
 Thereafter made wiser by bitter expe- rieuce. little Muk sought no more to gain fortuna through the favor of mankind. His slippers bore him to many strange and far places. In the course or n1s wan ,ierincs he gathered that learning which he should have had in youth. His cane led him to buried treasures more than once but instead of using them to dazzie inc eyes of others or to buy their affec- tion he spent them to alleviate the suf- ferings of the poor and oppressed. For himself he retained merely enough to live in peace and comfort in his native city of Nicea, to which he returned when he had reached middle age.
 When the dignitary had thus finished his tale he serenely took the long stem from his pipe, unscrewed the amber mouthpiece and presented to his son the remaining 25 marks of honor that he had promised him. The lad expressed his lively regret, and ever after little Muk went abroad in his native city saluted by bows as deep as those made before the Kadi.
 Next Sundays one-page classic will be "The Queens Necklace" by Alexandre Dumas.
 Third Set of Triplets.
 Pittsburg Cor. New York World.
 The stork the other night left two boys and one girl at the home of MT. and Mrs. Nicholas Spangler of Indus try. This is the third set of triplets born in this family, and all are living.
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