The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-27

never heard of this pudding. But he collected himself and replied: "Oh, gra- cous lordl I was reserving it to the last!'
 "Aha!" said the Grand Duke, laughing. And how long would you have kept me waiting for it? Till I died? We want it tomorrow"
 So be it, Lord," said the dwarf and withdrew.
 The day of his disgrace and ruin had come, for he did not know how to make the Pudding Souzeraine. He crept to his apartments and wept. Mimi, hearing him sob, came to his side and inquired for the cause of his grief
 Cease your sorrow" said she, as soon as she heard of the Pudding Souzeraine. My father often ate 1t. I know how 1t is made" She told him the recipe and the dwarf, blessing the day on which he had saved Mimi, hastened to the kitchen to prepare the queen of buildings. He made a little one first which delighted the Chief Cook so greatly that he de- clared that the dwarf's cooking was miracle.
 The next day the queen of buildings was set before the Grand Duke and his guest The dwarf put on his state cos tune and repaired to the banquet hall just as the Chief Server passed the
 
 DuKe took a mouthful, turned his eyes toward the ceiling with delight and said: "Ah! Ahl An! No wonder they call this the queen of puddingsl And my dwarf Is the king of cooks Is he not, dear friend?
 The guest took a small bite, tasted it carefully and smiled sarcastically. "Very good, indeed,' said he, pushing the plate away, but It is not the Pudding Suze- raine. I thought it would not be right"
 The Grand Duke furled his brow and reddened with shame. Dog of dwarfr' cried he. How dare you shame me thus? Shall I have your great head chopped off for your miserable cookery?"
 "oh, sir, made the pudding according to all the rules of the art! cried the trembling dwarf
 You lie. hound!" shouted the furious Grand Duke, and pushed him away with his foot. My guest says that something is wanting. l shall have you chopped up and baked in a pastyP'
 Have mercy, slrr begged the dwarf, crawling to the feet of the guest. "Tell me what is missing. Do not let me die because of 8 handful of flour and spicei"
 T cannot help you, my dear Long Nose" said the visitor. laughing. T thought that you would not be able to prepare the pudding like my cook. That which Is missing is an herb that is not
  herb Sniff-with-Joy. Without 1t the pud- ding remains incomplete and your master will never eat 1t as I eat it."
 But I will eat it rightl" Shouted the grand duke with gleaming eyes "I swear by my royal honor that we will either eat the pudding as it should be to- morrow or I will show you the ugly head of this fellow over tho gate of the palacel Go. dogl I give you "A hours!'
 The dwarf hurried to his room and told Mimi that he was doomed. Again the goose comforted him. You are in luck,' said she. Tt is just new moon and the herb blooms only then. Take me on your arm tonight and carry me to group of chestnut trees. The herb grows only under chestnuts will help you search" As soon as 1t was dark Long-Nose went to the gate with Mimi on his arm. The guards held their bikes in front of him and told him that he could not go out, but when he explained that he merely wished to seek herbs, the captain of the guard permitted him to go into the gar den, which was surrounded with immense walls.
 As soon as they reached the chestnut trees Mimi began to seek. She turned over every blade of grass with her bill, she ran and flew from tree to tree, but in vain. At last she began to weep with despair and pity. for it was growing late
 
 Suddenly she spied a tree some distance away. She hastened to it and immediate ly Tapped her wings with joy. Then her head dived into the deep grass and she picked up something that she held grace fully in her bill.
 Here Is the herb" she said. "There is a lot of it here"
 Long Nose held 1t in his hand. The stem and the leaves were bluish-green. The blossom was burning red edged with bright yellow. A sweet, pungent odor came from it.
 Praise Godr' exclaimed he. "A won deri A wonderl I do believe that this is the very same herb that transformed me from a squirrel into my present hid eous shapew
 "Take a handful" said the goose at once "and let us hurry to your room and gather your gold and other posses sions. Then we will try the merit of the herbr'
 The dwarf did not finger, but hurried back to his apartments with her as fast as he could go. He tied up his clothesA and 100 ducats that he had saved. Then he repeated the words taught him by the goose: "So heaven wills 1t, would be rid of this shape' He thrust his nose among the herbs and drew a deep breath.
 All his limbs began to creak and pull. He felt his head rise from between his shoulders. He squinted downward at his nese and saw it shrink inch by inch. His shoulders strengthened out His legs be- came long.
 The goose cried: "Oh! How tall you arei How handsome you are! God be thankedl There Is nothing left of Dwarf Long Nose.
 Jacob knelt down and uttered fervent prayer of thanksgiving. His heart longed for his parents, but he did not forget what he owed Mimi. 'I owe 1t all to you, said he. putting his arms around her. T will devote myself to you. My first err rand shall be to take you to your father who will be able to disenchant you"
 Thanks to his change of shape and face, he succeeded easily in passing the guard and he reached Gothland safely. Tho wizard restored his daughters shape and Jacob returned to his native city enriched with treasure that the grateful weather buck showered on him. His parents were overjoyed and he established himseir m business and became wealthy and happy man.
 When the dwarf was not to be found, the Grand Dukes guest declared that the duke had snuggled him away n order to avoid the necessity of cutting on his best cooks head. This caused great war be- tween the two rulers, which has gone down in history as the herb war. The peace that was finally made is known as the pudding peace, because 1t was cele- brated by feast at which the two rulers were served with pudding suzerains prepared as 1t should be prepared.
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