THE LAD WHO FOUND HIS FORTUNE

By Ruth Plumly Thompson
Author of Kabumpo in Oz, "The Wizard of Pumperdink", "King, King! Double King!", etc.

Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, November 2, 1919.


Once upon a time there was a king who promised his daughter and half of his kingdom to the man who could find his fortunes in one hour and without going abroad.

After posting proclamations to this effect throughout the kingdom the old fellow retired, chuckling, to his throne.

"That will put a stop to this courting business!" he murmured contentedly. He had been pestered to death with the princess's suitors and, being extremely fond of his daughter, could not find it in his heart to favor any of them.

The princess herself, while not averse to marriage, had grown weary of the endless procession of dukes, lords, princes and honorables. Often she was even rash enough to wish for a plain man, for instance, like the minstrel who sometimes serenaded her in the evenings when the rest of the court had retired.

The proclamation caused a great excitement. Some took it to mean one thing and some another, and the dukes and lords and honorables were in a state of great perplexity. Most of them had fortunes already without seeking for them. What, then, did his majesty mean?

On the other hand, all the poor chaps in the realm were determined to win the princess, for it was perfectly clear to them that the king wished to bestow his daughter upon a poor man clever enough to find his fortunes in an hour.

The king refused to be interviewed, and while the fortune seekers were digging holes and climbing mountains and doing other various things they thought likely to bring them a fortune he and the princess played chess and enjoyed the first peace and quiet they had had for many a long day.

But one man in the kingdom neither sought information nor hunted for hidden gold mines. He ordered a fine suit from the most expensive tailor in the realm and when it was finished told the fellow he would be paid when he married the princess.

The tailor set up a loud clamor, but a few taps on the head convinced him that argument was useless.

Arrayed with great splendor and carrying his fiddle carelessly, the minstrel, for, honeys, it was none other than he, boldly walked into the palace.

"I have come to see the king about marrying the princess!" he announced to the head footman, who forthwith relayed it to the second footman, who in turn relayed it to the third, till at last the message got to the king himself. The king looked up in surprise, for he had thought the problem would keep the whole kingdom guessing for many a day. The princess was also surprised, but pleasantly so, judging from the roses that quite suddenly appeared in her cheeks. Without wasting words the brave minstrel made a deep bow then, seizing his violin, began to play.

At the first bar the king grew pale with dismay, but as the tune progresse4d he began to tap his foot in time to the music.

From one piece the minstrel hastily went to another, at which the king's amazement was unbounded.

The minstrel played on with great composure until he had finished four tunes then, putting aside his violin, he looked expectantly at the king.

"Well?" said the minstrel.

The princess also looked at the king with such a happy light in her eyes that the old gentleman fidgeted upon his throne.

"Does this person seem suitable to you, my dear?" he asked faintly.

The princess inclined her head ever so slightly.

"Then let the marriage be celebrated!" sighed the king. And it was, with great pomp and ceremony, for the minstrel had found his (the king) four tunes in less than an hour and without going abroad.

"But how did you know my meaning?" the king asked him over and over. The prince (yes, he was a prince now you see) only smiled and said music was a wonderful art, especially when you knew how to use it. I'd tell you the name of the four tunes the king loved so well, but I'm afraid you would not recognize them, for this all happened a thousand years ago, and in a kingdom you have never heard of.

THE FORGETFUL POET

By Ruth Plumly Thompson
Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, January 27, 1918.

Riddles

The answer to Mr. Bookmarker's puzzle is Huckleberry Finn, while in the Forgetful Poet's verses a tomahawk and the word foresee - 4-c - were referred to.
Mr. Bookmarker is spending the month in Bulfinch's Mythology. See how many of the mythological fable folks you can find. He says that a city of our southern States will give you one, a city of France another and a cooking utensil still another. The following words combined and correctly arranged will give five more:

sat
pen
elope
urn
pan
oh
June
this
a
door
be

And what do you make of these?

I was eaten up
And yet am here;
Now, can you just
Explain this, dear?

By a thing without teeth
I was bitten,
Just a while before
This rhyme was written?

[Answers next time.]

Copyright © 2006 Eric Shanower and David Maxine. All rights reserved.

TIK-TOK AND THE NOME KING

By L. Frank Baum
Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Daughters of Destiny, The Visitors from Oz, etc.

Originally published in 1913.


The Nome King was unpleasantly angry. He had carelessly bitten his tongue at breakfast and it still hurt; so he roared and raved and stamped around in his underground palace in a way that rendered him very disagreeable.

It so happened that on this unfortunate day Tiktok, the Clockwork Man, visited the Nome King to ask a favor. Tiktok lived in the Land of Oz, and although he was an active and important person, he was made entirely of metal. Machinery within him, something like the works of a clock, made him move; other machinery made him talk; still other machinery made him think.

Although so cleverly constructed, the Clockwork Man was far from perfect. Three separate keys wound up his motion machinery, his speech works, and his thoughts. One or more of these contrivances was likely to run down at a critical moment, leaving poor Tiktok helpless. Also some of his parts were wearing out, through much use, and just now his thought machinery needed repair. The skillful little Wizard of Oz had tinkered with Tiktok's thoughts without being able to get them properly regulated, so he had advised the Clockwork Man to go to the Nome King and secure a new set of springs, which would render his thoughts more elastic and responsive.

"Be careful what you say to the Nome King," warned the wizard. "He has a bad temper and the least little thing makes him angry."

Tiktok promised, and the Wizard wound his machinery and set him walking in the direction of the Nome King's dominions, just across the desert from the Land of Oz. He ran down just as he reached the entrance to the underground palace, and there Kaliko, the Nome King's Chief Steward, found him and wound him up again.

"I want to see the King," said Tiktok, in his jerky voice.

"Well," remarked Kaliko, "it may be safe for a cast-iron person like you to face his Majesty this morning, but you must announce yourself, for should I show my face inside the jewel-studded cavern where the King is now raving, I'd soon look like a dish of mashed potatoes, and be of no further use to anyone."

"I'm not a-fraid," said Tiktok.

"Then walk in and make yourself at home," answered Kaliko, and threw open the door of the Kings's cavern.

Tiktok promptly walked in and faced the astonished Nome King, to whom he said: "good morn-ing. I want two new steel springs for my thought-works and a new cog-wheel for my speech-pro-du-cer. How a-bout it, your Maj-es-ty?"

The Nome King growled a menacing growl and his eyes were red with rage.

"How dare you enter my presence?" he shouted.

"I dare an-y-thing," said Tiktok. "I'm not a-fraid of a fat Nome."

This was true, yet an unwise speech. Had Tiktok's thoughts been in good working order he would have said something else. The angry Nome King quickly caught up his heavy mace and hurled it straight at Tiktok. When it struck the metal man's breast, the force of the blow burst the bolts which held the plates of his body together and they clattered to the floor in a score of pieces. Hundreds and hundreds of wheels, pins, cogs and springs filled the air like a cloud and then rattled like hail upon the floor.

Where Tiktok had stood was now only a scrap-heap and the Nome King was so amazed by the terrible effects of his blow that he stared in wonder.

His Majesty's anger quickly cooled. He remembered that the Clockwork Man was a favorite subject of the powerful Princess, Ozma of Oz, who would be sure to resent Tiktok's ruin.

"Too bad! too bad!" he muttered, regretfully. "I'm really sorry I made junk of the fellow. I didn't know he'd break."

"You'd better be," remarked Kaliko, who now ventured to enter the room. "You'll have a war on your hands when Ozma hears of this, and the chances are you will lose your throne and your kingdom."

The Nome King turned pale, for he loved to rule the Nomes and did not know of any other way to earn a living in case Ozma fought and conquered him.

"Do--do you think Ozma will be angry?" he asked anxiously.

"I'm sure of it," said Kaliko. "And she has the right to be. You've made scrap-iron of her favorite."

The King groaned.

"Sweep him up and throw the rubbish into the black pit," he commanded; and then he shut himself up in his private den and for days would see no one, because he was so ashamed of his unreasoning anger and so feared the results of his rash act.

Kaliko swept up the pieces, but he did not throw them into the black pit. Being a clever and skillful mechanic he determined to fit the pieces together again.

No man ever faced a greater puzzle; but it was interesting work and Kaliko succeeded. When he found a spring or wheel worn or imperfect, he made a new one.

Within two weeks, by working steadily night and day, the Chief Steward completed his task and put the three sets of clockwork and the last rivet into Tiktok's body. He then would up the motion machinery, and the Clockwork Man walked up and down the room as naturally as ever. Then Kaliko wound up the thought works and the speech regulator and said to Tiktok:

"How do you feel now?"

"Fine," said the Clockwork Man. "You have done a ve-ry good job, Kal-i-ko, and saved me from de-struc-tion. Much o-bliged."

"Don't mention it," replied the Chief Steward. "I quite enjoyed the work."

Just then the Nome King's gong sounded, and Kaliko rushed away through the jewel-studded cavern and into the den where the King had hidden, leaving the doors ajar.

"Kaliko," said the King, in a meek voice. "I've been shut up here long enough to repent bitterly the destruction of Tiktok. Of course Ozma will have revenge, and send an army to fight us, but we must take our medicine. One thing comforts me: Tiktok wasn't really a live person; he was only a machine man, and so it wasn't very wicked to stop his clockworks. I couldn't sleep nights, at first, for worry; but there's no more harm in smashing a machine man than in breaking a wax doll. Don't you think so?"

"I am too humble to think in the presence of your Majesty," said Kaliko.

"Then get me something to eat," commanded the King, "for I'm nearly starved. Two roasted goats, a barrel of cakes and nine mince pies will do me until dinnertime."

Kaliko bowed and hurried away to the royal kitchen, forgetting Tiktok, who was wandering around in the outer cavern. Suddenly the Nome King looked up and saw the Clockwork Man standing before him, and at the sight the monarch's eyes grew big and round and he fell a-trembling in every limb.

"Away, grim Shadow!" he cried. "You're not here, you know; you're only a hash of cogwheels and springs, lying at the bottom of the black pit. Vanish, thou Vision of the demolished Tiktok, and leave me in peace---for I have bitterly repented!"

"Then beg my pardon," said Tiktok in a gruff voice, for Kaliko had forgotten to oil the speech works.

But the sound of a voice coming from what he thought a mere vision was too much for the Nome King's shaken nerves. He gave a yell of fear and rushed from the room. Tiktok followed, so the King bolted through the corridors on a swift run and bumped against Kaliko, who was returning with a tray of things to eat. The sound of the breaking dishes, as they struck the floor, added to the King's terror and he yelled again and dashed into a great cavern where a thousand Nomes were at work hammering metal.

"Look out! Here comes a phantom clockwork man!" screamed the terrified monarch, and every Nome dropped his tools and made a rush from the cavern, knocking over their King in their mad flight and recklessly trampling upon his prostrate fat body. So, when Tiktok came into the cavern, there was only the Nome King left, and he was rolling upon the rocky floor and howling for mercy, with his eyes fast shut so that he could not see what he was sure was a dreadful phantom that was coming straight toward him.

"It occurs to me," said Tiktok calmly, "that your Maj-es-ty is acting like a baby. I am not a phan-tom. A phan-tom is unreal, while I am the real thing."

The King rolled over, sat up and opened his eyes.

"Didn't I smash you to pieces?" he asked in trembling tones.

"Yes," said Tiktok.

"Then you are nothing but a junk-heap, and this form in which you now appear cannot be real."

"It is, though," declared Tiktok. "Kal-i-ko picked up my piec-es and put me to-geth-er a-gain. I'm as good as new, and perhaps bet-ter."

"That is true, your Majesty," added Kaliko, who now made his appearance, "and I hope you will forgive me for mending Tiktok. He was quite broken up, after you smashed him, and I found it almost as hard a job to match his pieces as to pick turnips from gooseberry bushes. But I did it," he added proudly.

"You are forgiven," announced the Nome King, rising to his feet and drawing a long breath. "I will raise your wages one specto a year and Tiktok shall return to the Land of Oz loaded with jewels for the Princess Ozma."

"That is all right," said Tiktok. "But what I want to know is, why did you hit me with your mace?"

"Because I was angry," admitted the King. "When I am angry I always do something that I am sorry for afterward. So I have firmly resolved never to get angry again; unless---unless---"

"Unless what, your Majesty?" inquired Kaliko.

"Unless something annoys me," said the Nome King. And then he went to his treasure-chamber to get the jewels for Princess Ozma of Oz.

THE FORGETFUL POET

By Ruth Plumly Thompson
Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, January 20, 1918.

Puzzles

Mr. Bookmaker sent his private secretary to tell me that he had only time to find one riddle. The secretary wriggled off so fast I couldn't think of a thing to say. A bookworm does make a comical secretary, don't you think?

Well, anyway, here is the riddle:

What fruit plus part of a fish equals a book you all know?

The answers to last week's riddles were written below and here they are: Robinson Crusoe's man Friday, Robin Hood, Jane Eyre, and Gulliver.

The Forgetful Poet evidently relented and decided to send us an occasional riddle. Here are two of them, which he sent in written on the back of an envelope:

? ?

A lad's name, my loves,
And the name of a bird
Gives a weapon of which
I am sure you have heard.

? ?

Take a figure and a letter
And the two will make a word -
The first you;ll find ;twixt one and ten,
The last you;ll find is third!

[Answers next time.]

Copyright © 2006 Eric Shanower and David Maxine. All rights reserved.

URASHIMA AND THE PRINCESS OF THE SEA

By Ruth Plumly Thompson
Author of The Royal Book of Oz, "The Wizard of Pumperdink", "King, King! Double King!", etc.

Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, March 31, 1918.


What would you say if I told you the story of a fisherlad who caught a - but pshaw - I must begin it right and at the proper place. Once - once upon a time in the little Japanese village of Midzunoe live Urashima, a poor fisherman, but for all that as bright and happy a boy as many who wore silken coats and sipped tea in the Mikado's palace. He loved to watch the boats billowing out to sea, and longed to sail away with them and seek adventures. But he had no money, and besides, his old parents were dependent upon him, so he put such desires aside and worked industriously in order to support them.

One day Urashima, yielding to the tug of his line, drew it in and found he had caught a tortoise. As tortoises live for many thousand years it seemed cruel to Urashima to deprive it of such a life. He therefore put it gently back in the sea, rebaited his hook and waited for another bite.

The air was so drowsy and the sun so warm that first thing you know Urashima had fallen asleep. He dreamed that his own little boat was speeding off toward the islands of the sun, and so pleasant were his adventures that there's no knowing when he would have awakened had not a sweet voice called him by name. Over and over, with soft persistence, it called, "Urashima! Urashima!"

He jumped to his feet, almost upsetting his boat, and looked all around. At first there seemed no one in sight, but following the sound of the voice, he saw, at last, the very tortoise he had restored to the sea. And stranger still it was speaking to him! It thanked him graciously for his kindness and invited him to climb upon its back and visit the palace of the Sea Dragon. Without a moment's hesitation and thinking only of the wonderful adventure it might prove Urashima accepted, and was soon dropping down, down through the green waters past all manner of curious and beautiful sea creatures.

When they arrived at the palace set in the center of the gardens of the sea they were met by a whole company of fish, who led the way into an inner apartment. Seated among her ladies was Otohime, the Princess of the Sea, and so beautiful was she that Urashima was struck dumb, and could do nothing but half mumble his respects. And imagine his embarrassment and his amazement when she explained that she had been the tortoise he had so thoughtfully thrown back into the water. She said that it was a test, and that she was now satisfied that he was kind and generous and worthy in every way to be the husband of her honorable self! She begged him to remain forever in her beautiful country where one never grew old and where it was always summer.

Feeling in no wise deserving of such honor, Urashima, nevertheless, accepted and the ceremony was performed at once and with all manner of festivals and rejoicings. Gold and silver fishes, clad in jeweled robes, sang and danced to amuse them and strange and wonderful viands were brought upon coral trays for their refreshment. It seemed to Urashima that he was living in a glorious golden dream and he trembled lest he awaken and find it untrue.

But nothing of the kind happened. All that day, and the next, and the next he was bewitched by his increasingly lovely surroundings and the sweet and gentle Sea Princess, his wife. On the third day Urashima suddenly remembered his parents and was overcome at the manner in which he had deserted them. I will return and explain to them my great good fortune, he thought to himself, and lost no time in telling the Princes of his desires.

The poor little Princess wept bitterly and begged Urashima not to leave her, or to delay but another day. He comforted her as best he could, but would not allow himself to be dissuaded from what he considered to be his duty. When the Princess saw that nothing would deter him she gave him a tiny jeweled box, bidding him on no account to open it till his return. Promising to be back in a day and kissing her with deep affection, Urashima set forth on a large tortoise and was soon back in his own country.

But everything was strange. The trees that he remembered were nowhere to be seen, the cottage of his parents had vanished and in dismay Urashima accosted a passer-by and begged to know what had happened to them. The man thought for a long time, then told him that a family of that name had lived there three hundred years ago. Their son, Urashima, had fallen into the sea and perished and that now all of the family were dead many, many years.

Bewildered and scarcely knowing where to turn, Urashima sank down on the beach and lost himself in gloomy reflections. Too late he recalled that a day in the Sea Kingdom was not an earthly day, but a hundred years. With great sorrow, he realized that he had not a friend or relation on earth. The sea lapping gently at his feet seemed teasing him back, and thinking of his beautiful sea-wife, Urashima resolved to return. He called her name loudly, but no tortoise came to bear him back to her and in despair he bethought himself of the little jeweled box. Breathlessly he untied the silken thread, and in that minute a white cloud escaped from it and rolled far away over the sea, while Urashima - Urashima, young and handsome, shriveled into a yellow old man, falling dead upon the sands. I wish that he had not broken his promise. Perhaps, if he had waited--

THE FORGETFUL POET

By Ruth Plumly Thompson
Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, January 13, 1918.

Some Bookish Riddles

"I hear that the Forgetful Poet has resigned from the riddle department," said Mr. Bookmarker, hopping up on my desk the other day. I explained that the Forgetful Poet had to have more time for serious verses. The bookmarker closed one eye and tapped his forehead in a very significant manner, then drew a paper from his pocket. "Here are a few riddles to help you out." Before I could say thank you or Happy New Year or anything at all he had disappeared.

I know you will be interested in his riddles and here they are:

What day of the week will give you a character in a favorite book of adventures?

What bird, plus a covering for the head, will give you another well-known English book hero?

What we breathe will give the last name of a well-known book girl.

A bird and an organ of the body will give a hero we all know well and whose travels we have all read with interest.

Last week's answers were: Scales, runner, current - shells are found at the shore. A road is like a clock because it winds up and runs down, and a fisherman is like a jailer because they both live by catches.

[Answers next time.]

Copyright © 2006 Eric Shanower and David Maxine. All rights reserved.

MY DEAR MRS. BOOTHE

By L. Frank Baum
Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Daughters of Destiny, The Visitors from Oz, etc.

Originally published in The Baum Bugle, Vol. 1, No. 2, October 1957. Baum sent this verse as a letter to Mrs. C. B. Boothe on June 26, 1910. Notice the Oz reference--Imogene the cow was Dorothy Gale's companion from Kansas in the 1903 Broadway musical of The Wizard of Oz.


My dear Mrs. Boothe,
I'm grateful in truth
For that delicatessence of cheese.
The moment I viewed it
Before e'en I chewed it,
I knew it my palate would please.

So dainty and creamy,
So luscious and dreamy
Were those precious golf balls of cheese;
I scarce had the gumption
To test their consumption,
My appetite's lust to appease.

I'm sure that the "Dutch"
Never made any such;
No "cottage" could turn out such cheese.
While "schmeer-case" and "curd"
Are both, on my word,
Excelled by your product with ease.

Epicurean pride
Should have made me divide,
With those who for portions might tease;
But like a Jack Horner
I went in a corner
And gobbled up all of that cheese!

Of bovines the queen
Is our dear Imogene,
From her was extracted the squeeze
Which by your direction
Became that perfection:
The Boothe brand of Angel Food Cheese.

I thank you indeed
For that wonderful feed;
'Twas better by many degrees
Than any I've had
Since, when as a lad,
I feasted on "Ma's Cottage Cheese!"

THE FORGETFUL POET

By Ruth Plumly Thompson
Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, January 6, 1918.

A Round of Riddles

The Forgetful Poet says he hopes Mr. G. Ography will soon return, because you are too much for him, and there's no fun writing riddles you can guess. Besides, he says he must get back to his serious poetry. (Help!)

Last week's answers were: A wave, bee, bird, toad and cat.
? ? ? ? ?
Part of a fish is used in weighing,
An athlete in used in sleighing;
Part of a river's a very fine fruit,
Also in a river's a boy's name, to boot.

Why is a road like a clock?

What necessity of war
Is found at the shore?

The third letter from the end of the alphabet, a measure and a boy's name will give a word meaning anticipation.

Why is a fisherman like a jailer?
Please send your answers to the Forgetful Poet in care of the Boys' and Girls' Department.

[Answers next time. This is a historical presentation of Ruth Plumly Thompson's writing. No prizes will be awarded, so don't send anything in.]

Copyright © 2006 Eric Shanower and David Maxine. All rights reserved.

CHRISTMAS VERSE

By Ruth Plumly Thompson
Author of The Curious Cruise of Captain Santa, "The Wizard of Pumperdink", "King, King! Double King!", etc.

Originally published in the Phiadelphia Public Ledger. 


It's the Sandman's Fault
[Dec. 24, 1916]

No wonder boys and girls have such
A time to go to sleep
On Christmas Eve, and have to count
Almost a million sheep!
Why, the Sandman has so many gifts
For folks in High Sky Land
Tucked in his sack, there's scarcely
Any room for dreams and sand!
And then he stops, the merry elf,
To trim the Milky Way
With greens and wish each separate star
A happy holiday;
And pins his stocking to a cloud
For Santa Claus to fill -
I think we'll have to 'scuse him, though,
I really think we will!

Untitled
[Dec. 2, 1917]

The first of December
Is horribly long,
Every day seems a week,
Don't you know!
There isn't a boy or a girl
Who'll not say
That the first of the month
Is too slow!
But goodness alive,
Take the end of the month,
Christmas week,
Why, it seems like a day!
Now this hardly is fair,
And I'm wishing that there
Were some sort of a plan
Or a way
To remedy matters.
I think I'll just see
If the calendar man
Can arrange
To turn them about
And stretch Christmas week out
For I'm sure we're in need
Of the change!

Untitled
[December 23, 1917]

You funny old Christmas moon,
Why do you frown?
Is it 'cause you've no chimney
For Kris to come down?

A Letter From a Good Boy
[December 23, 1917]

Dear old Man,
I'd like a cake of good, strong soap,
A rat trap, safety pins,
A real stiff whisk, a saucepan,
And a lot to eat, in tins,
A dozen pair of woolen socks,
And after that some smokes,
But more than anything, old man,
A letter from the folks!
--Sammy.

Old Santa's bag was full of notes
Like this, and at their benches
His brownies filled the orders for
The good boys in the trenches.

THE FORGETFUL POET

By Ruth Plumly Thompson

Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, December 30, 1917.

A Pocketful of Rhymes

And a riddle in each, or so the Forgetful Poet tells me.
? ? ? ? ?
It breaks a million times a day
And still is not destroyed,
And, strange enough, it's breaking
Is by old and young enjoyed!

All the blanks walk, swim or fly
? ? ? ? ?
There was a lad
Who rose _____ times,
For he had much to do;
His _____en was
Su_____ent for
A lad of his age, too.

He _____ the mark
And if you're like
The laddie in this story.
I'll just include you
In this space
And place and _____egory!

Last week's answers were Wales and Finland. As for the pets, the Forgetful Poet sent me this list. I am sure that many of you found more than he did: Pet, an animal, or term of endearment, petrify, impetus, impetuous, petticoat, parapet, petal, petty, petiole, pettish, petulant and pettifog.

[Answers next time.]

Copyright © 2005 Eric Shanower and David Maxine. All rights reserved.

THE SINGING TAILOR OF NEVERMINDWHERE

By Ruth Plumly Thompson
Author of Speedy in Oz, "The Wizard of Pumperdink", "King, King! Double King!", etc.

Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, December 2, 1917 - January 13, 1918.


Nevermindwhere is a Kingdom lying SO many miles east of Fancy and west of Facts, having a King, Queen, and all other public inconveniences including taxes. And ONCE, miles and miles ago, there came a tailor to Nevermindwhere. With such magnificence did he roll into the King's city that none had taken him for a tailor had he not immediately sent his servant to inquire for a shop fit for sewing and such.

The King, thinking from the elegant carriage and liveried outriders that some mighty potentate was about to visit him, had set out to welcome the stranger, but hearing JUST in time of the sewing shop, ordered the royal coach to turn, which it did with such abruptness that the Chief Prime Minister rolled into the dust.

Ah! 'twas ill luck to be a tailor in those days, and a more down-trodden, meek-mannered despised lot of men were not to be found upon the face of the earth--'twas the fashion to despise 'em. Indeed there was a pretty little custom among the gentry of collecting unpaid tailor bills--some even went so far as to have them made into books with comical verses noted upon them. So you can imagine the indignation of the King.

And "Such airs!" sniffed the Princess of Nevermindwhere who was riding beside her father. "But is he not HANDSOME?" she murmured to herself.

"A tailor, a rogue of a tailor!" fumed the King. "An arrogant knave who must be set in his place!"

"Quite right, your Majesty!" puffed the Prime Minister, climbing into the coach (royal etiquette forbade his mentioning his burises). " A MOST arrogant knave; whoever heard of a tailor riding in his own CARRIAGE? 'Tis an insult to your highness."

Well, dear knows WHAT it was not!

Back to the castle whirled the King's coach in a bluster of indignation and a whirl of dust, neither of which escaped the stranger. He sneezed violently, but said nothing excepting, "SHE is the one!" A wise fellow this tailor, one who could see beyond the point of his needle, I warrant!

That evening after he had got him a cheery house and garden, with cozy stables for his horses and tidy lodgings for his servants and a long, sunny parlor for his shop, he hung out his sign; "JERRY JAN, Tailor-man." Then, seating himself beneath it and tipping his chair against the wall, he began to sing:

"Thimbles and shears,
Beeswax and thread;
Oh, a tailor's a failure
Who can't earn his bread!

Sing HO for a tailor,
Sing Hey for his trade,
For the coats and the breeches
And men he has made!"

So fresh and clear was his voice, and so rollicking his song, that several folk who were passing stopped to listen. And a strange thing it was truly, a tailor singing, for if tailors did any singing or whistling in those days 'twas for their bills and naught else! The crowd increased and an elderly personage in a velvet cloak put on his spectacles and peered first up at the sign and then down at the merry lad who was trilling like a lark.

"Well, did one ever hear the like before!" laughed he in his cracked voice. "A TAILOR making a man! Ho, ho, haha! Know'st thou not, foolish one, that it takes NINE tailors to make a man!"

"Ho, ho, haha!" jeered the crowd. "Nine tailors to make a man!"

"HAH!" quoth Jerry Jan. Down came his chair with a thump, and the crowd, which dearly loved a controversy, grew silent to see what would happen. For a moment nothing happened. Then, in a voice so shrill that it fairly set one's teeth on edge, piped Jerry:

"It IS the tailor makes the man,
And MAN that makes the tailor,
Just as the canvas makes the sail,
And sailing makes the sailor."

Before they had recovered enough to close their mouths which had fallen open at such temerity in a tailor, Jerry rose and swept them a deep bow. "Good evening, Simpletons!" said Jerry, and turning his back upon them went into his shop and sat down.

"WELL given, by my iron hammer!" roared a brawny blacksmith in the crowd. "That lad's no spineless stitcher." There was such laughing and joking among the common folks that the cloaked gentleman took himself off in a huff. As for Jerry he got out some work and sang more gaily than ever--

"Thimbles and shears,
Beeswax and thread,
Oh a tailor's a failure
Who can't make his bread!"

But scarce had he started the second verse before three figures slunk into the shop. They whispered together for a minute, then the shortest and crookedest shuffled forward. "Sing ho for a tailor, sing HO for his trade! Ha, ha! good joke!" he wheezed scornfully.

"Best take thaself back from where tha came from!" croaked the second stepping forward. "Rob us of the bread we eat, would ye? With your fine shop and pert ways! We heard---we heard all about YOU!"

"A NICE mess you've made of it!" choked the third, thrusting his head close to Jerry. "Like as not we'll all go to prison for your impudence; like as not!" Whe-w, how they scolded, these crooked little men, their voices growing shriller and shriller and Jerry Jan working away all the while, as calm as a hitching post in a storm. Well, when they had said all they could think of, and a good bit tyhat they hadn't thought they could think of, Jerry yawned and stretched, then went and rang a bell. In bobbed a little serving maid. Without so much as a nod from her master she took the visitors' hats and shabby cloaks, drew up a table and in just no time at all had brought cake and wine and all manner of good things to eat.

"Ha-h!" chuckled Jerry, rubbing his hands, and next (to this day those tailors cannot imagine how it happened) they were seated about the table chatting away as pleasantly as friends at a birthday feast. And not until the town clock struck ten, did Jerry refer to his guest's unpleasant entrance and only then to inquire the name of the fine gentleman whom he had offended. Immediately the three tailors grew fidgety. Exchanging uneasy glances they explained how they had come to warn him against the wrath of My Lord of Toppertush.

"Just as one man to another, now, tha should'na have spoken so!" protested the second tailor, shaking his head solemnly.

"A TERRIBLE fellow, with power enough at court to make a man smart!" asserted the third.

"Did'st see his velvet cloak?--the price has been owing me this twelve month, and NOW, NOW he'll never pay it!" whimpered the first, growing excited again. Whereupon Jerry lost his temper and harangued them fiercely for their cravenness. Yes--he had seen the cloak--and to his way of thinking his Lordship had more velvet on his back than on his tongue, which he'd a mind to tell him next time they met.

"Why, there's a s much art in a needle as in a painter's brush, as much skill in handling a tape measure as in handling a violin bow. Exalt your trade!" cried Jerry Jan. He shook his finger under their astonished noses. Were they MEN, he would like to know, or mice. "Put starch in your collars and yardsticks down your backs and buckram in your knees if need be and ye'll pass for men yet!" Taken aback by such violence of speech and views the three tailors made for the door, which, as they leaned upon for support, burst open and tumbled them into the street. "Best break your backs working than bowing!" called Jerry Jan, appearing in the doorway with a lantern. Much shaken the three arose, much mystified, and pondering upon these words they departed.

Meanwhile My Lord of Toppertush had returned to Court tingling with resentment at what he was pleased to call a tailor's impudence. With eloquent little shrugs and raisings of the eyebrow he told his story, and the court ladies and gentlemen, the King and Queen and the Princess listened breathlessly, throwing up their hands in horror and emitting little cries of astonishment at the boldness of that wretched tailor. They talked of his arrival, his servants, his shop--indeed the evening was spent in discussion of him. And the curiosity of those who had not witnessed his arrival was aroused to such a pitch that they could scarcely contain themselves until morning. As for My Lord of Toppertush, striding up and down, he vowed to show the creature his place, while the King, applauding these sentiments, resolved to have a closer look at the fellow.

So it happened that next day a perfect stream of silk and satin-clad visitors passed in and out of the new tailor's shop. The street was so crowded with coaches, carriages, high stepping mounts, with grooms and footmen, that the tradesmen could not get through at all and were obliged to leave their carts in another street and come on foot with their wares. Seated at a low table Jerry went on with his stitching, nodding pleasantly to his guests and choosing not to notice the rudeness of their remarks nor the impertinence of their stares. Suddenly trumpets sounded, there was a great commotion in the doorway and the KING--the King himself--had entered the shop. After him minced My Lord of Toppertush supporting the Princess. Immediately a hush fell upon the company, every one curtseying and stepping aside. Staring from left to right, and secretly much impressed by the magnificence of the shop, his Majesty approached. Jerry arose, and bowing--though not TOO low--wished his Highness good morning!

Looking through Jerry as though he had been a window pane, the King said he was minded to have a new cloak. "Well enough!" thought Jerry to himself, and scarce had the words left his Majesty's lips before he had whipped off his cloak, then his crown, pulled out his measure and had begun measuring away for dear life jerking the King this way and that. And there stood the King, uncrowned and uncoated, just as he was, a rather fat old man, presenting such a comical appearance that several of the Courtiers tittered openly, instantly recovering themselves however. Before his Majesty, fairly puffing with indignation, had time to speak a word, Jerry had finished, jotted the measurements in his book, whisked the King's robe about his shoulders, set the crown (a little to one side it must be admitted) upon his head, and was actually bowing the royal party toward the door.

The Princess' eyes grew round as saucers. She gasped, dropped her handkerchief, and tripped over her train. My Lord of Toppertush was purple with fury. Matters were not progressing at all as he had planned. Determined not to be outdone by the fellow's cleverness he pulled off his cloak and, with a glance of such hatred that 'tis a wonder Jerry did not crinkle up upon the spot, strode forward saying that HE also would have a cloak. In less time and with even less ceremony Jerry took his measurements, snapped his book shut, gave a curt bow and returned to his stitching. The strange tailor had proved more curious even than they had imagined. With little clucks of astonishment, with whispers and shrugs, the courtiers followed the royal party from the shop.

The three tailors had witnessed the whole proceeding, for unable to overcome their curiosity they had peeped in the window. Shaking their heads dubiously, but not altogether disapproving, they returned to their benches.

Now came a wonderfully busy season for Jerry Jan. From morning till night his shop was a-bustle. He and all his helpers worked away for dear life and still had a time to keep up with the orders that came pouring in. Crooks, Stitchem and Rowley, the three other tailors of Nevermindwhere, were kept hustling with orders passed over to them. For you see, all the courtiers, following the King's example, had come to be fitted out in new cloaks and breeches, and from the nods and winks and knowing glances they exchanged whenever they met, I cannot help thinking that all was not well. But, be that as it may, the work went forward.

Honest trade folk, attracted by Jerry's prices, came too; the blacksmith himself ordered a Sunday coat with iron buttons. The busier he grew, the cheerier waxed the new tailor of Nevermindwhere. Above the snipping and whirring in the shop rose his merry voice, and so popular did his songs become that they spread from one end of the Kingdom to the other.

"We need the merchants and the sailors,
But more than all we need the tailors!"

hummed the housewives over their work, and even the courtiers whistled the air of "A tailor's a failure who can't earn his bread," though when it came to the King's ears 'twas promptly hushed up. If it were clear, the neighbors fell into the habit of dropping over to sit on Jerry's step in the evenings, and if it were stormy Jerry kindled a fire in his shop and entertained them there, and his stories were so interesting, his refreshments so bountiful and his advice so good that he became a great favorite among them.

As for Crooks, Stitchem and Rowley, they were new men, copying Jerry in everything and acquiring a dignity that sat upon them as oddly as peacocks' tails upon hens. But WHY, considering the insolence of those wretched courtiers, did Jerry when he was alone keep fingering a certain little handkerchief that he always carried next to his heart? And WHY, considering the insolence of that wretched tailor, did the Princess discover so many errands in the neighborhood of Jerry's shop? Indeed, scarce a day passed that the royal carriage did not rattle down the street, at which times she was careful to bestow one of her most scornful glances upon that miserable tailor.

Well, well, however that may be, it chanced that the King's cloak, My Lord of Toppertush's cloak, the breeches, vests, satin waistcoats, and such, ordered by the courtiers were finished upon the same day. Accordingly Jerry's footman buttoned up his purple coat, mounted the box of Jerry's handsome carriage, and drove off to the palace. Having delivered each gay box to its still gayer owner the footman bowed, again mounted his box, folded the tails of his coat under and drove clippety, clop, clop, CLOP back again.

But hardly had he unharnessed the horses before a great procession began to wind into the street--why, one would have thought 'twas a pageant or a carnival day from its length and brilliance. The King's coach led off and after it came all the other court equipages. And surely something wonderfully comical had happened, for the silken-clad Ladies and Gentlemen lay back on their pillows, convulsed with merriment. The loud "ha-ha"s and general confusion brought Jerry to the window and, seeing they were headed in his direction, he bade his footman open the doors, after which he returned to the blacksmith whom he chanced to be fitting.

What next occurred you will scarce believe, but upon my word 'tis true. Tumbling from their carriages in most unroyal fashion the King and the courtiers rushed into Jerry's shop each waving the pink paper bills they had received from Jerry. Knocking over chairs and jostling the workers they pushed forward, and at a signal from My Lord of Toppertush, who stood on a chair the better to be seen, each tore his pink bill into a thousand bits so that the pieces came fluttering down upon Jerry in a regular pink snowstorm.

"Scissors and shears,
Ruffles and frills,
A fig for all tailors,
A FIG for their bills!"

crackled old Toppertush delightedly, and before Jerry could raise a finger they had swept out of the shop.

The blacksmith, who had witnessed this proceeding open-mouthd, was the first to recover. Swinging his iron hammer, which he never left behind him, he was for putting after them and breaking a few royal heads, which Jerry only prevented by clinging to his coattails. Crooks, Stitchem and Rowley, who had run in at the first excitement, now set up a piteous whining, declaring that NOW Jerry had INDEED ruined them and himself besides. The blacksmith, cheated out of his first revenge, seized the three little men and shook them till their teeth chattered, whereat his feelings, in a measure relieved, he flung out of the shop muttering darkly of silk-coated scalawags.

By this time Jerry had recovered and began calling orders in such a rate that everyone was on the jump to keep up with them. And all the while he was working he was saying over and over, "Did she come to mock me, or did she not? Did she come to mock me, or did she not?"

And the Princess, who had gone as she declared to her Ladies, to put that wretched tailor in his place, was walking up and down her golden salon wringing her hands. "Oh, WHY did I go! Why did I go!" she moaned over and over. All of which is a pretty how-de-do, if I may be permitted to say so.

That night, when the courtiers were sleeping soundly on their silken couches, a masked band crept through the palace, went tiptoeing through the halls and chambers, so lightly that not one wakened. Laden with many gay boxes the band made its way back to town. Jerry Jan was up even earlier than usual next day, singing as merrily as ever as he stitched up the sleeves of the blacksmith's long coat. If the workers in the shop seemed nervous and exchanged anxious glances now and then, he appeared not to notice it, and when, without warning, six guardsmen appeared in the doorway he did not even look up.

"I arrest you in the name of the KING!" boomed the first guard, striding in and placing a heavy hand on Jerry's shoulder. "Do you fetch those three other rascals!" he called over his shoulder, at which the five remaining guards disappeared, returning presently with Crooks, Stitchem and Rowley, and followed by the blacksmith waving his hammer menacingly, and by a crowd of Jerry's friends and neighbors.

And now the first guard proceeded to read a long paper accusing Jerry of all crimes in general and of being a ROGUE OF A TAILOR; in particular, of stealing one hundred and seven fine garments, which were to be immediately returned--and haling one Jerry Jan before the Grand Court of the Kingdom for trial. At this the howls of the three tailors became louder than ever. But as for Jerry himself he made no objection. Indeed, he said he was most anxious for conversation with his Majesty and the sooner he was haled the better pleased would he be. Speaking a few words aside to the blacksmith, lighting anew his long-hooked pipe, he declared hinself ready. And away they went to the palace with nigh the whole populace at their heels. All but the blacksmith. Hurrying upstairs he threw all the gay boxes out of the window into the back court. Then piling the whole upon his back he was off to his forge and soon a thick smoke began to curl upward and presently the blacksmith was himself off to the palace.

Now, according to the ancient laws of Nevermindwhere all prisoners were tried in the great stone court before the palace in the presence of all the people. By the time Jerry and the three other tailors had been thrust upon the little platform before the King, the Queen, the Princess and all the other high functionaries, the court was jammed. People stood upon the walls and climbed the trees in the garden beyond, for the story of the new tailor's misfortune had spread far and near. THUMP! went the hammer of the Lord High Accusationer and up he rose, pointing his skinny finger at Jerry. "Whereas," he wheezed, addressing the crowds, "one Jerry Jan has perpetrated villainy in every form, including insolence, arrogance, anarchy and robbery, he has been haled before this court to answer for his crimes!"

My Lord of Toppertush, who sat next to the King, rubbed his hands and chuckled in anticipation, the Princess leaned forward to get a better view of that obstinate tailor, and several titters went up from the court as Jerry, none too gently, was shoved forward by the guards.

"When he is properly humbled I will visit him in prison," murmured the Princess to herself.

"When she is properly humbled I will marry her," resolved Jerry with a sidelong glance in her direction.

"But what have you to say for yourself?" roared the King at this juncture, and Jerry, bowing politely, turned to face his Majesty stating that as the goods had not been paid for they had not been stolen, which caused no end of merriment among the Courtiers. Half rising, My Lord of Toppertush asked had one ever heard the like--a TAILOR expecting to be paid. "Why," said he, "a tailor's bill is like a bird's, which no one could collect."

"And like your own, which no one would care to," chuckled Jerry, not in the slightest perturbed.

"Oh, ha! ha! ha!" roared the King, covering his mouth (Toppertush did have a nose, though), "Ha! ha! ha!" Then, suddenly recollecting himself, he started sternly at the prisoner. "Have you no respect for the crown?" he thundered. "For the crown and what it stands for!"

As to that, said Jerry, he didn't see how it stood at all considering what was under it, which set the crowd in the court in such an uproar of laughter that it took all the guards to restore order. And before the King had recovered from his astonishment Jerry snapped his scissors in the air declaring he was a King of his trade, a King and a Maker of Kings. "Why, there's as much power in a pair of shears as in a scepter," quoth Jerry, "seeing that everything depends on the cut of a man's coat." Tilting his head on one side he caroled:

"Would you know a KING
Without his crown?
Lord High Judge
Without his gown?"

"I'd know YOU anywhere for a low, sneaking tailor," screeched My Lord of Toppertush, bouncing to his feet.

"I demand my rights as a man," cried Jerry, paying no attention to this.

"But you're NOT a man, you're a TAILOR!" jeered his Majesty, still smarting from Jerry's pun. "A tailor!"

"Both," cried Jerry, waving his shears. "A man and a tailor, and a tailor is more than a man; he is the maker of men I tell you! As important as a Doctor, a lawyer, a merchant, an artist, a very King, for he is the maker of them all!"

"Nonsense!" blustered the King.

"Treason, murder and anarchy!" screamed the Court Accusationer, pale with fury.

"Reason, justice and honesty!" cried Jerry defiantly. And what with the courtiers crying this and that and the populace below cheering and stamping there was like to be a riot. So at a word from his Highness, Jerry and the three other tailors, who had stood shivering by, were seized by the guards and dragged away to prison. At first the crowds were for interfering, but a wink from Jerry settled that, so instead they fell in behind. A trumpeter and drummer, special friends of Jerry's, forthwith set up such a tooting and banging that 'twas more like a triumphal procession than a hanging (which the guards hinted darkly 'twould come to yet).

But as his Majesty remarked shrewdly to his advisors 'twould be a waste to hang so great a rogue and so good a tailor. "A taste of prison will show him what's what," declared the King, taking a pinch of snuff. But in prison Jerry sang as gaily as a bird in a cage and was so agreeable that the turnkey and keeper of the jail could not bring themselves to be rough with him. He said the fare was excellent and the service quite satisfactory, and was so bubbling over with songs and jokes that the whole place took on a festive air. Even Crooks, Stitchem and Rowley bore up under their trials. The trumpeter and drummer marched every day to the prison and gave a concert beneath Jerry's window, and the good wives of his friends fairly showered him with delicacies, which, as he divided them with the jailors, they were in no hurry to mention to the officials.

And just about this time the Princess took to visiting a one-legged robber in the cell next to Jerry's. What delicate attentions she lavished upon the old rogue. Books and flowers and fruit appeared and the Princess read to him for hours at a time, paying of course no attention to "that wretched tailor" in the next cell. And about this time Jerry called for a needle and shears, a thimble and some thread, "for," quoth he, " 'tis a real crime to be idle." 'Twould please him therefore to undertake such tailoring as the officials of the prison might desire. The keeper of the prison, remarking to himself that there could be no harm in this and with an eye to his own interest, ordered Jerry's materials fetched, keeping a still tongue about the matter. Thus several months slipped past and away, Jerry working so steadily that soon every jailor and official in the prison had a new turn-out. And what turnouts they were! As Jerry had furnished the material, and as they had naught to say about the style, he had fashioned them after ideas of his own.

One festival day (the King's birthday) it was, when all but a few of the prison officials were off for the festivities in their new suits, the crowds awaiting the arrival of the royal party were astounded to see the King and Judges and other big-wigs strolling carelessly down the street. "The KING!" cried the little boys. "There goes the KING." Straightway the crowd fell in behind with cheers and birthday wishes. The little girls strewed their roses, and the Lord Mayor burst forthwith into his birthday speech with many brave gestures. But horrors! After the last straggler had disappeared, 'round the corner came another King! Then where was the speech of welcome, the cheering crowds, the flowers and the populace? Where indeed? Why, gone after the warden of the prison, the turnkeys and other officials, who, decked out in court attire by mischievous Jerry, might have fooled wiser men than they. And what could the King say? Had he not scouted the notion of clothes making the man? Well, well! 'twas easily remedied; the fellow should be released, for he, the King, needed some new clothes.

So next day Jerry and the three other tailors were set at liberty, and shortly the King appeared to order a robe. But, hoity toity! here was another how-de-do, for Jerry and the three other tailors said they were minded not to work for the King or any of his court. And when the King attempted to send Jerry back to prison such a howl went up from the people that he shook in his buckled shoes and decided that he'd best ignore the "impudent rascal." So posthaste a messenger was dispatched to the neighboring Kingdom of Dingby Dump and in a fortnight returned, his horse in a lather and with a thin wisp of a man bouncing up and down behind him. But they got no further than the blacksmith's, for that worthy, catching sight of a tape measure round the fellow's neck, pulled both down and administered such a drubbing to the strange tailor that, once released, he sprang upon the horse and was off at a gallop.

And so were all the tailors the King smuggled into the kingdom served. The whole populace stood shoulder to shoulder behind Jerry. They hustled the guards about roundly, and set a watch upon the borders of the kingdom so that none could leave nor enter without their consent. And worse still, the butchers and burghers and other tradesfolk began to go about their affairs dressed in Jerry's velvets and satins, till there was no telling the notables from the nobodys and there were so many in judge's gowns and courtier's cloaks that one knew not when to bow, so ended by bowing not at all; indeed the kingdom seemed suddenly gone quite mad.

The King, at his wits' end, could do nothing to remedy matters, for at the slightest hint of harm to this wretched tailor the whole populace would advance upon the castle, ready for a revolution if need be. So the King fumed and the courtiers sulked and the Princess said she was very angry with that wicked tailor. As time went on the courtiers grew shabbier and shabbier, while the common folk were fine as peacocks, for Jerry's prices were so low that anyone could afford a silk robe and flowered waistcoats. At the end of a year the court was as dull as a prison, for without new clothes what was the pleasure in festivities, pray? The court ladies did their best to keep their lords in trim, and several of the nobility tried their hand at tailoring, but with such comical results that the common folk tee-heed when they passed.

"It takes nine tailors to make a man,
The song grows stale and staler,
For how many men, aye, HOW many men
Will it take to make a tailor?"

chortled the mischievous street boys at every opportunity.

At the end of two years times were dismal indeed. The royal ladies got out their needles in earnest and, with puckered brows and pricked fingers, settled down to serious tailoring. What odd looking costumes the poor ladies achieved and what sour looking nobles were in them! Small wonder for often they ripped up if one sat down too suddenly.

And Jerry, shameless fellow, sent the Princess a gold thimble--a thimble mind you!--which she had done well to return, all things considered. But no, she must needs throw it out of the window and spend the rest of the day searching for it, and when 'twas found set it gravely upon her thumb and do remarkable things with a needle and thread upon her royal parent's court robe. She said she was sewing. And the thimble was followed by the tiniest gold shears imaginable and by a little gold work-box fitted out with tiny spools with every color silk one could think of, all of which this perverse young Princess set upon her dressing table. Just why, I cannot imagine, can you?

Not only were the poor courtiers shabby, they were lost, for, thanks to Jerry, the commonfolk dressed so richly and royally that strangers invariably did business with the wrong parties, and ended by declaring the whole kingdom quite, quite mad. Which was quite, quite true. My Lord of Toppertush slunk about wrapped in a faded blue cloak, vowing to kill that Jerry Jan, but never in Jerry's hearing.

The blacksmith strode blithely through the town clad in a royal green hunting suit, surely the handsomest creature alive, and not a few eyes followed him, mark you. For the royal maidens began to cast kindly glances upon the richly clad burghers' sons, quite ignoring the shabby dukes and lords. Was there ever such a topsy-turvy kingdom as Nevermindwhere, I wonder?

And right into the midst of this topsy-turviness dropped the thunder bolt. At least the King said it was a thunderbolt and I quite agree with his Majesty, for if an announcement that King Cedric of Torrens, the wealthiest realm for leagues about, will in ten days visit the court with the intention of marrying one's daughter, is not a thunderbolt then I know nothing about them. The King chuckled and rubbed his hands, then his face grew long, for how was he to explain that his Kingdom was being run by a rogue of a tailor, and how was he to explain his shabby court. And when he told the Princess of her good fortune the obstinate young good-for-nothing cried, which so provoked his Highness that he boxed her ears soundly and then strode furiously up and down his marble hall. And after a precious day had been wasted thus the King decided that something must be done and, though every word took a painful bite out of his pride, he penned a note to Jerry Jan requesting him to come to the palace.

Looking wonderfully hearty and handsome Jerry arrived that evening and listened most courteously to the King's explanations about King Cedric and how important it was for them all to make a good impression, what with his daughter getting on in years (she being all of nineteen), she would not have such an opportunity again. "Your Majesty said clothes were nonsense and had naught to do with making a man," observed Jerry mischievously, continuing, with a sidelong glance at the Princess, that for his part he didn't want to be the means of depriving her of a husband, that he'd once had the notion of marrying her himself, an ill-favored lass though she was, who could neither sew, bake, nor even darn a man's socks but that he'd changed his mind, and if the King would agree to his terms they might strike a bargain.

At this two tears trickled down the Princess's cheek, though I doubt if any one saw them excepting the King, who patted her on the back and whispered a few words about "never minding that insolent fellow, she would soon be married to a real King and then they'd show him what was what"--which comforting assurance threw the Princess into a violent fit of weeping; indeed, she ran out of the room sobbing as if her heart were broken into a thousand bits.

And a strange bargain it was that they made: the King on his part to send the Princess to Jerry's shop, he being short of hands, and as his Majesty had plainly shown his belief that clothes counted nothing, he was to have the two ladies-in-waiting dressed in the same manner as the Princess, for certainly King Cedric would choose correctly.

Jerry on his part was to outfit the court suitably and persuade his friends and neighbors to dress in their usual fashion. So they parted and great preparations were immediately plunged into both at shop and castle.

Every morning the Princess and her maid went down to Jerry's shop and he kept her busy, I want to assure you. What with running errands, ripping out bastings, holding brocade to be cut, she had not a minute to breathe and, whew! how he scolded, for her Highness kept dropping the scissors and forgetting orders. And the more he stormed and stamped the more, well, the more she kept forgetting.

But at last the ten days were got through with. The courtiers, clad more elegantly than ever before, were drawn up in style to welcome King Cedric, Jerry dressed as fine as any among them. And with what a blowing of trumpets and fluttering of pennants and prancing of white steeds the King clattered into Nevermindwhere. And one could not deny but that he was handsome, though there were some who declared his nose a trifle large and his eyes a trifle small. King Cedric himself was duly impressed by the magnificence of his reception, but plainly impatient to see the Princess. So there was a word to a page, a little rustle of expectation, and down the golden steps swept her Highness with her two attendants. That the three were dressed exactly alike the King seemed to notice not at all. Striding forward he took the hand--the hand of--great swords and bucklers! the hand of the first Lady-in-Waiting!!

The King sprang forward with an exclamation of dismay, but Jerry gripped him by the arm and, whispering fiercely that he was to keep his bargain, drew him back. Out of the tail of his eye Jerry watched the Princess. Up went her hand to her heart, and with such an expression of relief that he was at some pains to keep from bounding into the air for joy. Pshaw, I believe the rascally fellow has been in love with her all along. As for King Cedric, so infatuated was he with his supposed Princess that he was aware of nothing amiss and naught would do but that they be married upon the spot and she accompany him straightway to his palace. The Lady-in-Waiting smiled and blushed and said for her part she was quite willing. So within an hour the whole thing was at an end, the wedding over, the King and his bride departed, the horrified court retired to discuss the calamity, the King sunk groaning on his throne like a man with the gout, Jerry staring out one window and the Princess out another. But one could not stare out a window forever and, first making sure that the King was quite occupied with his groaning. Jerry approached the Princess.

He was sorry, he said, that things had gone so badly, he was sorry to have her so cut up about matters, and if she could ever forgive a rough, rude fellow like himself, he would try to make amends. And the Princess, assuring herself first that the King was still groaning, said, looking up with a merry twinkle, that if cutting was in a tailor's line so also was mending. And the merry twinkle kindled into something so very much kinder that Jerry, well, Jerry set about making amends at once, though not with a needle, I might mention. And how long the mending would have lasted I have no idea, had not the King stopped groaning. Whizz, whirr, went something through the air and the two dodged just in time his Majesty's crown. That seemed to bring the Princess to her senses. Walking proudly up to the King she announced crisply that she was minded to wed this tailor man, he being to her way mind a very King. If his Majesty had groaned before, he fairly roared now. What was the use of being a King, he would like to know, with an upstart tailor running his Kingdom and marrying his daughter? What good were kings anyway?

"Just what I thought myself a while back," said Jerry, taking his place beside the Princess, at the same time giving a loud whistle which had no sooner died away than a hundred feet clattered in the hallway.

Next minute in hurried a company of lords and ladies, an attendant in green rushed up and wrapped an ermine cloak about Jerry's shoulders and another set a crown upon his head. "His Majesty, King Cedric of Torrens!" announced a page in gold lace.

At the excitement all the courtiers of Nevermindwhere came flocking back. "What's this? Who's that? What's it all about?" they whispered in agitated voices, then all grew quiet, for the new King and their old tailor was speaking. "Your Majesty," said Jerry with a low bow to the King, "three years ago I entered your kingdom with the intention of marrying your daughter. Expecting to spend some months in Nevermindwhere, I brought my tailor along and had no sooner arrived than I inquired for a shop suitable for the fellow. Your reception and your insolent treatment of one whom you believed to be a tailor decided my course of action. I determined to see that justice was done all tailors and, having some knowledge of cutting and with the valuable assistance of my own tailor, succeeded, as you well know. The Princess alone was able to rise above prejudice and, in consenting to marry the unknown tailor of Nevermindwhere, has made me the happiest man alive."

"But King Cedric!" gasped the Lord Chief Justice. The King was too stupefied to utter a syllable.

"My brother Roland," explained Jerry. "Of course, from time to time I communicated to him the results of my experiment, and he, also believing that clothes were naught, swore he could pick out a real Princess no matter how she were clad, and as to that, what a joke I have played upon him."

Well, well, did one ever hear the like? The news spread from one end of the town to the other and soon the court was crowded with Jerry's old friends and neighbors. The blacksmith strode right into the courtroom and smote him a resounding whack between the shoulders, then raising his lusty voice roared:

"Thimbles and shears,
Beeswax and thread,
A tailor's a failure
Who can't earn his bread.

Sing ho for a tailor,
Sing hey for his trade;
For the coats and the breeches
And men he has made,"

the whole company joining in with a will. And all of them were invited to the wedding, nay, they had preference over the courtiers, even Crooks, Stitchem and Rowley, and if ever there was a finer feast, a happier groom or a lovelier bride, then I've never heard of them, that's all. And this was the beginning of better times for tailors in Nevermindwhere--and everywhere, for that matter. 

THE FORGETFUL POET

By Ruth Plumly Thompson

Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, December 23, 1917.

A Stocking Full of Riddles

"And how are my pets?" said the Forgetful Poet, knocking the snow from his hat and standing his cane in the corner. "Do you mean the bowwows and ponies and cats in the Paws and Claws?" said I. "What nonsense!" he blustered. "I mean the lads and lassies--they are pets, aren't they?"

I hastened to agree with him, but he still rumbled crossly. "I'll have you know there are more pets that run on four legs, or two either, I'll have you know; there, I have made a puzzle without meaning to.

"How many pets are there in the dictionary?" And how many are there, my loves? Send your list to the Forgetful Poet and for the five longest there will be--?????

A country there is, sure,
That swims in the sea,
And part of the same
Is another contree!

Slapping this down upon the desk, the Forgetful Poet rushed out of the door, mumbling something about buying a stovepipe for his Uncle Jeremiah's Christmas. I must say he might have made us some more riddles, but dear knows, I suppose you're all so excited over Christmas you wouldn't have time to guess them anyway.

Last week's puzzle answers were: Limbs, lifeline, and the band of one's hat is musical, of course!

[Answers next time. This is a historical presentation of Ruth Plumly Thompson's writing. No prizes will be awarded, so don't send anything in.] 

Copyright © 2005 Eric Shanower and David Maxine. All rights reserved.

THE ANCHOR

By Jack Snow
Author of The Magical Mimics in Oz, The Shaggy Man of Oz, and Spectral Snow, etc.

Originally published in Dark Music and Other Spectral Tales, 1947.

 
How Ailil loved the beauties of the old lake! Like an ancient well into which flowed the potent spells of the deep forest about it, the hollow of silent, black-shaded water lay motionless in the cup of the woods; a cup of loveliness fit for the lips of strange, forgotten Gods to sip from. As this thought occurred to Ailil he nodded with a pleased little smile. There it lay, cool and limpid as a great glistening jewel mounted in the green filigree of drooping willows that wept their trailing branches about the shore. And behind these loomed the deep shadows of the forest pines, vague and shapeless in the faint moonlight.

Tonight Ailil had rowed to the very center of the lake, and was lying in his tiny boat intoxicating himself with the deep, mad beauty about him. A vast distance over his head, there was a slender crescent moon, and stars glimmered faintly through a thin mist that overhung the lake like a veil, protecting it from ancient eyes that might peer clown through the limitless heavens. Night birds cried out their weird notes, strange half human wails that issued from bird throats and blended with the eerie monotony of the thrumming bass of the frogs.

Ailil lay for a long time, listening and watching, curiously alert. He was acutely conscious of the ancient charm of the things about him. And, as in all things that are purely of the earth, there was something faintly sinister, something that grimaced and threatened ever so gently and subtly. Here was majestic, elemental beauty armed with its primeval, overpowering appeal . . . often are the Pipes of Pan heard in salute of a new devotee.

Ailil loved the lake. He loved it as a part of his own life. The thought of ever leaving it, or of ever going very far from it, wounded him like a physical pain. Every night, he slipped away and lay on its bosom, as he was doing tonight, calm, peaceful and quietly happy as he floated amid the deep beauty. Lachrymal fronds of willows drooped about the shore, and thin wisps of spiraling mist rose slowly from the lake's night blue surface, wavering and gliding.

Occasionally a firefly darted over the water, lighting the scene with the green glow of its cold, phosphorescent fire, and like the symphonic composition of an inspired madman, the base of the frogs and the thin wailing of the swamp birds echoed among the trees.

The soft lapping of the water on the sides of the boat recalled Ailil from his dreaming, and he noticed that his little craft had slowly drifted back toward the shore. Arousing himself, he pulled at the oars which slipped noiselessly through the dark waters, and in a few minutes, he was once more in the center of the lake.

Tonight he was free to dream as long as he wished. He would spend the whole night with this beauty, it would he his first night on the lake. Alone through all the deep hours of the night, and the wan moments of the early dawn, when the sun would mingle mists of grey and gold with the blue of the lake, and the somber green of the trees, he would rest alone and content on the bosom of this wild enchantment that he loved.

Once more in the center of the lake, Ailil lifted an ancient, time-rusted anchor and dropped it over the side of the boat. Silently and quickly it plunged through the dark depths of the water. How deep this ancient well must be! Coil after coil of the rope unwound, jerking and sliding over the side of the boat as if it were being sucked into the depths of a fathomless abyss. Finally, with a slight quiver of the rope, the anchor touched bottom, and Ailil made fast the rope, looping it about a hook on the boat's side.

With a sigh, he leaned back once more in the soft cushions that padded the hard boards of the crude boat. He thought of nothing, he was content merely to lie there with the calm and peace of the beauty about him. How long he remained thus he did not know. It might have been an hour, or merely minutes, for nothing happened to disturb the tranquillity of the scene. There was nothing to claim his attention other than the strange similarity of the lake to a dark mirror, and the curiously twisted shadows of the willows that kneeled about the shore, trailing their branches in the water.

A huge moth, rising seemingly from nowhere, fluttered past his face, its wings brushing his cheek as it passed in silent flight. The great white wings beat the air like frail shadows as the creature fluttered slowly past him in its curious rising and falling flight. These great night moths always impressed Ailil as an ephemeral part of the night; they seemed almost a bit of the night itself, given life for a few brief hours and then sinking into quick dissolution with the rising of the sun. A faint, indescribable odor of mustiness and age-old strangeness was wafted to Ailil as the creature brushed past him, fluttering toward the tiny cabin which sheltered the opposite end of the boat. The door of the cabin was opened, and drawn by the darkness, the moth fluttered through the opening, and as Ailil watched, became a grey ghost, and then was lost in the gloom of the cabin's recesses.

Ailil smiled. He would have an interesting trophy of his night on the lake. The creature must have tired its fragile wings with the long flight across the water, and sought the boat for rest. Ailil thought it strange that he should not have noticed it as it approached; he reflected that it seemed almost to have risen from the water beside the boat, so suddenly did it flutter past him.

And then the moth was forgotten as Ailil once more contemplated the shore and the grotesquely shaped trunks and branches of the willows which his fancy never tired of endowing with gnarled and twisted natures to correspond with their physical shapes of grotesquerie, emphasized in the diffused moonlight that glimmered through the mist of the lake. Again he dreamed, and again he knew not for how long. Time was nothing. For him it had ceased to be, and he existed as might a ripple on the lake's surface, or as the willows weeping on the shore.

Slowly Ailil felt himself returning. Gradually his attention was being drawn back to the captivation of his mind and body, while unaccountably the projection of his thoughts into the nothingness of this dark abyss o£ beauty was being terminated. With something like annoyance, he realized this, and vaguely he wondered why.

Suddenly he knew! He was not alone. His mind was bright, alert and clear, wiped free of the cobwebs of dreams. Quickly he sat up and stared incredibly toward the cabin at the farther end of the boat.

Seated before the entrance of the cabin, was a young girl. She was merely sitting and staring at him with a wan and curious smile on her pale lips. Masses of golden hair floated down her back, and away from her head, mingling and becoming one with the sheen of the moonlight. The faintest of colors tinged the ivory pallor of her cheeks, and about her lips played the wisp of a smile, as tender and appealing as a child's.

Ailil could only stare, incredibly. He was overwhelmed in an instant with the loveliness of the picture. It possessed him and filled him with a fascination that held something of awe. He could not speak, and for several minutes he simply sat there and stared at this strange beauty that blended so perfectly with the ancient loveliness of the lake. Here, pictured in the exquisite moldings of human flesh, was a mortal representation of the lake's eternal charm.

And then, a thousand thoughts began whirling in wildest confusion in Ailil's mind. How did she get here? Who was she? Why was she here? The very commonplacencss of these riddles served to bring him closer to reality, and he realized that the girl must have hidden herself in the cabin of the boat. She could easily have escaped notice, since he never used the cabin except in the daytime, and for storage. Once more, he gazed at her. What a lovely stowaway she was! She had risen from her seat at the end of the boat, and was making her way toward him. The touch of her filmy white dress, brushing him, as she seated herself beside him, was like the trailing garment of a water Goddess, an Amphritrite with all the ancient charms of the seas at her command. Her closeness was overpowering, intoxicating to Ailil's beauty-drugged senses.

"You are not angry with me," she was speaking, "for annoying you? I so love the lake, and its beauty . . . and you too love it. That, I know."

Her voice was like the soft, caressing murmur of a thousand little streams, whispering in their hidden channels through night shaded forests of cool and damp depths. Murmuring and rising and falling imperceptibly, her words blended into a monotone of soft music. Ailil could not be sure that she was speaking, except for the exquisite tones that lingered in his mind and seemed to echo from a far distance.

"You are lovely," he breathed, "you are more lovely than the lake can ever be. Never did I dream of finding such beauty, alive and on the earth in this day." Ailil's throat was strangely dry, and he spoke in a husky, low-pitched voice. He could find nothing more to say. He could only stare at her, marveling, and praying that he would not awake from this mad, beautiful dream.

Already, she seemed to have forgotten him, and to have lost herself in the beauty of the night. Smiling faintly, as if all the world's happiness were hers, and she was possessed of a deep, soft joy, she leaned back into the cushions that pillowed the seat. Ailil gasped at the loveliness of her graceful throat and neck, as the moonlight filled the tiny hollows with a bluish glow, and lighted her eyes with wells of deep, glowing light.

And then Ailil's arms were about her, drawing her close to him, and their lips met in a kiss that was pure ecstasy and such wild delight as Ailil had never before known. Throughout the night, they lay there in the small dark boat, floating on the surface of the black lake. To Ailil it might have been the lake of Paradise on which they rested. The hours were tinged with the strangeness of mystery, and the utter loveliness of the surroundings, and the cries of the wild things in the swamp.


A faint greyness was stealing into the sky; the moon shone brightly and the first hush of the dawn light was creeping over the earth, Ailil awoke with a strange feeling of desolation and utter, unbearable loneliness. With wretched apprehension, his eyes immediately sought the loveliness of the creature of the night. She was gone. No trace of her remained, only the memory of her haunting charm.

A chilling illness seized Ailil. A wave of physical suffering and nausea swept over him. All was lost; all this wild beauty that he had loved so madly. Slowly the sun was routing the nocturnal beauties of the lake, and in a short time all the strange loveliness of the night would be gone. Ailil felt that he must flee, that he must hasten and leave the lake far behind him. He would hide away in the depths of the woods where the sun could not shine, where the gloom of the trees prevailed, and the light could not penetrate.

Frenziedly he began pulling up the heavy anchor. God! Would it never end? How deep was this ancient well that dropped into the center of the woodland like a vast cavity! Coil after coil of the rope, he tugged through the resisting waters. It was soaked through and slippery to the touch after the night in the lake. It reminded Ailil of the coils of a thin, brown serpent as it writhed and twisted from the depths of the abyss.

At last he could feel the heavy iron of the anchor swaying at the end of the rope. It was nearing the surface, and with a few more tugs he would be hauling it aboard, and leaving the accursed spot until night fell once more, and he could no longer resist the mad call of the dark waters.

And then Ailil saw that which sent him forever from the lake, never to return. Caught on a fork of the anchor was a human skeleton, dripping with mud and ooze, and long divested of the clothing of flesh which Ailil knew in a terrible moment had once been white, and tinged with the pallor of finely chiseled ivory.

THE FORGETFUL POET

By Ruth Plumly Thompson

Originally published in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, December 16, 1917.

The Forgetful Poet's Riddles 

The Forgetful Poet is so busy with his Christmas shopping and sending off parcel post packages that he said he only had time for a spoonful of verse, which is not to be taken seriously. He said he couldn't decide whether to give his great aunt Hester a sled or a dollhouse. I suggested that she might not appreciate such youthful gifts, but he said I had spoiled everything and upset his plans, and how did I know she was grown up inside. I apologized hastily, but he rushed out of the office in a temper, and I dare say Aunt Hester will be sliding down the hill on her new sled at Christmas. And I am sure I cannot help it.

Well, anyway, here are, or is his verse:

? ? ? ?

Part of my body
I found in a tree;
Something a sailor needs
In a rough sea

I found in my hands,
While part of my hat
Is musical--come now,
What make you of that?

Last week's answers are: Pin oak and pine tree and cotton plant. A pole is part of a telegraph system and a crane is used in construction. The places concealed in the sentences were Algiers, Athens, Florence, Pekin, Delaware, New Jersey, Tunis and Nice.

[Answers next time.]

Copyright © 2005 Eric Shanower and David Maxine. All rights reserved.