And there were the King
and Queen rubbing their eyes too, and they kissed their daughter and
welcomed the Prince most gladly.
And, all at the same time, the whole palace was awake. Cocks crowed,
dogs barked, the cats began to mew, the spits to turn, the clocks to
strike, the soldiers presented arms, the heralds blew their trumpets,
the head cook boxed a little scullion's ears, the butler went on
drinking his half-finished tankard of wine, the first lady-in-waiting
finished winding her skein of silk.
Everything, in short, went on exactly as though the spell had lasted
a hundred seconds instead of years. To be sure, Princess Miranda's
pretty white dress was just such a one as Prince Florimond's
great-grandmother might have worn. But that gave them something to
laugh at.
And now my story is done, for I need hardly tell you that the Prince
and Princess were married amid great rejoicings, and lived happily
ever after; and that the seven fairy godmothers danced at the wedding.
So all ended well, and what more could anyone wish?
* * * * *
OLD-FASHIONED POEMS
* * * * *
THE MAN IN THE MOON
Said the Raggedy Man on a hot afternoon,
"My!
Sakes!
What a lot o' mistakes
Some little folks makes on the Man in the Moon!
But people that's been up to see him like Me,
And calls on him frequent and intimutly,
Might drop a few hints that would interest you
Clean!
Through!
If you wanted 'em to--
Some actual facts that might interest you!
"O the Man in the Moon has a crick in his back;
Whee!
Whimm!
Ain't you sorry for him?
And a mole on his nose that is purple and black;
And his eyes are so weak that they water and run
If he dares to _dream_ even he looks at the sun,--
So he jes' dreams of stars, as the doctors advise--
My!
Eyes!
But isn't he wise--
To jes' dream of stars, as the doctors advise?
"And the Man in the Moon has a boil on his ear--
Whee!
Whing!
What a singular thing!
I know! but these facts are authentic, my dear,--
There's a boil on his ear; and a corn on his chin,--
He calls it a dimple--but dimples stick in--
Yet it might be a dimple turned over, you know!
Whang!
Ho!
Why certainly so!--
It might be a dimple turned over, you know:
"And the Man in the Moon has a rheumatic knee,
Gee!
Whizz!
What a pity that is!
And his toes have worked round where his heels ought to be.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213