~~ Chick, the Cherub::John Dough and the Cherub
The to send out of as it higher and higher into the black of the heavens; but of these came in with John Dough, who to the of the and so being damaged. Also the curved, and presently miles away over land and sea, by the terrible of the it contained. John that it would presently, and him to a cloud of stars. But the was not in the same way as the other and smaller ones that had been fired, the being to make it go as high and as as possible. So it itself out; but so great was the speed it had that it to for many minutes after the last had died away.
Then the to take a course; but it was so high up, by that time, that the and the empty hour after hour, the ground, until finally, just as a new day to break, the stick, with John Dough still fast to its end, upon an on all by the of a sea.
John on a soft bush, and to the ground, where for a time he still and to his thoughts.
He had not done much thinking, it seems, while he was in the air. The of wind past his ears had him, and he only he must fast to the and what might happen. Indeed, that was the only thing to be done in such an emergency.
a little man with a large head
The of the had for a moment the man; and as he upon the ground he a voice cry:
"Get off from me! Will you? Get off, I say."
John rolled over and sat up, and then another person—a little man with a large head—also sat up and him.
"What do you by it?" asked the little man, upon John Dough angrily. "Can't you see where you're falling?"
"No," answered John.
It was every minute, and the of were away the sun. John looked around him and saw he was upon a broad, beach which the of a great sea peacefully. Behind was a green meadow, and then that rose high into the air.
"How did you to be where I fell?" he asked, to the little man again.
"I always sleep on the sands," the other, his solemnly. "It's my fad. Fresh air, you know. I'm called the 'Fresh-Air Fiend.' I you're a new inhabitant. You queer."
"I'm of gingerbread," said John.
"Well, that is unusual, so I've no you will be in our Island," the man.
"But where am I?" asked John, looking around again with a puzzled expression.
"This is the Isle of Phreex," answered the other, "and it is by people. I'm one, and you're another."
He such a as he said this that the man not smiling, but it him to another laugh at his back—a and sweet, such as a bird trills. He around and saw a child upon the sands, where the of the sun upon its little form. And then the of the man big, and out from his cake in a way that his astonishment.
"It's a Vision!" he exclaimed.
"No, it's the Cherub—whom we call Chick," answered the big-headed man, carelessly.
The child had hair, in to its shoulders, but more or less and neglected. It had features, cheeks, and eyes. When these were grave—which was seldom—there were questions in them; when they smiled—which was often—sunbeams over their surfaces. For the child of pure white, which from the to the ankles, and had wide and legs, like those of a youngster's pajamas. The little one's and were bare, but the pink were protected by sandals with across the and ankles.
"IT'S THE CHERUB"
"Good morning," said John, again and he had not too rudely. "It me great to meet you."
"My name's Chick," the child, laughing in sweet trills, while the the man with wonder.
"That's a name," said John.
"Yes, it is funny," the child agreed, with a nod. "Chick means a chicken, you know. But I'm not a chicken."
"Of not," returned John. "A chicken is with feathers. And you are not."
That's a name
At this Chick laughed merrily, and said, as if it were the thing in the world: "I'm the Incubator Baby, you know."
"Dear me, I hadn't the least idea of it," John answered gravely. "May I ask what an Incubator Baby is?"
The child in the sand, its knees, and after of laughter.
"How funny!" it gurgled; "how that you don't know what the Incubator Baby is! Really, you must be fresh-baked!"
"I am," said John, to the fact, but to be truthful.
"Then, of course, you are very ignorant," the Fresh-Air Fiend, his big complacently.
"Oh, as for that," said John, "I acquired, in of manufacture, a of learning, which I got from an Arabian Elixir with which the mixed me. I am well posted in all events to the last century, but I cannot any knowledge of an Incubator Baby."
"No, they're a invention," the big-headed man, the child's curls. "Were you, by any chance, at the Pan-American Exposition? Or the Louisiana Purchase Exposition?"
"No," answered John. "My knowledge was up about then."
"Well," the man, "there were a good many Incubator Babies at those expositions, and of people saw them. But Chick is the and only Original Incubator Baby, and so Chick properly in the Isle of Phreex."
Chick jumped up, a bow, and with with exclaimed: "I'm six years old and and well."
"Tut-tut, Chick!" the big-headed man; "it was more than two years ago you were to make that speech. You can't be always six years old, you know."
The little the joke so much that John was to laugh in sympathy. But just then a him, and he asked, a little nervously:
"Do you like gingerbread?"
"I don't know," Chick. "Are you gingerbread?"
"I am," said John, bravely.
"Then I like gingerbread," the child declared; "for you sweet and look and gentle."
John didn't know to accept this as a or not. He was sorry to learn that he sweet, although to be called and was praise.
"Some folks," he remarked, timidly, "have an idea they like to eat gingerbread."
"I couldn't eat you," the child said, seriously, "because, being the Incubator Baby, I have to be very of my diet. You might not agree with me."
"I'm sure I couldn't agree with any one who ate me," John declared. "For, although as yet I have had no of that sort, it to me a very fate."
"Very true," the big-headed man.
"Let's be friends!" Chick, close to John and taking his soft hand in a clasp. "I'll take of you."
John looked at the little in positive wonder.
"We'll be friends, all right," said he; "but of your taking of me, Chick, I'll take of you."
"Oh, there you are wrong," in the big-headed man. "Chick's a in the Isle of Phreex, and the only one of us who our kinglet. And in case of danger—"
"Danger!" John, with a start. "Is there here, too?"
Chick's out at the question, but the man seriously:
"There is everywhere, to those who are unusual, and in the Isle of Phreex, where we are at the of a kinglet. But come; we must go and report your to that same ruler, or we shall all be punished."
"Very well," said John, meekly.
But as he took Chick's hand and to the Fresh-Air Fiend an of annoyance, and said:
"Here's luck already! The Failings are this way."
As he spoke a noise of and their ears, and presently people came around a of and John and his newly friends.
"It's the Brotherhood of Failings," the big-headed man. "Look out for them, or they'll do you a mischief."
"Don't worry; I'll take of you," said Chick, pressing the hand.
John at the new-comers, and they returned the by at him. A of have been together.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF FAILINGS
"This is the Blunderer," said the Fresh-Air Fiend, a short, man who was in and a over his shoulder. The Blunderer the by bowing. "And here is the Thoughtless One," the man, pointing to a tall, man who was in chamois-leather and a wide-mouthed under his arm.
"Look out for the gun," said Chick; "he or not it is loaded."
"And here are the Disagreeable, and the Unlucky, and the Sorrowful, and the Ugly, and the Awkward," the big-headed man, pointing out each Failing in turn. "Their you will have no trouble to discover. Indeed, on all the Isle of Phreex, there is no one more to meet with than this same of Failings."
At this the Brothers all bowed, saying at the same time:
"We are proud of ourselves!"
At that the Awkward over his own and against the Blunderer, who and his through the of John Dough.
"Oh!" Chick, horrified.
"I told you so!" the Fresh-Air Fiend, out the hastily. "Tell me, John Dough, are you dead, or are you just dying?"
"Neither one," said John, pushing together the that the had made; "but it doesn't add to my personal to be in that fashion. I'm of gingerbread," he explained, to the man in armor.
...John Dough's armor-clad was down...
"I your pardon! I your pardon!" said the Blunderer, at what he had done. "I had no of you."
"He means well," said the Incubator Baby; "but that doesn't help much."
"He won't last long in this Island," the Bad-Tempered, to John Dough.
"Being of gingerbread, he can't be to last," the Disagreeable, in a way that John shudder.
"He shall have my protection," said the Blunderer. "It's the least I can do to make amends. Here—put on this armour!"
He off the plates of metal, and the over the of the man.
"No, no!" John. "I don't want to wear all that hardware."
"But you must!" the Blunderer. "It's the only way you can accident in this Island."
"That's true enough," the big-headed man. "I you to wear the armor, my friend."
So John submitted to being in the armor, and no sooner had the plates been upon him than the of the act was apparent. For there came a and of sound, and a great over the at the very spot where they stood. It sent the Brotherhood of Failings in every direction, while the Incubator Baby to the water's edge, and John Dough's armor-clad was and pressed into the soft until it was level with the surface.
But presently Chick came and the others him out and set him upon his again, and then it was that no one had been injured.
"What was it?" asked John, in at the place where the had in the distance.
"It's the one-wheeled automobile," answered the Sorrowful, "and unless it soon the Isle of Phreex will be an Isle of Cripples. I don't why they the thing."
I'm the Prize Potato
"Why, to make room for new arrivals, of course," the Disagreeable. "But it was lucky for the Pudding Man that he to be in steel."
"I am not pudding, if you please," said John, indignantly. "I you to that I am gingerbread."
"It's all one," the Thoughtless, "your cake is dough, anyhow."
"Let us return to the castle," the Ugly said. "Our should be to his new subject."
So they all started off across the green, Chick leading the man, until they came to a path leading through the rocks, along which they to ascend. John had much in out of the way of the Awkward, who and constantly, while the Blunderer upon taking the path, and the Bad-Tempered stopped twice to with the Disagreeable and the Thoughtless. At last, however, they the top, which proved to be a plain of rock, upon which a great with many tall and towers and minarets.
While they paused for John Dough to the view, and that they all might breath, a voice said near them:
"You're late, you of Failings, and the will scold."
John looked around, and saw upon a point of the path a most looking creature.
"Don't stare!" it said, with a laugh. "I don't, and I've got a dozen to your one. Let me myself. I'm the Prize Potato from the Centerville Fair."
Indeed, John now noticed a big around the middle of the potato, and on the was printed in gold letters: "First Prize."
"Some day you'll sprout," said the Disagreeable, "and then you won't have so many eyes."
THE CASTLE OF PHREEX
The Prize Potato its eyes, one after the other, in a fashion, and answered:
"Some day you'll meet with an accident, my dear Failing; but when you're planted in the ground you'll not at all. That's where I'm your superior, for I'm perpetual. Every one of my is good for a half-peck of potatoes, at least."
"Unless you're with your jacket on," the Ugly, with a smile.
"Come, come! Let us on," the little man with the big head. "Our us."
When they had gone a steps the Incubator Baby paused to say: "Some one is us, and it's a stranger."
This John to look around, and he stopped with an of upon his face. For there, the of the path, was Ali Dubh the Arab. The at once a of and triumph, and his knife he upon John Dough with great eagerness.
The man had up all of and his when, Chick the Blunderer's and the Arab so with it that Ali Dubh his full length upon the path and his knife-blade into a dozen pieces. But he and was about to bite into John's leg when the big-headed man came to the and a of into the Arab's open mouth, and so him from doing the man any damage.
...The man had up all of
escape...
"He dangerous," the Blunderer. "Let's tie him up, he someone."
So while the Arab was the out of his mouth, the Brotherhood of Failings his hands and with cords, so that he not move.
"He's mine!" the Arab, as soon as he speak. "He to me. I him for my own."
"There's no in that," the Fresh-Air Fiend. "But one of the laws of this Isle is that no person shall be by any one the kinglet. And every one here must the laws. So, unless you promise not to or to eat this man of gingerbread, who is now a of our kinglet, we must lock you up in prison."
"I'll eat him as soon as I have the chance. I have a right to do so," the Arab.
"You're a man!" said Chick, one small indignantly.
"I'm not," answered Ali Dubh; "I'm a good man. And I paid Jules Grogrande fifty for this of a man, who is mixed with my own magic Elixir. Also I paid a nine to transport me to the man might be—which is right here—that I might take of my own property. So I've got him, and he's paid for, and he's mine, and I the right to eat him I please."
"You'll do no such thing," Chick. "Why, John Dough is alive, and no one has a right to make him and then eat him—even if he is paid for!"
... lock this
Arab in a room of the castle...
"Don't worry, my Cherub," said the big-headed man, soothingly; "we'll go at once and lock this Arab in a room of the castle, so that he can't possibly escape."
Chick at this promise; but the Arab and said, grimly:
"Never mind. My time will come. Some day I shall surely eat that man, in of this Cherub and all the of you."
This the Brotherhood of Failings and the big-headed man so angry that they at once Ali Dubh away to the castle, and John Dough and Chick after, hand in hand, and safe.
Presently they came to a great that into the of the castle. Having passed through this arch, the man saw groups of the most people, who were themselves over tasks, such as machines, strange-smelling in pots, designs, and like occupations. A crash that the Blunderer had into the middle of a machine and it into bits. Before they him out the Unlucky One ran against the arm of a and was half-way across the courtyard, while the Awkward One a and set every one to who the odor of the that was upon the ground.
To John's no one much over these accidents. Even the joined in Chick's laughter, and those of the Failings who had to lock up the Arab in a that had a iron for a door, and with a padlock.
Afterward they all entered through a second into the great of the castle.
This was a long, wide room with a floor, and that were with many trophies, such as armor, spears, battle-axes, and of design.
At the end was a upon which a throne. Back of the was an electric sign, one at a time, and reading: "What is Home without a kinglet?" Over the was an crown—big for a giant—which with gems. Beside the a very man sat in a chair so low that his nearly touched his chin. He a red coat, a wide white vest, and knee-breeches, and all were in gold. The man's were closed and he asleep.
Within the sat the kinglet, upon cushions, so that he would fit it better. For the was a small boy with a long, face, eyes, a nose, and black across his forehead, and in lank, over his shoulders. He an with purple, and in his hand a with a at one end, while the a small knob. The kinglet's were under him like those of a Turk, and he very and delicate.
However, when the Failings and the Fresh-Air Fiend and Chick and John Dough entered, the kinglet's was into a frown, and his fire.
"Odds Zooks!" he cried, as they all the throne, "why have you to wait until this hour to pay me your devoirs?"
Then he and the man with the of his sceptre, so that the started and opened his eyes. "Is that right, Nebbie? Is 'devoir' a word?" he demanded.
"Absolutely kingly, your Majesty," said the man, yawning. "It was used by King Arthur and Richard Cœur de Leon."
"Very well!" said the kinglet, proudly. Then he again to the group him. "Why don't you answer me?" he exclaimed. "Why are you so late in paying me your boudoirs?"
THE KINGLET AND NEBBIE
"Devoirs, your Majesty!" said the man, hastily.
"I said 'devoirs'!" returned the kinglet, upon him in anger.
"We are late we did not here sooner," said the Awkward; "and we not here sooner we were late."
"So!" his Majesty, with eyes. "Now by my halidom—" he paused suddenly, and to the man, him so that he jumped into the air. "Is 'halidom' the right word, Nebbie?"
"Sure," said the man, emphatically.
"What it mean?" asked the kinglet.
"What mean?"
"Yes."
"Why, a is a halidom," said the man, thoughtfully; "and to kings."
"But what is it?" the kinglet, impatiently.
"It's a—a—a of a prerogative, and is painted red," returned the man, and his seat and closed his again.
The sighed, and to the Failings.
"Let me see," he remarked; "where was I?"
"You were by your halidom, your Majesty," the Blunderer.
"Oh, yes." Again the long took on a frown. "By my halidom, churl—" He stopped to at the man.
"Churl is all right," Nebbie, without opening his eyes.
"By my halidom, churl, you shall either my or die the death!"
"What death?" asked the Blunderer, trembling.
"The one that makes people dead," the kinglet, sternly. "Choose, then, varlet—" ("Varlet is good," said Nebbie, quickly, to avoid a thrust) "whether to my or die the death!"
The Blunderer at the sceptre, the of which was nearly as large as his head.
"I'll the sceptre," he said.
"Good," the kinglet, and it toward him.
"But not now," added the Blunderer, hastily; "I'll take my time about it. You didn't say when, you know."
The red with rage.
"Now, by the Juggernaut of Jowl—" he began.
"If I should it now," the Blunderer, calmly, "you would to be a kinglet; for a without a is nothing but a flibberjig."
There's a child, I must say!
"What!" his Majesty, the man furiously.
"That's right," Nebbie, and his dolefully. "A without a is a flibberjig, and I'll be black and by to-morrow morning!"
"Well," said his Majesty, after the matter, "I you, Sir Blunderer, to my until I give you leave."
Then his upon John Dough and Chick, who were at one of the Failings, and the little looked surprised, and then curious, and then annoyed. But the look was Chick laughed in the in a way that was disrespectful, and John Dough didn't look at all humble.
"Here, you Chick; yourself," the kinglet.
"I won't," said Chick, two lips.
"Well, this at one time without an Incubator Baby, and I we you now. I'll have your saucy cut off," the kinglet.
"I you!" said Chick, making a face.
"There's a child, I must say!" the kinglet, scowling. "But what can we of a that has no and no proper bringing-up? Bah! I'm of you, Chick!"
"Don't you say anything against my Incubator!" Chick, angrily. "I I've had as good bringing-up as you have, you kinglet, you!"
His Majesty was at about to with equal anger; but he his mind and to John Dough.
"Who are you, stranger?" he asked. "And why are you the Blunderer's armor?"
So much had been this by his that John was about to reply to these questions; but to his Chick his hand and to him to make a low and to be very what he said. So the man and his Majesty with great ceremony.
I you Knight of Phreex
"Oh, most and kinglet!" he began; "I am called John Dough, I am of gingerbread; and I came to your Isle I not help it."
The looked upon the with a expression.
"'Puissant and serene'!" he murmured. "Evidently, John Dough, you are a person of and intelligence, such as are most welcome to the Isle of Phreex. Kneel at my feet."
John knelt, as commanded, and the at once him a upon the Blunderer's with the end of the sceptre. It in the plate, and would have the man's had it not been so well protected by the helmet.
"I you Knight of Phreex," said his Majesty. "Rise, Sir John Dough—villain no longer, but and among my subjects!"
John up and bowed, although he was by the of the blow.
"Long live the Kinglet of Phreex," he managed to say. And Chick two hands with glee, and whispered: "Well done, my friend!"
"You me, Sir John," the little kinglet, out his complacently. "I wish all the people of Phreex were so and discerning." Then he looked around and inquired: "Where's Sir Austed Alfrin, the Poet Laureate?"
Immediately a parted, and a man with a pale, thin and long black entered and his Majesty with respect. The Poet had a over one and as if in one leg. He was all in black, and his long had the of it.
"Have you me a to-day?" the little kinglet.
"Yes, my Master," answered the Poet; and, a scroll, he read in a loud, voice, these lines:
"There is a wise Kinglet of Phreex,
Whose is so great that it leaks;
His brain isn't big,
But who a fig
While from him reeks?"
Have you me a to-day?
"Now, that's not so bad," said his Majesty, reflectively. "But can't you make it a little stronger, Sir Poet?"
"I'll try," Austed Alfrin; and after pencilling some on his he read as follows:
"The Goddess of Wisdom sad;
And when asked why she so bad,
Said: 'There's one, it is true,
Who more than I do—
And the Kinglet of Phreex is the lad!'"
"Now that," said his Majesty, "strikes me as being poetry. How it you, Sir John Dough?"
"It's good," the man; "but it you justice."
"The Poet doesn't do his Majesty justice," said the Disagreeable Failing. "If he did, there would soon be no Poet."
"There's something in that, too," said the kinglet. "But now, Sir Austed, me a on my new subject, Sir John Dough."
The Poet and on his tablets; and presently he read this:
"The Kinglet of Phreex, it is said,
Has a Knight of gingerbread;
We eat him, but yet
The we'd get
Would soon make us wish we were dead."
"That," said John, indignantly, "is rank libel; and if your Majesty will me your sceptre, I'll make an end of this Poet in seven by the clock."
"You have my permission to make mince-meat of him," the kinglet, cheerfully.
"Mercy! mercy, my lord!" the Poet, upon his John and the off his tablets, "give me one more chance, I of you!"
"Very well," said the knight. "But if it's no than the last you shall be discharged. Is it not so, your Majesty?"
"Quite so," laughed the kinglet.
The Poet another set of lines, which he read in a voice that with fear:
"The Gingerbread Man is so sweet,
To eat him would be a treat;
He's and well spiced,
And you'd find, were he sliced,
That the eggs in him cannot be beat!"
"That's better," said John, "but I'm not sure about the eggs, as I did not pay much attention when I was mixed. However, this to my will save you from my displeasure, and you may go free."
The Poet did not wait an instant, but ran from the as fast as his would him.
The now the Failings, who left the presence and one another, and making so much noise and that the man was to see them go.
"Aren't they nice?" asked the kinglet, looking after them. "I'd like to them all in the moat, like kittens; but every kinglet, they say, has his Failings, so I I must keep mine."
He sighed, and continued: "But what did the Poet's say about your being and well spiced, and good were you sliced?"
"Don't pay any attention to that, your Majesty!" said John, hastily.
"But why not?" the kinglet. "I declare, Sir John, there's something about you that makes me I look at you. I don't having any since I was a boy—ahem!—I since I came to over the Isle of Phreex. Ho there, my guards! Fetch me a knife!"
John was now with terror; but Chick said to the kinglet: "Your Majesty that you are to have pancakes and maple-syrup for tea. What's the use of your appetite, when you know the man will keep good for weeks?"
"Are you sure?" asked the kinglet, anxiously. "Are you sure he'll keep? Won't he stale?"
"Of not," answered the child. "He's the of that always good. And you mustn't he'll be a to the Isle of Phreex; for saw a live man before?"
"Nobody," the kinglet, positively. "You're right, my Cherub; I'll save the man for another meal, and in the meantime I can him off my people. We ourselves, Sir John, on having a of than any other in existence."
"Then you ought to be of them, and not permit them to be eaten," said John, still anxious. But the did not to him.
"Pancakes and maple-syrup!" his Majesty, longingly. "Dear me, Chick; I wish tea were now."
"So do I," said Chick, laughing; for John Dough was safe from being just then, might be his fate, and the child had saved him by the mention of the and syrup.
But now a was at the door, and in a number of the a big on which was seated a woman so that she appeared to be much than she was long.
"Here! what's the trouble with Bebe Celeste?" asked the kinglet, frowning.
BÉBÉ CELESTE
"She has two ounces, your Majesty," one of the guards, the from his with his sleeve.
"Two ounces!" the kinglet. "Now, by the of Samson—by the way, Nebbie, did Samson wear a toga?" He the man so that Nebbie gave a of pain he answered.
"He several, your Majesty!"
"Then, by the of Samson, Bebe Celeste, how you come me two shy?"
"I didn't come; I was brought," said the woman, in a voice.
"She was in the and wanting," said the guardsman.
"What was she wanting?" asked the kinglet.
"Two ounces, your Majesty."
The ruler his nose with one finger, in a manner.
"Bebe," said he, "you've been again. You're trying to reduce!"
The woman to cry. "'T ain't my fault, your giblet—"
"Kinglet, woman!" said the man, without opening his eyes.
"Your kinglet, I didn't to a single o' flesh. But my dog Duo got to with himself and I got in my mind—"
"Oh, the is in your mind, is it?" the kinglet. "I wouldn't mind the if I had not you to at all, in your mind."
"I couldn't help it, your fudgesty—"
"Majesty, woman!" said the man, sleepily.
"My dog Duo got to quarrelling—"
"Bring us the dog, varlets, churls, and vassals!" the kinglet, in his voice.
The over each other to obey; and presently they returned leading such a animal that John Dough at it in amazement.
It was a dog, without doubt
It was a dog, without doubt; or rather, it was a dog's with a and two at either end of it. So that when one end walked the other end had to walk backward, and that the end angrily. But the same end was not always the end of the dog; for one head, and then the other, would prove strongest, and the animal forward.
When this dog, which was named Duo, was in, were and barking in a very noisy manner. But much they were, they together to do one another mischief.
"Be silent!" the kinglet, at the clamor.
But the dog's paid no attention to the command.
"Very well," said his Majesty; "I'll put a stop to your noise for good and all! Here, you guards, me the Royal Executioner!"
The lady at this, and presently the door opened and a girl entered the hall. She was in of pure white, over which her in a soft cloud. Her were large and dark and very in expression, and her were as a lily. In one hand the a long sword, the of which in the light. In the other hand was a sharpening-stone, and as she the she the against the of the blade.
...spread the huge
batch of upon the big table...
Although the dog's were still quarrelling, and Bebe Celeste still weeping, it was upon John Dough that the Royal Executioner her eyes.
"I it isn't this one, your Majesty!" she said, in a voice of disappointment; "for he won't at all, being of cake."
"I your pardon," John, hastily. "I am not cake, but gingerbread."
"It's just the same," she answered, sighing; "you wouldn't if I cut you into bits."
"Why are you so bloodthirsty?" asked John, looking into the girl's eyes.
"Because I'm the Royal Executioner, I suppose," she answered. "I've the office since my father was by an earthquake; but I've yet a single person. The calls me in about a dozen times a day, but something always to me of my victim. I've out three blades, them, but I've anything yet!"
"Be of good cheer," said his Majesty, "for now you shall see blood like water. This time I am to be terrible. Cut me this into two parts!"
"What, the dog?" asked the girl, surprised. And Bebe to loudly; and the man up and his head, and Chick of the animal tenderly, and a out: "Oh, no, your Majesty!"
Cut me this
snarling into two parts!
"And why not?" the kinglet.
"Why, this is the most valuable in all your dominions!" said the guard. "Do you to of such a treasure, your Majesty?"
The hesitated, and then the man with his sceptre.
"Is it so, Nebbie?" he asked.
"It is so, my Lord," answered the man. "If you want to anything, cut up a of the Royal Guards, or the Failings, or Chick, the Cherub. But the dog Duo is one of the of your kingdom, and should be at all hazards. Why, he's more than Bebe Celeste."
"That me of Bebe," said the kinglet, looking at the one sternly. "Take her away, guards, and her with potatoes and de gras. If she doesn't those two in three days, she'll my kingdom, and I'll turn her over to the Royal Executioner."
So the away the on which the lady sat, and the dog Duo followed, one leading, and then the other. And now his Majesty off his and the and out of the throne.
The audience is ended for to-day
"The audience is ended for to-day," he said, "and now I'll go and see if those and maple-syrup are for tea. And see here, you Incubator Baby, look after Sir John Dough, and mind that nobody eats him. If there's one bite gone when I see him again I'll turn you over to the Royal Executioner—and then there won't be any Incubator Baby."
Then his Majesty walked away, to himself in a very manner. At once the Nebbie rolled out of his low seat and up, and out his arms.
"Our is a hard master," said he, with a sigh, "and I wish some one would up a and him. He's been my all day long, and I'll be black and by to-morrow morning."
"He's cruel," said Chick, the man's hand, as if to him.
"Yet he's too tender-hearted to me," the Executioner. "If I only a single of blood, I'd that I am of some use in the world."
"How dreadful!" John, with a shudder.
"Oh, not at all!" said the girl. "For what's the object of being an Executioner if one can't execute?" And she the under her arm and took out her and away sorrowfully.
And she the under her
arm and took out her and went
away sorrowfully.
