THE CHILDREN
THE PLAYMATES
There was once a Prince and he was very lonely, because he had no sisters or brothers in the palace with whom to play. And one day his father and mother, the King and Queen, decided that they would send to some neighboring Kingdoms to borrow a little Princess, who should come and live at the palace, and be the sister and the playmate of the Prince.
So they sent for one of the Court Messengers, and then they called the Prince to tell him that he was going to have a little Princess to be his playmate.
They talked the matter over with the Court Wise-Man that the Messenger might understand just what sort of little Princess he should bring, and make no mistake about it.
"She must be sweet tempered," said the King.
"And I should like her to have blue eyes and yellow hair and curls," said the Queen.
"And if I may be so bold as to make a suggestion," said the Court Wise-Man, "she should be rich, for she and the Prince will need a great many new toys."
They never thought to ask the Prince what his choice of a little Princess would be. But the Prince did not wait to be asked.
"I want only a little Princess who can make molasses pop-corn balls," he said.