“I have some friends there that I want to see,” replied Wamby.
“Are there many of the Pin Elves there?”
“A great many. I once counted up over five hundred that I knew of, and there are a large number of others who have been sent there.”
“What are they sent for, breaking the laws?”
“Oh! no. I myself am the only one I ever knew of who deliberately broke a law. The others were banished for displeasing the King. For instance, twelve friends of mine were sent to the Gnomes at one time, simply because they contradicted the King. He declared that the katydids had more beautiful voices than the crickets, and because they refused to agree with him they were banished. Then there was Kitey, a dear friend of mine, but an awful big fool in one way. He was so afraid of turning his back on the King that he never took his eyes off the King’s face when in the royal presence. One day at a banquet Kitey sat next to me, and I told him a funny story and made him laugh. Of course he was looking at the King all the time, and just then the King unluckily spilt some soup on his royal mantle, and seeing Kitey looking at him and laughing, he thought he was laughing at him; so away Kitey went to the Gnomes.”
“It’s shameful!” exclaimed Harry, indignantly. “Why do you stand it? I should think all of you would hate such a wicked King.”
“Well, everybody does hate him,” said Wamby, “except a few persons, like the Lord of the Safety-Pin, who are the King’s favorites. But what can you do?”
“Do!” cried Harry, “why, elect another King.”
“Elect another King!” repeated Wamby, as if bewildered at the very idea.
“Yes,” said Harry. “He’s the wickedest old tyrant I ever heard of. If most of you dislike him, the best thing to do is to choose some good elf as King, and send the old one off.”