The Monarch¹ and Prince Zingle at the hole

 

 

PRINCE ZINGLE, who was the eldest² of all the princes of the Valley of Mo, at one time became much irritated because the King, his father, would not allow him to milk the cow with the golden horns. This cow was a great favorite with the King, because she gave as large a quantity of ice-cream at a milking as an ordinary cow does of milk, and in the warm days this was an agreeable luxury. The King liked to keep the cow with the golden horns for his own use and that of the Queen; so Prince Zingle thought he was being abused, having a great fondness for ice-cream himself.

 

To be sure, there was the great fountain of ice- cream soda-water playing constantly in the courtyard, which was free to every one; but the Prince longed for what he could not have.

 

Therefore, being filled with anger against his father, the King, he wandered away until he chanced to come near to the castle of the Purple Dragon.

 

The Purple DragonWhen the wicked monster saw the Prince, it decided³ that here was a splendid opportunity to make mischief⁴; so it said, politely:

 

"Good morning, King Zingle."

 

"I am not a king—I am only a prince," replied Zingle.

 

"What! not a king?" exclaimed the Dragon, as if surprised; "that is too bad."

 

"I can never be a king while my father lives," continued the Prince, "and it is impossible for him to die. So what can I do?"

 

"Since you ask my advice, I will tell you," answered the naughty Dragon. "Down near Rootbeer River, where the peanut trees grow, is a very deep hole in the ground. You must get the King to go and look into this hole, and while he is leaning over the edge, push him in. Of course, he will not die, for that, as you say, is impossible; but no one will know where to find him. So, your father being out of the way, you will be king in his place."

 

"That is surely good advice," said the Prince, "and I will go and do it at once. Then the cow with the golden horns will be mine, and I shall become the Monarch of Mo."

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