_The Seventh Surprise_
TIMTOM AND THE PRINCESS PATTYCAKE
Now of all the monarch's daughters the most beautiful by far was thePrincess Pattycake. The deep blue of her eyes made even the skyenvious, and the moss roses blushed when they saw the delicate bloom onher cheeks. The long strands of her silken hair were brighter thansunbeams, while her ears were like two tiny pink shells from theseashore. Indeed, there was nothing in all the Valley so dainty andpretty as Princess Pattycake, and many young men would have loved herhad they dared. But, alas! the Princess had a most terrible temper, andnever was pleased with anything; so the young men, and even the oldones, were afraid to come near her.
She scolded from morning till night; she stamped her pretty foot withrage when any one spoke to her; and if ever her brothers tried toreason with her she boxed their ears so soundly that they were glad tolet her alone. Even the good Queen could not love Pattycake as she didher other children, and the King often sighed when he thought of theugly disposition of his beautiful daughter. Of course no one cared verymuch for her society, and she sat in her room all day long, refusing tojoin the others in their sports and games, and becoming more moody andbad-tempered the older she grew.
One day a young man came to the court to bring pickled peaches to hisMajesty, the King. The youth's name was Timtom, and he lived so faraway and came so seldom to court that never before had he seen thePrincess Pattycake.
When he looked into her sweet, blue eyes he loved her at once for herbeauty, and being both brave and bold he went directly to the King andasked for Pattycake's hand in marriage.
His Majesty was naturally surprised at so strange a request; so he saidto the young man:
"What does the Princess say? Does she love you?"
"I do not know," replied Timtom, "for I have never spoken with her."
"Well," said the King, much amazed at the ignorance and temerity of theyouth, "go and speak to my daughter about the matter, and then come andtell me what she replies."
Timtom went at once to the room where Princess Pattycake was moodilysitting, and said, boldly:
"I should like to marry you."
"What!" screamed the Princess, in a great rage; "marry me! Go away thisinstant, you impudent boy, or I shall throw my shoe at your head!"
Timtom was both surprised and shocked at this outburst, but he realizedthat the Princess had a remarkably bad temper. Still he was not movedfrom his purpose, for she was so pretty he decided not to abandon theattempt to win her.
"Do not be angry, for I love you," he pleaded, looking bravely intoPattycake's blue eyes.
"Love me?" echoed the surprised Princess; "that is not possible! Everyone else hates me."
"They do not hate you," ventured Timtom; "it is your temper they hate."
"But my temper and I are one," answered the Princess, harshly, as shestamped her foot.
"Surely that is not so," returned the young man, "for certainly I loveyou, while your temper I do not like a bit. Don't you think you couldlove me?"
"Perhaps I might, if you could cure my bad temper; but my temper willnot allow me to love any one. In fact, I believe that unless you goaway at once I shall be obliged to box your ears!"
There seemed to be no help for her, so Timtom left the room sadly, andgoing to the King, told him what she had said.
"Then that is the end of the matter," declared the King, "for no onecan cure Pattycake of her bad temper."
"I am resolved to try, nevertheless," replied Timtom, "and, if Isucceed, you must give me the Princess in marriage."
"I will, and my blessing into the bargain," answered the King,heartily.
Then Timtom left the court, and went back to his father's house, wherehe thought on the problem for a week and a day. At the end of that timehe was no nearer solving it than he was before; but his mother, who hadnoticed that her boy was in trouble, now came to him to ask the causeof his sad looks. Timtom told her all about the Princess Pattycake, andof his love for her, and the evil temper that would not be cured.
His mother gave him her sympathy, and after some thought, said to him:"You must go to the sorceress Maetta and ask her assistance. She is agood lady, and a friend to all the King's family. I am quite sure shewill aid you, if only you can find your way to the castle in which shelives."
"Where is this castle?" asked Timtom, brightening up.
"Away to the south, in the midst of a thick wood," answered his mother.
"Then," said he, sturdily, "if this castle exists, I will surely findit, for to win Pattycake is my only hope of happiness."
The next day he set out on his journey, filled with the hope of findingMaetta's castle and securing her assistance.
Before he had gone very far a snow-storm began to rage. Now, thesnow-storms in Mo are different from ours, for the snow is popcorn, andon this day it fell so thick and fast that poor Timtom had muchdifficulty in wading through it. He was obliged to stop frequently torest, and ate a great deal of the popcorn that cumbered his path, forit was nicely buttered and salted.
Finally, to his joy, it stopped snowing, and then he was able to walkalong easily until he came to the River of Needles.
When he looked on this river he was nearly discouraged, and could notthink of a way to get across; for instead of water the river flowed aperfect stream of sharp, glittering needles.
Sitting down on the bank, he was wondering what he should do when tohis astonishment a small but sharp and disagreeable voice said to him:
"Where are you going, stranger?"
Timtom looked down between his feet and saw a black spider, which saton a blade of grass and watched him curiously.
"I am on my way to visit the sorceress Maetta," replied Timtom; "But Ican not get across the River of Needles."
"They are very sharp, and would make a thousand holes through you in aninstant," remarked the spider, thoughtfully. "But perhaps I can helpyou. If you are willing to grant me a favor in return, I will gladlybuild a bridge, so you may cross the river in safety."
"What is the favor?" he asked.
"I have lost an eye, and you must ask the sorceress to give me a newone, for I can see but half as well as I could before."
"I will gladly do this for you," said Timtom.
"Very well; then I will build you a bridge," promised the spider; "butif you have not the eye with you when you return I shall destroy thebridge, and you will never be able to get home again."
The young man agreed to this, for he was anxious to proceed. So thespider threw a web across the river, and then another, and another,until it had made a bridge of spider-web strong enough for Timtom tocross over.
It bent and swayed when his weight was on the slender bridge, but itdid not break, and after he was safe across he thanked the spider andrenewed his promise to bring back the eye. Then he hurried away on hisjourney, for he had lost much time at the river.
But, to his dismay, the young man shortly came to a deep gulf, thatbarred his way as completely as had the River of Needles. He peereddown into it and saw it had no bottom, but opened away off at the otherside of the world. Here was an obstacle which might well dishearten theboldest traveler, and Timtom was so grieved that he sat down on thebrink and wept tears of disappointment.
"What is troubling you?" asked a soft voice in his ear.
Turning his head the youth saw a beautiful white bird sitting besidehim.
"I wish to visit the castle of the sorceress Maetta on very importantbusiness," he replied, "but I can not get over the gulf."
"I could carry you over with ease," said the bird, "and shall gladly doso if, in return, you promise to grant me one favor."
"What is the favor?" inquired Timtom.
"I have forgotten my song, through having a sore throat for a longtime," replied the bird. "So, try as I may, I can not sing a singlenote. If you will agree to bring me a new song from the sorceress Iwill take you over the gulf, and bring you back when you return. Butunless you bring the song I shall not carry y
ou over again."
Timtom joyfully agreed to this bargain, and then, sitting on the bird'sneck, he was borne safely across the deep gulf.
After continuing his journey for an hour without further interruptionhe saw before him the edge of a great wood, and knew that in the midstof this forest of trees was the castle of Maetta.
He thought then that his difficulties were all over, and trampedbravely on until he reached the wood. What, now, was the youth's horroron discovering on one side of his path a great lion, crouched ready tospring on any one who ventured to enter the wood, while on the otherside was a monstrous tiger, likewise prepared to attack any intruder.The fierce beasts were growling terribly, and their eyes glowed likeballs of fire.
Timtom gladly would have turned back had such a thing been possible,for his heart was full of fear. But he remembered that without thebird's song and the spider's eye he could never reach home again. Healso thought of the pretty face of Princess Pattycake, and this gavehim courage. Resolving to perish, if need be, rather than fail in hisadventure, the youth stepped boldly forward, and when he approached thesnarling guardians of the forest he gave one bound and dashed into thewood.
At the same moment the lion leaped at him from one side and the tigerfrom the other, and no doubt they would have devoured him had notTimtom's foot slipped just then and thrown him flat on the ground. Thelion and the tiger therefore met in mid air, and each one thinking ithad hold of Timtom, tried to tear him to pieces, with the result thatin a few moments they had devoured each other instead of him.
The youth now strode rapidly through the wood, and was getting alongfamously when he came to a high wall of jasper that completely blockedhis way. It was smooth as glass, and Timtom saw no way of climbing overit.
While he stood wondering how he might overcome this new obstacle a grayrabbit hopped out from the bushes and asked:
"Where do you wish to go, stranger?"
"To the castle of the sorceress Maetta," answered Timtom.
"Well, perhaps I can assist you," said the rabbit. "I need a new tailbadly, for my old one is merely a stump, and no use at all in fly-time.If you will be kind enough to get me a new tail from the sorceressMaetta--a long, nice, bushy tail--I will dig under the wall, and somake a passage for you to the other side."
"I shall be pleased to return the favor by bringing you the tail,"declared Timtom, eagerly.
"Very well; then you shall see how fast I can work," returned therabbit. Immediately it began digging away with its little paws, and ina very short time had made a hole large enough for Timtom to crawlunder the wall.
"If you do not bring the tail," said the rabbit, in a warning voice, "Ishall fill up the hole again, so that you will be unable to get back."
"Oh, I shall bring the tail, never fear," answered the youth, andhurried away toward the castle of Maetta, which was now visible throughthe trees.
The castle was built of pure, white marble, and was very big andbeautiful. It stood in a lovely garden filled with blue roses and pinkbuttercups, where fountains of gold spouted showers of diamonds, andrubies, and emeralds, and amethysts, all of which sparkled in the sunso gorgeously that it made Timtom's eyes ache just to look at them.
However, he had not come to admire these things, gorgeous and beautifulthough they were, but to win the Princess Pattycake; so he walked tothe entrance of the castle, and seeing no one about, entered the greatdoor-way and passed through.
He found himself in a passage-way covered with mother-of-pearl, wheremany electric lights were hidden in shells of most exquisite tintings.At the other end of the passage was a door studded with costly gems.
Timtom walked up to this door and knocked on it. Immediately it swungopen, and the youth found himself in a chamber entirely covered withdiamonds. In the center was a large diamond throne, and on this satMaetta, clothed in a pure white gown, with a crown of diamonds on herbrow and in her hand a golden scepter tipped with one enormous diamondthat glowed like a ball of fire. Above the throne was a diamond-coveredchandelier, with hundreds of electric lights, and these made the GrandChamber of Diamonds glitter so brightly that Timtom was nearly blinded,and had to shade his eyes with his hand.
But after a few moments he grew accustomed to the brightness andadvancing to the throne fell on his knees before the sorceress andbegged her earnestly to grant him her assistance.
Maetta was the most beautiful woman in all the world, but she waslikewise gracious and kind. So she smiled sweetly on the youth, biddinghim, in a voice like a silver bell, to arise from his knees and sitbefore her. Timtom obeyed and looked around for a chair, but could seenone in the room. The lady made a motion with her scepter and instantlyat his side appeared a splendid diamond chair, in which the young manseated himself, finding it remarkably comfortable.
"Tell me what you desire," said the sorceress, in her sweet voice.
"I love the Princess Pattycake," replied Timtom, without hesitation."But she has so evil a disposition that she has refused to marry meunless I am able to cure her of her bad temper, which not only makesher miserable but ruins the pleasure of every one about her. So,knowing your power and the kindness of your heart, I have been boldenough to seek your castle, that I might crave your assistance, withoutwhich I can not hope to accomplish my purpose."
Maetta waved her scepter thrice above her head, and a golden pilldropped at Timtom's feet.
"Your request is granted," she said. "If you can induce the Princess toswallow this pill her evil temper will disappear, and I know she willlove you dearly for having cured her. Take great care of it, for if itshould be lost I can not give you another. Do you wish me to grant anyother request before you return to the court?"
Then Timtom remembered the rabbit, and the bird, and the spider, andtold Maetta how he had promised to bring back a gift for each of them.
So the kind sorceress gave him a nice, bushy tail for the rabbit, and avery pretty song for the bird, and a new, bright eye for the spider.These Timtom put in a little red box and placed the box carefully inhis pocket. But the golden pill he tied into the corner of hishandkerchief, for that was more precious than the rest.
Having thanked the generous lady for her kindness and respectfullykissed the white hand she held out to him, Timtom left the Chamber ofDiamonds and was soon proceeding joyfully on his homeward way.
In a short time he reached the wall of jasper, but the rabbit was notto be seen. So, while he awaited its coming, he lay down to rest, andbeing tired by the long journey was soon fast asleep. And while heslept a Sly Fox stole out from the wood and discovered Timtom lying onthe ground.
"Oh, ho!" said the Sly Fox to himself, "this young man has been tovisit the sorceress, and I'll warrant he has some fine gift from her inthat little red box I see sticking out from his pocket. I must try tosteal that box and see what is in it!"
Then, while the youth slumbered, unconscious of danger, the Sly Foxcarefully drew the little red box from his pocket, and, taking it inhis mouth, ran off into the woods with it.
Soon after this the rabbit came back, and when it saw Timtom lyingasleep it awakened him and asked:
"Where is my new tail?"
"Oh, I have brought you a fine one," replied Timtom, with a smile. "Itis in this little red box." But when he searched for the box hediscovered it had been stolen.
So great was his distress at the loss that the gray rabbit was sorryfor him.
"I shall never be able to get home again," he moaned, weeping tears ofdespair, "for all the gifts Maetta gave me are now lost forever!"
"Never mind," said the rabbit, "I shall allow you to go under the wallwithout giving me the tail, for I know you tried to keep your promise.I suppose I can make this stubby tail do a while longer, since it isthe only one I ever possessed. But beware when you come to the bird andthe spider, for they will not be so kind to you as I am. The bird hasno heart at all, and the spider's heart is hard as a stone. Still Iadvise you to keep up your courage, for if you are brave and fearlessyou may succeed in
getting home, after all. If you can not cross thegulf and the River of Needles, you are welcome to come back and livewith me."
Hearing this, Timtom dried his eyes and thanked the kind rabbit, afterwhich he crawled under the wall and resumed his journey. He became morecheerful as he trudged along, for the golden pill was still safe in thecorner of his handkerchief.
When he came to the white bird and began to explain how it was he hadlost the song and could not keep his promise, the bird became veryangry and refused to listen to his excuses. Nor could he induce it tocarry him again across the gulf.
"I shall keep my word," declared the bird, stiffly; "for I warned youthat if you returned without the song I should refuse to assist youfurther."
Poor Timtom was at his wits' end to know what to do; so he sat downnear the brink of the gulf and twirled his thumbs and tried to keep uphis courage and think of some plan, while the white bird struttedaround in a cold and stately manner.
Now it seems that just about this time the Sly Fox reached his den andopened the little red box to see what was in it. The spider's eye,being small, rolled out into the moss and was lost. The fox thought hewould put the bushy tail on himself and see if it would not add to hisbeauty, and while he did this the song escaped from the box and wasblown by the wind directly to the spot where Timtom was sitting besidethe gulf.
He happened to hear the song coming, so he took off his hat and caughtit, after which he called to the bird that he had found the song again.
"Then I shall keep my promise," said the bird. "First, however, let metry the song and see if it is suited to my voice."
So he tried the song and liked it fairly well.
"It sounds something like a comic opera," said the bird, "but, afterall, it will serve my purpose very nicely."
A minute later Timtom rejoiced to find himself on the other side of thegulf, and so much nearer home. But when he came to the River of Needlesthere was more trouble in store for him, for the spider became so angryat the loss of its eye that it tore down the spider-web bridge, andrefused to build another.
This was indeed discouraging to the traveler, and he sat down besidethe river and looked longingly at the farther shore. The spider paid noattention to him, but curled up and went to sleep, and the needleslooked at him curiously out of their small eyes as they flowed by in anendless stream.
After a time a wren came flying along, and when it noticed the look ofdespair on Timtom's face the little creature perched on his shoulderand asked:
"What is your trouble, young man?"
Timtom related his adventures to the sympathetic wren, and when he cameto the loss of the spider's eye and the refusal of the spitefulcreature to allow him to cross the bridge, the wren exclaimed, withevery appearance of surprise:
"A spider's eye, did you say? Why, I believe that is what I have herein my claw!"
"Where?" cried Timtom, eagerly.
The wren hopped into his lap, and carefully opening one of its tinyclaws disclosed the identical spider's eye which Maetta had given him.
"That is wonderful!" exclaimed Timtom, in amazement. "But where did youget it?"
"I found it in the wood, hidden in the moss near the den of the SlyFox. It is so bright and sparkling I thought I would take it home formy children to play with. But now, as you seem to want it so badly, Ishall have much pleasure in restoring it to you."
Timtom thanked the little wren most gratefully, and called to thespider to come and get its eye. When the spider tried the eye, andfound that it fitted perfectly and was even brighter than the old one,it became very polite to the young man, and soon built the bridgeagain.
Having passed over the glittering needles in safety Timtom pushedforward on his way, being urged to haste by the delays he had suffered.When he reached the place where he had encountered the snow-storm, hefound the birds had eaten all the pop-corn, so he was able to proceedwithout interruption.
At last he reached the Monarch of Mo's palace and demanded an audiencewith the Princess Pattycake. But the young lady, being in an especiallybad temper that day, positively refused to see him.
Having overcome so many obstacles, Timtom did not intend to be thwartedby a sulky girl, so he walked boldly to the room where the Princess satalone, every one being afraid to go near her.
"Good day, my dear Pattycake," he said pleasantly; "I have come to cureyour bad temper."
"I do not want to be cured!" cried the Princess, angrily. "Go away atonce, or I shall hurt you!"
"I shall not go away until you have promised to marry me," repliedTimtom, firmly.
At this Pattycake began to scream with rage, and threw her shoestraight at his head. Timtom dodged the shoe and paid no attention tothe naughty action, but continued to look at the pretty Princesssmilingly. Seeing this, Pattycake rushed forward and seizing him by hishair began to pull with all her strength. At the same time she openedher mouth to scream, and while it was open Timtom threw the golden pilldown her throat.
Immediately the Princess released his hair and sank at his feet sobbingand trembling, while she covered her pretty face with her hands to hideher blushes and shame.
Timtom tenderly patted her bowed head, and tried to comfort her,saying:
"Do not weep, sweetheart; for the bad temper has left you at last, andnow every one will love you dearly."
"Can you forgive me for having been so naughty?" asked Pattycake,looking up at him pleadingly from her sweet blue eyes.
"I have forgiven you already," answered Timtom, promptly; "for it wasnot you, but the temper, that made you so naughty."
The Princess Pattycake dried her tears and kissed Timtom, promising tomarry him; and together they went to seek the King and Queen. Thosegood people were greatly delighted at the change in their daughter, andconsented at once to the betrothal.
A week later there was a great feast in the Valley of Mo, and muchrejoicing among the people, for it was the wedding-day of Timtom andthe Princess Pattycake.