lts of the magician
Alfrarmedj. The Queen's officers, who had been sent to observe
whether or not the people were interested, were in no doubt upon this
point. Every eye sparkled with delight, for every one found something
which was the very thing he wished to see; and in the throng was the
Hermit's Pupil, standing in rapt ecstasy before a large case
containing all sorts of fishing-tackle, from the smallest hooks for
little minnows to the great irons and spears used in capturing
whales.

No one went back to prison, and the city was full of re-united
households and happy homes. On the morning of the fourth day, a grand
procession of citizens came to the palace to express to the Queen
their delight and appreciation of her museum. The great happiness of
her subjects could but please the Queen. She called the Stranger to
her, and said to him:

"Tell me how you came to know what it was that would interest my
people."

"I asked them," said the Stranger. "That is to say, I arranged that
they should be asked."

"That was well done," said the Queen; "but it is a great pity that my
long labors in their behalf should have been lost. For many years I
have been a collector of button-holes; and there was nothing valuable
or rare in the line of my studies of which I had not an original
specimen or a facsimile. My agents brought me from foreign lands,
even from the most distant islands of the sea, button-holes of every
kind; in silk, in wool, in cloth of gold, in every imaginable
material, and of those which could not be obtained careful copies
were made. There was not a duplicate specimen in the whole
collection; only one of each kind; nothing repeated. Never before was
there such a museum. With all my power I strove to educate my people
up to an appreciation of button-holes; but, with the exception of a
few tailors and seamstresses, nobody took the slightest interest in
what I had provided for their benefit. I am glad that my people are
happy, but I cannot restrain a sigh for the failure of my efforts."

"The longer your Majesty lives," said the Stranger, "the better you
will understand that we cannot make other people like a thing simply
because we like it ourselves."

"Stranger," said the Queen, gazing upon him with admiration, "are you
a king in disguise?"

"I am," he replied.

"I thought I perceived it," said the Queen, "and I wish to add that I
believe you are far better able to govern this kingdom than I am. If
you