weight of
sixteen extra suits of clothes does not help to refresh one."
The Jolly-cum-pop and his companions slept that night under some
trees, and started off early the next morning. "If I could only get
myself turned in the proper direction," said he, "I believe we should
soon reach my house."
The Prince, his courtiers, the boys and girls, the course-marker, and
the map-maker worked industriously for several days at the foundation
of their city. They dug the ground, they carried stones, they cut
down trees. This work was very hard for all of them, for they were
not used to it. After a few days' labor, the Prince said to the man
with the red beard, who was reading his book: "I think we have now
formed a nucleus. Any one can see that this is intended to be a
city."
"No," said the man with the red beard, "nothing is truly a nucleus
until something is gathered around it. Proceed with your work, while
I continue my studies upon civil government."
Toward the close of that day the red-bearded man raised his eyes from
his book and beheld the Jolly-cum-pop and his party approaching.
"Hurrah!" he cried, "we are already attracting settlers!" And he went
forth to meet them.
When the prince and the courtiers saw the Jolly-cum-pop in his bright
and variegated dress, they did not know him; but the boys and girls
soon recognized his jovial face, and, tired as they were, they set up
a hearty laugh, in which they were loudly joined by their merry
friend. While the Jolly-cum-pop was listening to the adventures of
the Prince and his companions, and telling what had happened to
himself, the man with the red beard was talking to the jailer and his
party, and urging them to gather around the nucleus which had been
here formed, and help to build a city.
"Nothing will suit us better," exclaimed the jailer, "and the sooner
we build a town wall so as to keep off the Potentate, if he should
come this way, the better shall we be satisfied."
The next morning, the Prince said to the red-bearded man: "Others
have gathered around us. We have formed a nucleus, and thus have done
all that we promised to do. We shall now depart."
The man objected strongly to this, but the Prince paid no attention
to his words. "What troubles me most," he said to the Jolly-cum-pop,
"is the disgraceful condition of our clothes. They have been so torn
and soiled during our unaccustomed work that they are not fit to be
seen."
"As for that," said the Jo
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