l marry the lady. You say she is fair
and gentle, and only forty-one? I will sacrifice myself."

The other king and his court were much surprised when the news came
that the prince repudiated all thoughts of the marriage, and that the
father proposed to take his place as bridegroom. They were at first
disposed to be indignant; but then something had to be done, or the
kingdom would soon be ruined. And besides, the king was already on his
way; he was known to be of a fiery temper; he had at his command a
large and powerful standing army; and if he chose to make war, there
was no possibility of resisting him, for the soldiers of the island had
turned their swords into plowshares, and were engaged in raising senna.

[Illustration: DELIVERING THE PRINCE'S MESSAGE.]

The princess, as you may imagine, was not pleased with this change of
bridegrooms; but, used to obedience, she acquiesced in everything, and
told no one of the bitter tears she nightly shed upon her pillow. She
tried to be as cheerful as possible in presence of her parents, and
diverted her mind by having continual birthdays.

The bridegroom king halted at the gates of the town, with great
dignity. He, too, arrived on a different day from the one appointed. It
was a week later, at least. Age (the king was sixty, if he was a day)
travels with more care and deliberation than hot-headed youth.

While waiting for the gates to be opened, the king could not forbear
smiling at the horror of the young man when told of his bride's age.

"Forty-one is not so old," thought he. "Perhaps this is the very
confectioner's where they furnished the information, but could not
furnish any refreshment."

Turning to an attendant, he gave the order:

"Bring me from yonder house a draught of whatever is mostly used in the
city."

It was not the confectioner's house, as he supposed, to which he
pointed, but one of Aigew's laboratories. His majesty's commands were
carried thither; and the chemist, gray and wizen, came forth, bearing a
goblet filled with a dark liquid of peculiar odor. He bowed his knee,
and held it toward the king, who took it in his hand, sniffed his royal
nose suspiciously, and said:

[Illustration: THE CHEMIST PRESENTS THE BEVERAGE TO THE KING.]

"It has a disagreeable smell! What is it called?"

"Rhubarb and senna, your majesty; it is the only drink taken the day
after the princess's birthday. Merry-making and feasting, when indulged
in too freely, are