restored them to the queen's own hand. The fate of the remaining
names still remains a mystery.
Now, I daresay, you are wondering what these curious names could have
been; all I can tell you about them is, that they were very long and
grand, and hard to pronounce; for, if I were to write them down here for
you, they would cover a great many pages, and interrupt the story quite
too much. At all events, they did very well for a queen to be crowned
by; but I can assure you that nobody who loved the little royal lady
ever called her anything but Pet.
Well, after this, Pet and the Prince of Silver-country put their heads
together, and made such beautiful laws that poverty and sorrow vanished
immediately out of Goldenlands. All the people in whom Pet had lived
were brought to dwell near the palace, and were made joyous and
comfortable for the rest of their lives. A special honor was conferred
on the families of the spiders and the butterfly, who had so
good-naturedly come to the assistance of the little queen. The old gowns
were taken out of the wardrobe and given to those who needed them; and
very much delighted they were to see the light again, though some of the
poor things had suffered sadly from the moths since the day when they
had made their complaint to Pet. Full occupation was given to the money
and the bread-basket; and, in fact, there was not a speck of discontent
to be found in the whole kingdom.
This being so, there was now leisure for the great festival of the
marriage and coronation of Queen Pet and the Prince. Such a magnificent
festival never was heard of before. All the crowned heads of the world
were present, and among them appeared Pet's old friend Time, dressed up
so that she scarcely knew him, with a splendid embroidered mantle
covering his poor bare bones.
"Ah," he said to Pet, "you were near destroying all our plans by your
carelessness in losing the key! However, I managed to get you out of the
scrape. See now that you prove a good, obedient wife, and a loving
mother to all your people, and, if you do, be sure I shall always remain
your friend, and get you safely out of all your troubles."
"Oh, thank you!" said Pet; "you have, indeed, been a good friend to me.
But--I never found that jewel that you bid me look for. I quite forgot
about it!"
"I am having it set in your Majesty's crown," said Time, with a low bow.
Then the rejoicings began; and between ringing of bells, cheering,
singing,
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