pleasant after his long ride upon the donkey's sharp back) the
courtiers all knelt before him and asked what commands he wished to
give, since everyone in the kingdom must now obey his slightest word.

"Oh well," said the new King, "I think the first thing I would like is
my old pipe. You 'll find it in the pocket of the ragged coat I took
off."

One of the officers of the court at once ran for the pipe, and when it
was brought King Cole filled it with tobacco from his greasy pouch and
lighted it, and you can imagine what a queer sight it was to see the
fat King sitting upon the rich throne, dressed in silk, and satins and
a golden crown, and smoking at the same time an old black pipe!

The councilors looked at each other in dismay, and the ladies of the
court sneezed and coughed and seemed greatly shocked, and all this
pleased old King Cole so much that he lay back in his throne and
roared with laughter. Then the prime minister came forward very
gravely, and bowing low he said,

"May it please your Majesty, it is not the custom of Kings to smoke a
pipe while seated upon the throne."

"But it is my custom," answered Cole.

"It is impolite, and unkingly!" ventured the minister.

"Now, see here, old fellow," replied his Majesty, "I did n't ask to
be King of this country; it 's all your own doing. All my life I have
smoked whenever I wished, and if I can't do as I please here, why, I