TAPER TOM


Once on a time there was a King who had a daughter, and she was so
lovely that her good looks were well known far and near. But she was so
sad and serious she could never be got to laugh, and besides, she was so
high and mighty that she said "No" to all who came to woo her. She would
have none of them, were they ever so grand--lords or princes,--it was
all the same.

The King had long ago become tired of this, for he thought she might
just as well marry; she, too, like all other people. There was no use in
waiting; she was quite old enough, nor would she be any richer, for she
was to have half the kingdom,--that came to her as her mother's heir.

So he had word sent throughout the kingdom, that anyone who could get
his daughter to laugh should have her for his wife and half the kingdom
besides. But, if there was anyone who tried and could not, he was to
have a sound thrashing. And sure it was that there were many sore backs
in that kingdom, for lovers and wooers came from north and south, and
east and west, thinking it nothing at all to make a King's daughter
laugh. And gay fellows they were, some of them too, but for all their
tricks and capers there sat the Princess, just as sad and serious as she
had been before.

Now, not far from the palace lived a man who had three sons, and they,