320
How the King Chose His Wife
My mother has taught me it ’s wicked to waste
The least little fragment of pie-crust or paste.
The least little fragment of pie-crust or paste.
“I measure with care the smallest ingredient,
To make the amount which she thinks is expedient.
And into the dough she says that I must
Most carefully work every scrap of the crust;
And if all has been planned exactly and true,
My molding-board 's clean when I am quite through.
Yes; there in the oven are my pies in a row,
And here is my board without one scrap of dough.”
To make the amount which she thinks is expedient.
And into the dough she says that I must
Most carefully work every scrap of the crust;
And if all has been planned exactly and true,
My molding-board 's clean when I am quite through.
Yes; there in the oven are my pies in a row,
And here is my board without one scrap of dough.”
“Economical maid!” the king cried in rapture,
“You ’re exactly the one I’ve been trying to capture.
Where others are reckless, you take pains to measure;
The bits they would squander you frugally treasure;
Their prodigal habits have filled me with scorn,
But such thrift as yours a throne should adorn.
So, unless you object, I command and direct
The people to hail you the king's bride elect.
You shall rule by my side over all this broad land”;
And he bent low to kiss her tiny brown hand,
“You ’re exactly the one I’ve been trying to capture.
Where others are reckless, you take pains to measure;
The bits they would squander you frugally treasure;
Their prodigal habits have filled me with scorn,
But such thrift as yours a throne should adorn.
So, unless you object, I command and direct
The people to hail you the king's bride elect.
You shall rule by my side over all this broad land”;
And he bent low to kiss her tiny brown hand,
She trembled and blushed, quite unable to speak,
And her long lashes lay in a fringe on her cheek;
While proudly he led her out of the door,
Rejoiced that his search was happily o’er;
And cheer after cheer rent the soft morning air
From the loyal young courtiers who stood waiting there.
To the palace they wended, with triumph attended,
And a great gala-week with a wedding was ended.
And the king ne’er regretted throughout their long life
The method he followed for choosing a wife.
And her long lashes lay in a fringe on her cheek;
While proudly he led her out of the door,
Rejoiced that his search was happily o’er;
And cheer after cheer rent the soft morning air
From the loyal young courtiers who stood waiting there.
To the palace they wended, with triumph attended,
And a great gala-week with a wedding was ended.
And the king ne’er regretted throughout their long life
The method he followed for choosing a wife.
