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[Illustration: The Arch of Welcome]
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The Ninth Chapter.
_Of a Royal Welcome. Also of a Most Marvelous and Extraordinarily
Wonderful Entertainment._
[Illustration]
So great was the joy of the Toy people lined along the way that cheer
upon cheer greeted Tommy and Helen as they drew towards the city.
At the entrance to Toyville there was another gate, similar in
design to the one at the top of the hill, only quite a little larger
and flanked with tall red capped towers in which were windows and
portholes, quite the same as in a fortress. On each side of the gate
were huge brass cannons. The Toy people did not really expect any
enemy to attack their city on this side, fearing only the King of
Grumbletown, whose realm lay {66} beyond the hills at the far end of
the valley, but they built the gate with towers in such a formidable
way, thinking to thus make a more impressive entrance to their city.
The procession now approached the center of the city by a long avenue
which terminated at a beautiful park.
Around the other edge of the park were ranged line after line of
soldiers, both infantry and cavalry, in uniforms of scarlet and gold,
and black and gold, with officers all in white and gold; the bridles
and saddles of their chargers being richly studded in silver and
colored enamels.
At the entrance to the park there stood a great arch of wonderful
design. Across the top of this arch in tall letters of black, with
great curly capitals of red, was painted: “Welcome to the King and
Queen.”
As Tommy and Helen rode their dancing, prancing horses beneath the Arch
of Welcome, there was a mighty blast by the buglers followed by roar
upon roar from a great firing of cannon. Then the officers waved their
swords and the soldiers and people broke into one wild glad cheer,
while from all over the city could be heard the joyous peals of ringing
bells.
Presently a Herald rode forward and blew three mighty blasts upon his
bugle. Then he cried: “O, ye people of Toyville, give ear and hear the
words that have been written for ye in the great parchment!”
As soon as the Herald had said this, there stepped up two Pages,
bearing between them a great scroll of parchment, from which hung many
red ribbons and seals. Behind the two Pages there came a man dressed in
a coat of scarlet, with a long sword at his belt, and a tall hat upon
his head. {67}
The Pages now unrolled the scroll; on it were many letters of black and
red and gold. The man in red put on his big spectacles and in a loud
voice he read:
“Know all men by these presents, that whereas the Realm of Toyville
has been many years without a ruler, it is decreed that there shall be
appointed and crowned, a King and Queen. Therefore, be it now known to
all men, that the people will have no other to rule over them than he
who across the big hills is called Tommy, and the maid who bears him
company and is called Helen. These words were here written down, and
signed and sealed by the High Council of the Realm of Toyville.”
Then the man read the long list of names that were signed to the
parchment, and fine and high sounding names they were, too.
When he had finished, he turned to the people, and in a loud voice
cried out: “Hail to King Tommy! Hail to Queen Helen!”
“Hail to King Tommy! Hail to Queen Helen!” the people repeated; and
then together in chorus they shouted: “Long reign King Tommy and Queen
Helen!”
At the completion of this impressive ceremony and when the people had
ceased their glad cheering, the Mayor stepped forward, and, bowing with
much courtesy and grace, informed their Majesties that if they would be
pleased to dismount, it would be his pleasure to conduct them to the
Royal Seats, which had been prepared at the other side of the park.
When the Mayor had finished speaking, two Pages approached and held
the bridles of Coal Black and Snow White while the King and Queen
dismounted. {68}
The Mayor now walked with their Majesties across the park to directly
opposite the Arch of Welcome, where had been erected a high platform,
beautifully decorated with garlands of laurel leaves, intertwined with
beautiful flowers, and on which was the Royal Seat.
The Mayor again bowed most courteously.
“Your Majesties,” he said, “we have prepared for your special pleasure
and enjoyment, and as a slight token of welcome, some of the fine games
and sports for which our people of Toyville are so famous.”
“We thank you for the honor you have shown us,” responded King Tommy.
“My gracious Queen and myself will be pleased indeed to watch the games
of our beloved subjects.”
The Mayor was exceedingly happy at these words of the King; he quickly
turned to the waiting Herald and waved his staff, this being the sign
that the entertainment might begin.
The Herald now blew three mighty blasts upon a bugle and cried: “Let
the games commence!”
Of course, Tommy and Helen were greatly surprised at being made King
and Queen. Mr. Poodle was not surprised, though, and he said that the
people were certainly fortunate in having made such a wise choice.
He was sure too, that Tommy and Helen would make a splendid King and
Queen, and he predicted that their reign would prove a happy one.
“Yes,” said the Mayor, “it certainly will if trouble does not come from
the people of Grumbletown.”
[Illustration: Professor Wow Bow]
Tommy could see that the Mayor seemed quite a little worried about what
might be done by the Grumbletown {70} King, and was going to ask him
if he feared any immediate trouble. Before he had time to do this,
however, the games began, and proved so interesting that both Queen
Helen and he had to spend every minute watching them, and could think
of nothing else.
From the first number on the program, which was a grand parade,
consisting of a long procession of elephants, camels, lions, tigers
and nearly every animal of which one could think, led by a fine band
and followed by numerous gaily plumed horses and chariots, up to the
last when the Master of Ceremonies introduced Professor Wow Bow and his
marvellously trained dogs, the entertainment proved one long delight.
There was bareback riding, then came feats of tumblings, performing
Jacks, funny Clowns, and every other act of which one might think.
[Illustration: The Little Man and]
The little man with a funny pig made Tommy and Helen laugh so much that
they almost had to cry; or at least, they had to wipe tears out of
their eyes. {71}
[Illustration: The Performing Pig.]
Rolie Polie watched the tricks of the clowns with much interest, and,
although he laughed and applauded generously, yet it was very apparent
that he thought his own tricks to be quite superior. “They should have
a donkey to ride,” he said to the Miller of Dee, who chanced to be
standing near him. “Now-a-days, we clowns always have a donkey. When
the games are over I will show the people one or two new tricks that
will be thought comical.”
So interested were the people in the performance that but few of them
noticed the entrance into the park of three men, wearing long coats
which were bound about with broad belts and fastened with big buckles.
They were accompanied by a man in a long red coat, who, after a
moment’s whispered conversation, left them.
These three men now went to the Master of Ceremonies, and, bowing to
him, the tall one said: “We are strolling Musicians and we desire to
play one of our famous tunes for their Majesties.” {72}
“So, you want to play to the King and Queen, do you?” asked the Master
of Ceremonies. “Well, what tune can you play?”
“Oh we play upon horns,” answered the big one, poking the end of the
instrument out from under his coat.
“That looks more like a big pistol,” said the Master.
The Musician started at these words, but presently recovered himself
and showed the Master all of the instrument which in very truth proved
to be no more than a big horn.
The Master did not like the looks of the men’s faces and was suspicious
of their not being all that they pretended. Nevertheless, he saw no
harm in allowing them to play, and so led the way across the park to
the King and Queen.
[Illustration]
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[Illustration]