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[Illustration: The Royal Guard]
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The Twentieth Chapter.
_How Peace follows Trouble. And of how Happiness came at the
Bestowing of another Reward._
[Illustration]
The suggestion of the little old dame in reference to Rolie Polie came
just in the nick of time. Tommy enjoyed very much being a King, and
Helen found no less pleasure in being a Queen; but the day had been so
full of excitement that both were feeling tired.
It was now drawing towards the close of the afternoon and Helen began
to realize that, although it was delightful to be a Queen daytimes, the
going down of the sun at the approach of evening made nothing quite so
nice as her home and her mamma. This, I am told, is a truth that has
also come to many another little girl.
“Your Majesty,” she then said to King Tommy, “do you think it is almost
time to start on our return journey?” {152}
“Yes, I do,” answered Tommy. “And, Helen, now that I am a King myself,
I need not hunt for the Fairy King to get riches for the kind lady in
the hills. I am sure the Toy people will allow me to take some of their
treasure.”
“Yes, I am sure they will,” said Helen, “because they will want to make
the kind lady happy.”
“I will go at once and find Mr. Poodle,” said Tommy. Then a look of
trouble came into his happy face and he added; “What do you think the
Toy people will do without a King and Queen when they are threatened by
the ruffians of Grumbletown? Perhaps there will be an attack to-night.
Do you think I should remain here and be their protector, Helen? Of
course you must go home, for if you are late, your mamma will worry.”
Mr. Poodle stood not far away and overheard this talk.
“You need not fear an attack from Grumbletown, at night,” said he,
laughing. “Why, King Red Beard and his subjects are such ‘fraid cats’
of the dark, that they never stir out of their houses after sunset.
Then, too, they had such a fright to-day, I do not believe they will
ever again come to Toyville.”
It was at this moment that the return of Rolie Polie called forth the
words of praise from the little old dame.
A bright idea then came to the King, and he hurried off to see his
Prime Minister. “Assemble the Lords and Nobles in the Throne Room,” he
said to that gentleman, as soon as he had found him.
The Prime Minister hurried to obey the King’s command.
A few moments later, when his Majesty stepped upon his Golden Throne,
he found such a gathering of the noblest in the land, as any King might
be proud to see. {153}
“My beloved subjects,” he said, “your Queen and your King have ruled
over this happy and joyous realm of Toyville as wisely and as loyally
as has been within their power. It is now time for us to depart for
our home over the hills. We both wish that some person worthy of your
trust could occupy the throne in our absence; some one to bear the
title, First Assistant King, and we would suggest for this high and
responsible position, the brave and clever guard, Mr. Rolie Polie.”
Then the King seated himself beside his Queen on the Golden Throne.
In a moment the Mayor was on his feet. “Three cheers for Rolie Polie!
Three cheers for the First Assistant King!” he cried, and the answer
came long and loud.
Rolie Polie was taken completely by surprise, and knew not what to say.
Mr. Poodle also was taken by surprise, but being a man of experience,
he was not embarrassed, and told the people he thought their choice was
wise.
“Order out the Royal Guard of Honor,” was the message the Mayor now
sent to the General of the army. So, not until the little company
reached the big gate at the top of the curly road did the time arrive
to say good-bye, for in addition to being accompanied by the Royal
Guard, their escort included every notable in Toyville.
“Good-bye, your Majesties, good-bye Mr. Poodle,” said Rolie, shaking
their hands warmly. Then he added: “I will be a good King and do my
best.”
“We know you will,” answered Tommy.
“Yes,” said Mr. Poodle, “do your best, Rolie Polie, then you will win,
for that is the way to get on in the world.”
These were the last words spoken as the little company passed through
the gates and the big cannon boomed {154} out a parting salute. The
sun was now low in the sky, casting a golden glow along the path, and
making blue shadows gather in the valley.
They had not ridden long, when Mr. Poodle said: “Here we are at home;”
and sure enough, as he spoke, Coal Black and Snow White went galloping
into Mr. Poodle’s back garden and over the threshold into the toy shop.
“Do you think Rolie Polie will get along all right, Mr. Poodle?” asked
Tommy, as they were bidding good night to the toy maker.
“O, yes,” said Mr. Poodle. “Nobody need worry about a King who has
Mother Goose near his throne to help him in his ruling.”
“Mother Goose?” repeated Tommy, wonderingly. “Is Mother Goose in
Toyville?” “O, yes,” answered Mr. Poodle, “she was the little old dame
who led us out of the garden and saved our being captured by Red Beard.
And, by the way, Mother Goose said that she hoped on our next journey,
we would continue through the Valley of Happiness, until we came to her
realm, where she promised there would be awaiting us the finest kind of
a good time.”
“O, Tommy, isn’t Mr. Poodle kind to us!” said Helen, her eyes moist
with little pearls of happiness. Tommy’s lips trembled when he tried to
reply. Mr. Poodle was such a clever man, though, that I guess he knew
what kind of a lump had swelled up in Tommy’s throat, for he didn’t say
one single word, but held out both his arms, and in a second there were
his playmates hugging him so tightly that it was almost as much as he
could do to breathe.
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[Illustration]