Isabel: the Storyteller

A CAT was looking at a King, as permitted by the proverb.

“Well,” said the monarch, observing her inspection of the royal
person, “how do you like me?”

“I can imagine a King,” said the Cat, “whom I should like better.”

“For example?”

“The King of the Mice.”

The sovereign was so pleased with the wit of the reply that he gave
her permission to scratch his Prime Minister’s eyes out.

AN Old Politician and a Young Politician were travelling through a
beautiful country, by the dusty highway which leads to the City of
Prosperous Obscurity. Lured by the flowers and the shade and
charmed by the songs of birds which invited to woodland paths and
green fields, his imagination fired by glimpses of golden domes and
glittering palaces in the distance on either hand, the Young
Politician said:

“Let us, I beseech thee, turn aside from this comfortless road
leading, thou knowest whither, but not I. Let us turn our backs
upon duty and abandon ourselves to the delights and advantages
which beckon from every grove and call to us from every shining
hill. Let us, if so thou wilt, follow this beautiful path, which,
as thou seest, hath a guide-board saying, ‘Turn in here all ye who
seek the Palace of Political Distinction.'”

“It is a beautiful path, my son,” said the Old Politician, without
either slackening his pace or turning his head, “and it leadeth
among pleasant scenes. But the search for the Palace of Political
Distinction is beset with one mighty peril.”

“What is that?” said the Young Politician.

“The peril of finding it,” the Old Politician replied, pushing on

THE King of Madagao, being engaged in a dispute with the King of
Bornegascar, wrote him as follows:

“Before proceeding further in this matter I demand the recall of
your Minister from my capital.”

Greatly enraged by this impossible demand, the King of Bornegascar
replied:

“I shall not recall my Minister. Moreover, if you do not
immediately retract your demand I shall withdraw him!”

This threat so terrified the King of Madagao that in hastening to
comply he fell over his own feet, breaking the Third Commandment.