THE KING'S LOST CROWN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 42, 19 February 1943, Page 5

THE KING'S LOST CROWN

(By SHIRLEY A. McGAHEY). It was breakfast time in the palace of King William Whatsit in the land of Poached-Eggs-On-Toast, and the Queen was alone In the parlour. She was just making a mental note on paper to reprimand the King when he came for letting the bathroom tap drip all night, and also for being late for breakfast. Then she gave herself a large helping of bacon and eggs. She was just preparing to tuck into this when the King entered looking very flustered and wearing his second best crown. The Queen fixed the King with a very cold look and forgot all about the other reprimands she was going to give him. "William," she said sternly. "You've done it again!" "Yes, m'dear," he said apologetically.

"When will you remember?" went on the Queen. "I'll have to tie it on soon with a ribbon. I think purple would be best." The King had a vision of himself with his crown tied on with a big purple bow, and shuddered. "The first thing is to find your crown," said the Queen. "Yes, m'dear," agreed the King, tipping the marmalade on his porridge in an absent-minded m ay. "I'll get the Prime Minister in at once." The King rang for the Prime Minister, who entered looking very cross, as he had been interrupted in the - middle of Briefly the Queen informed the Prime Minister what had happened, and commanded him to do something about it. "Yes, your Majesty, I'll have the palace searched right away," said the Prime Minister as he jumped up. Goon the palace was in an unroar. Everyone was interrupted at his breakfast and told to search. Of course none of them looked properly, as they wanted to get back to their breakfasts. The Queen sat eating her large plate of bacon and eggs, while the King straightened his crown and looked miserable at the mere thought of the purple bow. There was no sign of the crown, however, and the Queen was just at the stage when she was ordering all the servants to be beheaded, including the Prime Minister, as she thought one of them must have stolen it. Suddenly, the door: opened and in walked the Princess Carol who had been playing in the garden. In her hand she carried the King's crown. The Queen pounced. "Where did you get that?" she snapped. "Oh, somewhere around," said the Princess, vaguely. "Why, did you want it?" The Queen spluttered and looked as if she were going to have an apoplectic fit, but the Princess continued blithely, "You see, I had just made my puppy King of the dogs and I wanted a crown for him to wear and I saw Daddy's on his throne and borrowed it. But what's all the fuss about anyway?" . . "And Mummy, I think he will be able to wear a bow better and I want you to tie oile on. Purple would be best, don't you think?" The Queen's colour changed and she rapidly calmed down., So in the end everyone was happy.