THE BLUE MONKEY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21256, 30 August 1934, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE BLUE MONKEY

"When Prince Rodrick woke up he felt happy. He wriggled his toes and wondered what there would be for breakfast. He rather hoped there might be mushrooms on toast, or maybe kumaras and bacon. He was sure he was going to eat a great deal. He began to .Btretch but stopped in the middle. What was that noise? He listened. There it was again. Pushing back the blankets he crawled to the end of the bed and looked over. On the floor sat a bright blue mcnkey! "Impossible!" ejaculated the Prince. He closed his eyes firmly, counted ten, then looked again. It Was still there! It had one arm crooked over its face aud was •weeping bitterly. Prince Rodrick l\vas very kind-hearted. "Poor thing," he said, "I wonder flvhat's the matter with it." "You don't believe me," sobbed JJie monkey. "Nobody does. They lbelieve giraffes and flying fish and Hyhales, but they won't believe me. Everyone says I'm impossible." "It certainly must be upsetting," •greed the Prince. "Would you tnind telling me how you occurred? Are there any more like you?" "I only wish there were," sighed the monkey, wiping his eyes with the end of his tail. "I am so lonely. It happened quite simply. I was Btealing fruit from an old woman's garden, and suddenly there she was. She pointed her finger at me, and «aid, 'Be a Blue monkey,' and I was. The other monkeys drove me away. Even the blue-faced baboons would have nothing to do with me." "Never mind," said the Prince. •You stay with me as long as you Eke. I think I'll call you Indigo. You are nearer sky blue really, but Indigo sounds well." The Prince Was late for breakfast and the

mushrooms were burnt. While he was stirring them round with his fork a messenger arrived from King Prygon, the ruler of a neighbouring country. This was the message: "King Prygon presents his compliments to Prince Rodrick and wishes to inform him that he will declare war on Tuesday the 3rd inst." "Bother," said Prince Rodrick. "Tuesday will be most inconvenient." "Yes. sir," said the messenger, "I understand that is why he chose Tuesday." The Prince had been re-reading the note. "He doesn't give any reason for declaring war. He must give some reason even if it isn't the true one." "He said, sir, that his country and yours always had fought against each other, and therefore they always would." "Nonsense," said the Prince. "Why should half my people be killed just because King Prygon has indigestion? I shall ride straight over and talk to him." "You can't do that!" gasped the messenger. "Can't I?" said the Prince. He picked up a piece of toast in each hand, and striding to the door, called for his horse. As he rode along the highway he thought of all the things he would say to King Prygon, but when lje entered the gateway of the castle he forgot every one of them, for standing in a doorway was a very lovely girl. She had fair hair, and brown eyes with a twinkle in them. The Prince dismounted and bowed before her. "How do you do?" he said. "Isn't it a wonderful day?" "It is indeed," agreed the girl. The messenger looked at them in dismay. Then he went away to find King Prygon. "I am glad he has gone," remarked Prince Rodrick, "as I want

to ask you something rather private. Would you consider marrying me?" "I should love to, but papa would not approve," said the girl. "He never does. This morning he declared war on a neighbouring country, and all because he would eat pork chops for supper." The Prince glanced behind him. He thought he had heard a sort of snorting sound. He was quite right. It was King Prygon. "I hear you don't like Tuesday. It doesn't suit you," he roared. "Let me tell you I will declare war any day that suits ME, any day at all." "I quite agree," said the Prince "but to come to more important matters, have I your permission to marry your daughter?" The King was speechless with rage. His face looked like a red balloon. "I think," murmured the Princess, "that I had better fetch papa a glass of water." At last the King spoke. "There is nothing in the world which would induce me to allow you to marry my daughter." "Are you quite sure?" asked the Prince. "There is nothing—nothing at all?" The King hesitated. "I will promise not to declare war on you; I will even let you marry my daughter, if, within half an hour you will bring me a sky-blue monkey." "Certainly," said the Prince and he rode through the gate whistling. He had not gone far when he saw a man gazing over a fence, so Prince Rodrick had a look too. In | the middle of a paddock sat the blue j monkey. He was pulling up tur- j nips and then gazing at them in. disgust. Not one of them was large enough to eat. The farmer could not believe that he was really seeing a blue monkey spoiling his turnip crop and that was fortunate for Indigo. The Prince was absent such a short time that when he rode into the courtyard he found

Supplement to "The Press" ChnsteliurcH | King Prygon dill telling his daughter what he thougnt of ner bt- | haviour. The Princess was glad to wee him. ' "Here is that, nice young man j back again, papa, and 1 see he has brought a blue monkey with him." "I won't have it." shouted the King. "I don't want it, ancl anyway I don't believe it." Indigo ran quickly towards him. "Take it away," screamed the King. "Yon can marry all my daughters! I won't declare war on anyone for a hundred years, only take it away!" "Cer'.ainly," said Pnnce Rodrick. "Indigo, come here. I don't think the gentleman likes you. He seems to have changed his mind about wanting a blue monkey." Then he turned to the Princess and murmured, "My dear, hadn't you better tell them to pack your things? T don't want to outstay my welcome." It was quite late in the afternoon, however, before he was able to show the Princess over his palace, gleaming golden in the sun. "How lovely!" she cried, and catching up the blue monkey, shekissed him right on the nose. Indigo was surprised. He sneezed five times. "Oh dear," gasped the Princess. "I hope he doesn't choke. He is getting quite blue, I mean brown in the face." "So he is," said the Prince, much surprised. "You must hava broken the spell. I suppose he will go back to his friends now, but I must tell the gardener that if he finds a monkey stealing our fruit he must just turn his back and pretend he didn't see anything. Now there is just one other thing. Is Saturday your day for kissing blue monkeys? Or would you consider kissing me too?" The Princess laughed. "Darling," said Prince Rodrick, "you are simply wonderful." 1.0.1*