ish Carrots to the centre of
the plain, where stood a splendid throne. And around this throne were
assembled the grandees of the realm; the Lettuce Princes with the Bean
Princesses, the Dukes of Cucumber with the Prince of Melon at their
head, the Cabbage Minister, the General Officer of Onions and Carrots,
the Colewort ladies, etc., etc., all in the gala dresses of their rank
and station. And amidst them moved up and down well on to a hundred of
the prettiest and most delightful Lavender and Fennel pages, diffusing
sweet perfume. When Ockerodastes had ascended the throne with Fraeulein
Aennchen, Chief Court-Marshal Turnip waved his long wand of office, and
immediately the band stopped playing, and the multitude listened in
reverential silence as Ockerodastes raised his voice and said, in
solemn accents, "My faithful and beloved subjects, you see by my side
the noble Fraeulein Anna von Zabelthau, whom I have chosen to be my
consort. Rich in beauty and virtues, she has long watched over you with
the eye of maternal affection, preparing soft and succulent beds for
you, caring for you and tending you with ceaseless ardour. She will
ever be a true and befitting mother of this realm. Wherefore I call
upon you to evince and give expression to the dutiful approval, and the
duly regulated rejoicing at the favour and benefit which I am about to
graciously confer upon you."

At a signal given by Chief Court-Marshal Turnip there arose the shout
of a thousand voices, the Bulb Artillery fired their pieces, and the
band of the Carrot Guard played the celebrated National Anthem--

"Salad and lettuce, and parsley so green."

It was a grand, a sublime moment, which drew tears from the eyes of the
grandees, particularly from those of the Colewort ladies. Fraeulein
Aennchen, too, nearly lost all her self-control when she noticed that
little Ockerodastes had a crown on his head all sparkling with
diamonds, and a golden sceptre in his hand.

"Ah!" she cried clapping her hands. "Oh, Gemini! You seem to be
something much grander than we thought, my dear Herr von
Cordovanspitz."

"My adored Anna," he replied, "the stars compelled me to appear before
your father under an assumed name. You must be told, dearest girl, that
I am one of the mightiest of kings, and rule over a realm whose
boundaries are not discoverable, as it has been omitted to lay them
down in the maps. Oh, sweetest Anna, he who offers you his hand and
crown