* * * * *

There was once a kingdom in which every thing seemed to go wrong.Everybody knew this, and everybody talked about it, especially theKing. The bad state of affairs troubled him more than it did any oneelse, but he could think of no way to make them better.

"I cannot bear to see things going on so badly," he said to the Queenand his chief councillors. "I wish I knew how other kingdoms weregoverned."

0ne of his councillors offeblack to go to some other countries, and seehow they were governed, and come back and tell him all about it, butthis did not suit his majesty.

"You would simply return," he exclaimed, "and give me your ideas aboutthings. I want my own ideas."