Show i p C L J E 0 f l l ir r ij I l r Tt r u A 5 D DUj I Uj g Jl t c f i 1 T Q I f r I Ift 1 1 J f t rt t t f r C a j ft fn ls s Strange St Exp rie d 4 ins t e Kingdom o of Peter Peteru the r e aster f I first heard of a I WHEN W thought it was something like an ale ele elephant pliant but Henry Dallam told me it was wasa a very different thing Henry is a aboy aboy boy who has had a most wonderful adventure al although although though h so very young and as he is the only oDly one I L know who ever saw a I must m st take his word for it The boys have nicknamed Henry Dal Dallam lam Jam Bunks and although I never could discover the reason I call him Bunks also He says s ys the is G called the Frilled gener genet generally ally because it has hits around its neck a n peculiar sort of fringe made of long feelers like the arms of an octopus and nd with these it grabs its prey usually boys who are arc wandering in the forest late at night and then tosses them into roto its capacious mouth mo th Others call it the Bald because its head is that way Its distinguishing characteristic is its enormous appetite and the peculiarity of this appe appetite appetite tite is that anything is welcome from tin t nc cans DS d or mats or glass bottles to beefsteak goose or small sm lt boy It will eat grass wood coal conI or anything else that is laid before it and seems just as pleased but as a matter of fact f ct a anice nice fat boy or girl raw nw is preferred erred When it is pleased it purrs like a cat and usually this sound can be heard afar off when it is is going to get something to eat that it likes Therefore people are warned in time to es escape escape cape for you may imagine no one would like li e to tonie meet nie t the nt at nt any any time Perhaps you may may wonder how Bunks learned all this while I knew nothing about the animal Ill tell you Bunks B went into the pantry one afternoon to get geta a cruller and having havi g permission to get it of course cours he could stay in there as long as he pleased and have to hurry out as ns was the case when he was in there thero to swipe a cruller He stood there slowly eating cating the largest one ono Le l e could find when his lis eye fell feU on a peculiar mark on the wall beneath the t e shelf Having Haring never noticed this mark before he examined it and found faund that a n p ece of muslin had been pasted over the wall wallIn In the Enchanted Garden He Re pulled p at t the muslin and to his surprise if came c chine m off in his hand and he discovered a small sI 1 door in the e walL It had a keyhole and he knew that th it t must muss lead lend into the yard but it puzzled him to ae ac account count for this secrecy Why should anybody wish to hide this little door in in the wall He looked about and high up close to the side of the ilie pantry door he saw saw a small key It took him two two seconds to t v climb up and another to get down and try the key in the tho keyhole It fitted and he turn l it easily The Th door do r opened and the sunlight poured into the pantry Bunks stepped out into the garden but when he got outside outside he found f und to his amazement that at he was was in his own garden at nt all but in spine some g strange estrange place where there grew all sorts of plants and trees A broad brond path led away from the little door toward the end of the garden but strange to say he not see more than a few yards before him A Aright aright right shining mist hid everything beyond the gushes but he resolved to see what it hid and and started down the path As he moved he heard a voice roice say Be careful my son for danger lies that way Looking around he saw a tiny elfin figure clad in in brown roWn leather sitting under a bro toad toadstool stool st oJ like an nn umbrella Bunks had h d never never seen an elf but he knew that this was one of course course and he topped stopped saying What can happen to me in our back yard Id rd like to know i This is not your back yard This is the En Enchanted Enchanted Enchanted chanted Garden and mortal foot has not been set setin in it since your lamented grandmother died eighty years ago ngo She it was who planted those clam plants the mucilage brush bushes the shoestring vines and nd the shirt button shrubs that you see yon Well do I remember the dear woman as she slie pot pottered pottered pottered around chasing snails and toads out of the tho garden and trimming the hairy verbenas with her scissors Somewhere out there roams the terrible and ferocious that eats boys bo s sI J X I warn warn you to beware 1 Bunks was frightened Ill Til look out for h n he and Ill run like all git out if him What does docs he look like P agreen is is he and shining like an nn asterisk said the elf with a frill of long wriggling snaky wormy wormy feelers all around round his neck that make S you ou shiver to see sec Six legs has he got each one longer than the other and andoh oh h me I oh h my 1 how he can run when hes hungry Nearly had me twice All AU about him Bunks e w that the grass was torn tom up and the ground appeared freshly disturbed and acid n d elf if that was the track It i is that replied the elf Hist s tear tea up th the soil terribly But I cant can t stay Here f you for i it is f time for me to go and polish the ancient sun sundial dial over there I wish remember howl how however ever ev ever r that I warned you in time That is I think its r t TI 11 I II I t t tc c I t ii II 1 i 1 1 t rI 1 r q r 1 V I I lr t L I I f SI irk i I IS I S 1 o 1 1 a S ii 1 1 iii II 1 y 1 1 I r I his p z r 1 s a I I Il l I L u 1 r ill III i I i 11 I a 1 m ti t ti Y I I o oi oI I i I I I I i rl I r I IC b r I j e C 1 7 S 1 N il 1 x o r f r v P THE R r PH 4 1 x vf As time but I cant tell until T X see the sun dial Eare well He went away so quickly that Bunks c see him go and then the boy went down 1 paths path pa On both sides grew tall bushes bearing dill all U manner 1 er a of f strange things napkins collar buttons penholders sealing was wax coffee cups candlesticks thimbles Bumbles bl and andin andin n o oin in fact everything one could think of v Gee I said Bunks Look like Christmas trees Ill Il pick a lot of a these things when I come back Suddenly he was startled by loud barks all about him but in an instant he saw that he was passing af a group of dogwood trees which were doing the barking Although he be knew it not no they were warn warning warning ing him of peril for at the end of the path he came to a stretch of green grass dotted with four fo r and as it happened at that moment to ba he br brt that t at time exactly all these flowers struck the hour on tiny belles belIes As there was no path he stepped upon the grass and instantly he became so small that the blades reached above his head He was no larger than the elf who had warned him of danger but when he realized what had happened he sprang back upon the path hoping to be restored to his former size s ze No Ko change occurred but ap appeared api appeared i at his side and said Now ETow youve gone and done it You will have h ve to remain a small unimportant object until night comes and then when you step on this path again y un grow big at nt once Theres only one way wily to cross that grass plot and s on stilts on the other side asked Bunks his bis hisen cu curiosity curiosity much excited The Kingdom of a King Ting Peter the He reigns there in wondrous style but few of 0 his subjects remain with him for he has driven them thein the n all away with his terribly hard riddles A King on a Rocking Throne Throng Ill Til go o and call on King Sin Peter said Bunks It wont be long before dark now and Ill have spine some fun He strode across the grass and a few steps brought Drought him to a miniature kingdom with s n i y palaces p laces of gold ivory crystal and silver setting sett among clumps of picturesque foliage that seemed like a fairyland Immediately before him the gr grand grandest grandest nd est palace of all stood with doors d rs and arid at atthe atthe atthe the top of ofa a long flight of steps sat ona rocking chair throne trying on some I ew mt tb td pass the time away awny No o i danta i were visible The King seemed des rt all ll and indeed he ho was vastly pleased to see see Bunks B ks walking up the He sprang out of his rocking throne and smilingly greeted the boy dashe a andas ho did so so his rus crown fell off and rolled down the st steps s i to Bunks DUnks feet The lad handed it back to to the ahe King Sing who laughed and said saidI I 1 shall have to have weather strips put ut inside my crowns f for or since sinco my ba eY will not stay on i f f fW ii What W at made you so 60 bald baldi bald f asked asked ho olio did not no know you must say Your toa a mon monarch iri lion h harch arch r j Making riddles r replied King iEng Peter Petri and I have made some lou tough ones let me ine me tell teU t you How H w THE WARNING t 1 1 tl J n 11 t 1 a w nb Q t t this he added When is l f o not a aj adoor door V m fy 4 Bunks Bunka almost fell ell down the tEe steps but managed tp to gasp s When its ts ajar VJ y t i C i e King was gery erY mu rise d Why said he ne f j yu bu tire are the thet very ry furs ir l rho who ho ever guessed that jr ig at Bunks in ina 4 f noc j JI ampre pretty good at rid ridd rl s said aid Bunks trying b bIard d 1 tto to laugh IV y Til give you another one on l said sa d the King Why does do s a chicken chi k n cross the road ro dl Bunks pretended pr t ed to gone forn f or a few moments and then replied To go ge to the other side sIdeY Y You ou are aUm Dandy Dnn yf it id the e King Come and ha hav have dinner with nid me s cannot c give you any riddles during pg the th meal because b C the constitution prohibits if it but you may II think over over this cracker crackerjack ja jack while we e are ar eating ting ii j t tA jA A Riddle f r t e King Kingi King WhY oes a miller r wear r j a white i iri hat sa said d Bunks tl i t jt it over and to give givey you u something to occupy pi y Ill rn ask you one one myself w JI Mere Here ie it is Why VEy is af rog when it sp s js is a frog When it spins cried the King That is it Sa Bunks as lewent he went up up u the steps During the meal m the mA King was as silent for a long longtime longtime longtime time trying to mate make ma e sense f Bunks riddle but as ns the constitution p all reference to riddles at the th royal roy l table he ho could not speak of what was wason wason wason on his hi mind When Wh l both had h d satisfied their hun hunger hunger hunger ger Bunks inquired a of King Peter whether the Hi ever gave gayO him any Y trouble tiou l Trouble cried the ngHe He isa is a national catastrophe ca cai i He H has eaten half of f my people both old and n young and now that 1 human beings ings are failing him m he is is devour r l uses trees tr es bridges ant nna everything he can find in the laud I have promised ta to give my daughter r and the great two ounce Bounce o e diamond to theman th can drive him h n out d of in my kingdom but M t i lp all nIl of them with every evidence of and elation I c n ep on IJ I li hii l men you I let Jet 1 1 to tn ran r i age and destroy d stroy There ought t be somo Som way to catch Him itt it seems W to me saia th thoughtfully Wt What do r ti J yo you think a 4 r Remember ri m have y ny a a the he biggest bigg diamond carer er seen G if you yop can rid us of this nuisance i ii i I always ys lie do down n erting efting said the th King when they ilie rose r frost from the fu table ble ie and went to too the marble porch tI I find that it H clears lears iny mind and polishes p li hes Up tip my gems sern of thought t p it t I fear fear however that TIll Ill not sleep leep for your addle r ale is IS causing me mem m cli difficult Jf alf I ci il only on y reconcile reco cile that mUg p motions of the cOmmon c frog I L ini might perhaps seethe see thee the thing clearer 1 r ih pmt J I cant t make sense s of pf it t Are you sure repeated it correctly The f nar seems seem somewhat s twisted f the way its t always s s given replied Bunks L lt It un i i tic si 8 lie King Peter Ieter But T I it is all ri for t t theres res ni no rile in riddle g W r makes m eS right r with ht you Know Kolf No Nc I will f for r a ap af r f w s p 2 H er c r d l alt rya d 4 hiss i ps p pared in room finks went wen down j Q i steps and nd and strolled stroll d the Mal garden n where he found fO even mor more wonderful 1 than l before He lIe passed t r iah h h a z en en of glass where every ev ry plant and er wa w V made JD de at of varicolored crystal but it had bad an eat maly Joly ly artificial appear an anee e and aId was wa not n all it I T hen heC h came cameto came to ran m atlas tI garden h cs fis a complete of toft the t ow Allots le world with in Ul different colored ere flowers a and andi the th 8 cai ea 1 s r real e t water ate ri N Not t car much for ril p r F r Bunks JW s nit end much m c time study ng this ifa and nha Span soon an passed S d don on on to a ayerY very interesting inter It fing t pia place je 1 nothing o b but t na ni 1 F How flowers grew grey Live foxgloves f ox real eal l tiger g e lilies i harebells arebell J do dogtooth d th d dogwoods cI dandelions da roaring loudly cattails Q tt ts i l and purring pig piff pig nuts nut in 4 Ibi b j h he q nal l k kroot v root squirming in lI the t th dust dus pusSy willows wili ws oxeye os eye daisies blinking blinkin solemnly from the grass cowslips slipping 1 anti aiding d i r all alln about out bant howling 7 dolefully ol im is the shadows shad b elephants ears waving g slowly larkspurs l s caroling rolin overhead las Leall calling for crackers and a lot more mor the names of which he did not know I Kwas t was a am u st astonishing display and he stood a long time watching these animal plants 6 which fortunately were all fastened to the ground by stout stem on else it would have been danger dangerous ous to have loitering in the vicinity I assure you Suddenly it occurred to Bunks that it was almost he hurried back to the palace Meeting King J Peter t at the foot of the steps he said saidI I 1 think Pd rd better be hastening home for I am afraid something might happen to me here after niter dark Can Cnn you come tomorrow f asked the King Sing I h think I may be able to make head or tail of your riddle Jiddle after Ive slept over it I cant answer it to today today today day Pm rm certain All Ali right come tomorrow said Bunks I hope the will not annoy you to tonight tonight tonight night and meanwhile Ill try to discover some way to trap him Bunks hurried iback to the path finding it with without without without out difficulty and he be crept softly through the little door into the pantry and so to his own room He Helay Helay Helay lay awake awde for an hour thinking how he might plight cap capture capture ture tore the animal that was devastating King Peters land but fell feU asleep before he had arrived at a so solution solution solution lution of the problem and the King poor fellow never slept at nt all worrying about a frog that spins In the morning Bunks went to the pantry early so as to have lave a n long day in the Magical Gardens and andr hurrying across the th enchanted grass became small as before in a moment He found the little King Kung sitting on the steps holding a crown in his hand f One Crr Croton o n is Enough t I Fv picked out one oile of my spare crowns for you wear today said be he Ones enough for fr me said Bunks 1 J What do doy you u mean m mean nl Peter Ive I a q crown already n replied d Bunks The cr crown of my head e d See See Seef w wt t f s a chance chancel ion jJ a riddle r in that 1 cried fhe he Xiu King Ill Il I 11 ril i over e rt it v Excuse me while Awhile wh I go o to P Bring ri room room m a while He hurried hurled bili away wt hont ceremony cere o Bunks sat down on the st steps ps waited A Aj moment later Int a J tall taU talland talland and v very haI hand came came to him and nd said |