"
"I'll give him a horse," said one. "I'll give him my old hat," said
another. "He can have an old sword I broke last week," said still
another.
And so, in less time than it takes to tell about it, poor simpleton Bobo
was made ready for his journey.
Before he left the castle, Bobo went down to the kitchen to say good-bye
to Tilda.
"What, off again?" said the little kitchen-maid. "Where are you going
now?"
"The Princess has lost a half-hour and I am going in search of it," said
Bobo, proudly. And he told how the Princess herself had commanded him to
seek the half-hour through the world, and promised to bring Tilda a
splendid present when he returned.
The good kitchen-maid said little, for she feared lest some misadventure
overtake the poor simpleton; but when the chief cook was not looking,
she tucked a fresh currant-bun into Bobo's pocket, and wished him the
best of good fortune.
So Bobo went to the castle gate, and mounted his horse, which stumbled
and was blind in one eye.
"Good-bye, Bobo," cried the assembled courtiers, who were almost beside
themselves with laughter at the simpleton and his errand.
Pages:
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106