The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 4, 1903, Page 15

Aveered, HE wedding of Princess Artichoke and Monarch Pump- \ X\, kin grand > Was the cause of great rejoicing throughout the sov- "f / ’\‘ E: ereign’s land. . . i From all parts of the kingdom broad—from distance sbiort and long— Came happy-bearted subjects true to swell the joyous throng. So. grateful was King Pumpkin to have found the Princess fair That he invited to the wedding feast folks from everywhere. From down among the marshlands came Cranberry small and red, ‘Who quickly found marked favor with the kingdom’s royal head. The very winsome Pepper boys—Red and Green, you know, Trudged o'er hill and flatland to be present at the show. Prominent among the others who swarmed from every side Were the worthy Colonel Hubbard S8quash and his dainty scalloped bride. Among the few not present was Commissioner Turnip, Gent., Who'd besn meshed sbout three weeks before in a serious accident. The beloved ruler of the land, on the advice of Grandpa Prune, Arranged %o bave his wedding held between ten o’clock and noon. King Peter chose for best man the favored Crookneck Squash, Whose courage, you'll remember, was not of the sort that would wash, The sustere Parson Cucumber, who was never known to laugh, Was engaged to change the monarch from one to just one-half. Pour fine musicians played the march, and such music ne’er was heard; It was a mixtuse of quick thunder and the piping of a bird. DMl Pickie piayed the clarionet and the drums the Peppers beat, And te ses old Parsnip lead them was a rare and happy treat. The honor fell to Grandpa Prune, old wizard sharp and keen, To give away the bride so fair to the kingly one supreme. At a word from General Pippin, who was Master of the Day, The bridal party started with flags and banners gay. It was led by the stately parson, who walked with measured tread To the heavy shade of a sheltering palm where the -olm; vows were said. The next in line was Strawberry, a favorite of the King, Azid be tripped along quite proudly as the bearer of the ring Then followed Dicky Crab Apple with skin of brilliant red, And then Sweet Pepper pranced along with spear high o’er his head. - The object of all eyes, of course, was the King’s fair Queen-to-be, s Who.in-her gown of dotted silk was a glorious thing to see. Litte Button Mushroom carried her gorgeous train, Which she jerked on one occasion and sent him spinning o'er the plain. Bat, aside from this one mishap, he performed his duty well, And thereafter in the palace great he as a page did dwell. ©Old Grgndpa walked beside the bride and held her dainty hand, And whispered words of comfort and told her how to stand. HeAho made it plain to her that in the afterlife Ehe should always try to make the King a true and loving wife. ‘The merry monarch’s coat-of-arms, on a banner rich and rare, Wn carried just behind the bride by a happy Bartlett Pear. The procession, sweets, was wondrous, but of it I can’t tell more, Except to say that none compared to it afterward or before. THE SUNDAY OCALL. & & )4’ mind. lnmmwmm‘mu_uddb Wmmqummhm-&- red up such excitement as this “Wonderful Kingdom of Wonder- ful Things.” It is absolutely original and so fascinatingly unique- that everybody is Tesding it. This is the Sixth Installment, and the ; searet of its instantanecus popularity les in the stmple fact that Grooknesked Squash and his vegetable host oan be so sasily =T It took old Parson Cucumber three hours to wed the twain, And Crookneck sald on a later day that he stood till he was lame. Under a beautiful bamboo tree the wedding feast was spread, And Water Melon ate so much that he was almost dead. Stewed grass with scalloped leaves and daisics a la modo Were served in great abundance while wine of dewdrops flowed. Salad made of buttercups and milkweed sherbet rare ‘Were liberally handed out to all who were lucky enough to be there. After the health of the King was drunk, and also the health of the Queen, The hosts of subjects loyal and true made merry on the green. Policeman Pat Potato had but little time to play, ( For his duty was to guard the gifts that came on that glad day. One of the costliest things received was a handsome soup tureen, And another was a beautiful lamp with a shade of mellow greea. There were laces and embroideries and forks and spoons and knives And a thousand other things the pair could keep throughout their lives, 8o many were the handshakes that the King, in some alarm, Bade the subjects go their ways and let him rest his arm. , The beautiful Queen with graclousness poised her lips to all who came, But drew the line on Onion old—and for that no one could blame, The sovereign and his consort, by the light of the silvery moon, Blipped away from the palace royal and went on their honeymoon. They were absent many days, my sweets, and many a place they saw, And the pair could do much as they liked, for the monarch’s word was law. The joy that reigned when they came back was great and unconfined, And the l%ing, to show his gratitude, was very good and kind. He created knights and barons and dukes and counts and squires And he kept the air aglow for weeks with red and yellow fires. One night the wizard Grandpa Prune dreamed that far away Were lands o’er which thq monarch could extend his wondrous sway. He told the King what he had seen in vision plain and bright, And the soverelgn slapped him on the back and said he must be right. 8o, in time, my precious ones, the ruler set about To find the lands which Grandpa Prune had told him all about. | DRI - 6 - HATSRLARS et