THE SILLY JELLY-FISH.
Told in English by B. H. Chamberlain
Griffith Farran & Co., London & Sydney, N.S.W.
[3]THE SILLY JELLY-FISH.
ONCE upon a time the King of the Dragons, who had till then lived as abachelor, took it into his head to get married. His bride was a youngDragonette just sixteen years old,—lovely enough, in very sooth, to[4]become the wife of a King. Great were the rejoicings on the occasion.The Fishes, both great and small, came to pay their respects, and tooffer gifts to the newly wedded pair; and for some days all was feastingand merriment.
But alas! even Dragons have their trials. Before a month had passed, theyoung Dragon Queen fell ill. The doctors dosed her with every medicinethat was known to them, but all to no purpose. At last they shook their[5][6]heads, declaring that there was nothing more to be done. The illnessmust take its course, and she would probably die. But the sick Queensaid to her husband:
“I know of something that will cure me. Only fetch me a live Monkey’sliver to eat, and I shall get well at once.”—“A live Monkey’s liver!”exclaimed the King. “What are you thinking of, my dear? Why! you forgetthat we Dragons live in the sea, while Monkeys live far away from here,[7]among the forest-trees on land. A Monkey’s liver! Why! darling, youmust be mad.” Hereupon the young Dragon Queen burst into tears: “I onlyask you for one small thing,” whimpered she, “and you won’t get it forme. I always thought you didn’t really love me. Oh! I wish I had staidat home with my own m-m-m-mama and my own papa-a-a-a!” Here her voicechoked with sobs, and she could say no more.
Well, of course the Dragon King did not like to have it thought that hewas unkind to his beautiful young wife. So he sent for his trusty[9]servant the Jelly-Fish, and said: “It is rather a difficult job; butwhat I want you to try to do is to swim across to the land, and persuadea live Monkey to come here with you. In order to make the Monkey willingto come, you can tell him how much nicer everything is here inDragon-Land than away where he lives. But what I really want him for isto cut out his liver, and use it as medicine for your young Mistress,[10]who, as you know, is dangerously ill.”