The joy of the Prince's parents cannot be described. They were never tired of embracing their child. They overwhelmed him with questions, and then kissed and caressed him, and thus prevented him from talking. Nor was the beautiful Princess forgotten; each one embraced her, and received her as Prince Erian's wife should be received. The festivities lasted many days, and when they were over, Long, Large, and Keen Eyes asked to leave the Prince. "Why leave me?" said Prince Erian. "You know how much I owe you, and whether I love you. Remain with me always." "No," replied Keen Eyes, "the palace stifles us, and the fine clothes we wear are uncomfortable. We are useless at this court." "I will make you princes," said Prince Erian; "I will make you kings, if you will assist me in all my undertakings." "Men of our kind," said Long, "give kingdoms but receive none. At odd times, dear prince, we shall visit you. May we always find you happy and contented." Then bowing low to Prince Erian, Long, Large, and Keen Eyes sighed and disappeared. XV LOONY JOHN When Loony John was born, his mother leaned her head sadly on her hand and murmured: "What will become of this boy later? Will he be wicked or innocent, rich or poor, intelligent or a simpleton?" "He will be rich," answered a little fairy. Her voice seemed to come from the rafters. "He will be poor," said a second one. "Intelligent," said a third. Then a fourth voice made itself heard—"Your child will never be anything but a simpleton." The unhappy mother recognized that voice. She had heard it one day when she refused to take pity on an old beggar-woman, and now she knew that the woman was no other than the Queen of the Fairies in disguise. The child grew and thrived, and when he was sixteen, his mother said: "My son, I have many trials. We are poor and I want you to learn a trade. What do you want to do?" "Nothing." "You do not want to work?" "Oh, no," answered Loony John; "work is tiresome." "Ah!" thought the poor mother, "the Queen of the Fairies is taking her revenge." Some days afterward the good woman needed a trivet, and sent her son to buy it. Loony John ran to the city and bought a splendid one, and was returning home contentedly, when he found that the trivet was too heavy. So he sat it down and addressed it: "There is the road that leads to our home. You have three feet and I have but two. Run on ahead and be sure not to stop on the way, for my mother needs your services." Loony John put his hands in his pockets and went whistling along the road. "Where is the trivet?" demanded his mother when he reached home. "Well, well!" exclaimed Loony John, "is it not already here? The lazy thing must have lagged on the way. With its three feet it should have been here a good quarter of an hour ago."