"Your what?" queried Jimmieboy. "My last word," explained the Stove. "It's long enough to have been a half-dozen of your last words," laughed the voice. "But is that all you're to agree upon?" "I don't know of anything more," said Jimmieboy. "Nor I," said the Stove. "You're a mean couple," ejaculated the voice, angrily. "If I had my way, you'd do something for one who has served you when you were in trouble," he added, addressing Jimmieboy. "Where would you have been if it hadn't been for--for--well, for a friend of mine?" "I don't know who you mean," said Jimmieboy. "He wants something for himself," whispered the Gas Stove, "and he is right." "Oh, you don't know who I mean, eh?" sneered the voice. And then he added: "Who saved you from the icy sea. And brought you through S-A-F-E? Why, ME! "Who thought about that jubilee, And filled Jack Frost chock up with glee? Why, ME! "Who all your goings did o'ersee, And got this lofty place for thee? Why, ME! "That's who. Now what are you going to do about it?" "He's going back to Jack Frost," said the Gas Stove, "and he is going to demand that you shall be made Secretary of State in his place, and he is going to tell Jack that if he ever removes you from that position I shall return and destroy the country." "You are very moderate in your demands," said the voice. "I think King Jack will be very foolish if he refuses to accede to them, particularly that one having reference to myself. I do not care for the office, of course, but since there seems to be a demand for me, I shall accept." [Illustration: THE GAS-STOVE IS INTRODUCED TO THE KING.] So Jimmieboy, followed by the Gas Stove and the voice, returned to the palace, and the demands of the Stove were laid before the monarch. "I'll agree to 'em all gladly," said he, "save that which forces me to deprive myself of your valuable services. Was he quite firm about that?" "He was!" shouted the voice, before Jimmieboy could speak. Here somebody else in the distance seemed to call: "Jimmieboy! Hi! Jimmieboy!" "Shall I accede or stand by you?" asked Jack, taking Jimmieboy by the hand. "You'd better accede," said Jimmieboy, looking around to see who was calling him, "for I have just heard some one calling me--my papa, I think--and I guess it's time for me to get up." [Illustration: THE GAS-STOVE BURNING MERRILY AND WINKING AT HIM FROM THE FIREPLACE.] What Jack's response to this curious remark would have been no one knows, for just then a most strange thing took place. Jack Frost and his palace in an instant faded completely from view, and Jimmieboy in surprise closed his eyes, rubbed them with both his fists, and then opened them again, to find himself in his little cot in the nursery, the gas-stove burning merrily and winking at him from the fire-place, and the friendly voice, as usual, nowhere to be seen, and now not even to be heard.