Rhymo began to speak, and he recited the verse he had made for the necklace: “The Elves of Mount Fern Are so glad to discern When a young girl is kind, good and wise, That they’re prone to reward, When her birthday comes round, With a gift that will gladden her eyes. Accept then this necklace of gold, And the wish that you’ll never grow old In faith, hope and charity, Truth in its rarity, Goodness and kindness untold.” Then Captain Featherweight took the necklace of fine filigree gold and placed it around Emily’s neck. And Emily felt like a Queen, and she told her Father and Mother that she was the happiest girl in all the wide world. Thus ended the birthday party. 5 THE KING OF THE ELVES VISITS MOUNT FERN The next evening, while the elves were at breakfast, Lightning informed Captain Featherweight that the King of the Elves was coming to visit Mount Fern. “That is good news,” said the Captain, “are you sure it is true?” “Quite sure,” said Lightning, “for I saw Okla of Oakdale, and he told me that the King is now visiting Elmsdale; and from Elmsdale he’s coming to Oakdale; and from Oakdale he’s coming to Mount Fern.” “That is really good news!” said the Captain. “And what shall we do to entertain him?” asked Rainbow. “Nothing at all,” said the Captain, “for when the King goes visiting he always takes his entertainers with him. He has his own musicians, his own jesters, and his own actors. “The King does this in his own defence, for he says it is a King’s privilege not to be entertained unless he wants to be. So we’ll only have to receive him.” “Shall I make a poem for him?” asked Rhymo. “Not at all,” said the Captain, “for he has his own Court poet, who is the best in the world, and if he wants a poem he has only to say so.” “Won’t we have anything extra to do before he comes?” asked the flower-elf. “Oh, yes!” replied the Captain, “and you especially, Iris-Wing, will be very busy, for the King is most particular about the care of plants, and if a single plant is neglected it makes him unhappy. So I want Templeton Garden to be a perfect bower of well-kept plants when the King comes to visit us.” “Shall I be asked to sing or play?” asked Tono. “I should say not,” replied the Captain, “for the King always travels with his own musicians, and if he wants any music he has only to say so.” “And how shall we address him?” asked Slumber. “As ‘Noble King,’ ‘Your Majesty,’ or ‘Your Royal Highness’,” said the Captain. “If there is any doubt as to which he prefers, couldn’t we address him as ‘Your Royal Majesty’s Noble Highness’?” asked Touchstone. “Silence!” commanded Captain Featherweight. “This is no time for jesting, and if any elf from this time forward be found guilty of jesting about the King, he shall forthwith be sent to Doomdell. This time I spare you, Touchstone.” “Shall I touch stone next time, noble Captain?” asked Touchstone.