One day a young man came to the court to bring pickled peaches to his Majesty, the King. The youth's name was Timtom, and he lived so far away and came so seldom to court that never before had he seen the Princess Pattycake. When he looked into her sweet, blue eyes he loved her at once for her beauty, and being both brave and bold he went directly to the King and asked for Pattycake's hand in marriage. His Majesty was naturally surprised at so strange a request; so he said to the young man: "What does the Princess say? Does she love you?" "I do not know," replied Timtom, "for I have never spoken with her." "Well," said the King, much amazed at the ignorance and temerity of the youth, "go and speak to my daughter about the matter, and then come and tell me what she replies." Timtom went at once to the room where Princess Pattycake was moodily sitting, and said, boldly: "I should like to marry you." "What!" screamed the Princess, in a great rage; "marry me! Go away this instant, you impudent boy, or I shall throw my shoe at your head!" Timtom was both surprised and shocked at this outburst, but he realized that the Princess had a remarkably bad temper. Still he was not moved from his purpose, for she was so pretty he decided not to abandon the attempt to win her. "Do not be angry, for I love you," he pleaded, looking bravely into Pattycake's blue eyes. "Love me?" echoed the surprised Princess; "that is not possible! Every one else hates me." "They do not hate you," ventured Timtom; "it is your temper they hate." "But my temper and I are one," answered the Princess, harshly, as she stamped her foot. "Surely that is not so," returned the young man, "for certainly I love you, while your temper I do not like a bit. Don't you think you could love me?" "Perhaps I might, if you could cure my bad temper; but my temper will not allow me to love any one. In fact, I believe that unless you go away at once I shall be obliged to box your ears!" There seemed to be no help for her, so Timtom left the room sadly, and going to the King, told him what she had said. "Then that is the end of the matter," declared the King, "for no one can cure Pattycake of her bad temper." "I am resolved to try, nevertheless," replied Timtom, "and, if I succeed, you must give me the Princess in marriage." "I will, and my blessing into the bargain," answered the King, heartily. Then Timtom left the court, and went back to his father's house, where he thought on the problem for a week and a day. At the end of that time he was no nearer solving it than he was before; but his mother, who had noticed that her boy was in trouble, now came to him to ask the cause of his sad looks. Timtom told her all about the Princess Pattycake, and of his love for her, and the evil temper that would not be cured.