Once upon a time in a bright country lived the most beautiful little queen in all the world. She was called Content, and while she reigned1, there was great happiness among her people.
Indeed, they were so very happy that a certain wicked old woman who rides through the air on a broomstick grew very jealous.
She did not like to see anybody happy, so she began to plot and plan a way to get rid of Queen Content.
“If I could only drive her out of the hearts of these simple people all would be well,” said the old woman. Then she went about among the people doing all sorts of mischief3; telling247 stories, spoiling their lovely gardens, and predicting all kinds of misfortune. But in spite of all her evil doings the people cherished Queen Content, and they scarcely noticed the wicked old woman.
At last she grew very angry. She took her old broom and swept great clouds of dust that filled the good people’s eyes, so that they could not see clearly at all. Then they became dissatisfied, and one day they sent their beautiful Queen away and put another in her place.
The new queen began her reign2 with a great flourish of trumpets4. She was not beautiful at all, and was called Queen Discord5.
She found fault with everything and was never at rest. Costly6 festivals, cruel wars, and foolish undertakings7 were all the time going on, and the people became poorer and more unhappy every day.
When the old woman on the broomstick saw this state of affairs, she laughed long and loud,248 and sailed away to do mischief elsewhere. In the meantime Queen Content had moved into a small cottage on the outskirts8 of the village. It contained only two rooms, but in the lovely Queen’s eyes it was as dear as any palace. The beautiful flower fields were her gardens and she rejoiced in the still walks of the green woods.
Sometimes rumors9 reached her of the doings of Queen Discord, but they never disturbed her peace of mind.
One dark night a traveler knocked at Queen Content’s door. He was a rollicking, roving merry lad, and his name was Jock.
When Queen Content opened the door Jock made a low bow, saying, “I have traveled far and am weary; may I enter your cottage?”
“Whoever knocks at my door may find rest. Enter and welcome,” was the answer.
Jock entered and Queen Content gave him a good supper. It was only bread and milk, to be sure, but no dainties at the table of a king ever249 tasted better. And although the bed that Jock slept on was made of straw, he had never rested so well in his life.
The next morning Jock continued his journey to the village. He had not been there very long when he discovered the true state of affairs.
He realized that the foolish people had put away the most beautiful queen in the world for the most disagreeable.
“I’m going to help these foolish people,” said Jock to himself, and he shook all over with merriment at the mere10 thought of doing them a good turn.
Straight he went to the palace of Queen Discord and begged an audience with her most obnoxious11 majesty12.
“What do you want, good-for-nothing?” said the haughty13 Queen, frowning on Jock, who stood cap in hand with a quizzical look on his merry face.
“I have good news for your majesty,” said Jock with a grin.
“Good news!” thundered the horrid14 queen.
“It is against our laws. You shall be thrown into prison; we don’t want people who go about telling good news.”
Jock’s grin broadened, but he saw his mistake and quickly added: “Ah! your majesty, I have just traveled through your uncle’s kingdom—King Hate—and I found nothing there but strife15 and confusion and bitterness of spirit. Your people are so much happier that I was only going to remind you of the fact. Surely that is good news.”
When Jock made this little speech the Queen’s eyes (they were great, green jealous eyes) flashed, but she was silent for a moment.
“Strife, confusion, and bitterness of spirit.” The words were sweet as honey to Queen Discord’s taste, and she repeated them over and over to herself. They are just what I want,251 thought the queen, and she regarded Jock with great interest, saying:
“Tell me how to stir up strife, confusion and bitterness of spirit in this old kingdom and your reward shall be great.”
“I know that it will,” thought Jock grinning all over. Aloud he said, “Give me three days and I’ll return with something that will surely please your most sea-green majesty.”
So saying he almost doubled in two with laughter, and tossing his bright cap into the air, left the presence of the frowning queen.
Straight to the heart of the merry green woods ran Jock. He played leap-frog with elves and danced with wood-nymphs. They all loved him because he was so merry, and he feared no one because his heart was innocent as that of a little child.
By and by Jock told about his conversation with Queen Discord, and when he had finished252 such a merry shout went up from every elf, wood-nymph and fairy that the very leaves shook and an acorn16 fell to the ground.
“Now you must help me,” said Jock; “you must tell me, good friends, what to do.”
“’Tis the pipes, ’tis the pipes that you want,” said a jolly elf, “that is the remedy for Queen Discord.”
Then they all whispered something in Jock’s ear, which made him shake all over with mirth. Every elf, wood-nymph and fairy had a little secret for him, and they told it so softly that even a gray squirrel who listened with all his might could not hear.
When they had told the secret they were merrier than ever. They all took hands and with Jock in the middle, danced a jolly ring around him.
“Jock o’ the pipes, Jock o’ the pipes,” sang the merry elves, as they tripped round and round, stopping now and then to whisper some253 new idea. Jock laughed himself to sleep. Then the fairies left him.
When Jock awoke, he rubbed his eyes and looked around him. His late adventure was still fresh in his mind and he laughed aloud. Just then he spied a small bag made of skin, on the ground at his feet.
“I know what that is for,” said Jock with a broad grin. He recalled the secrets that the merry elves had whispered.
Jock slung17 the bag across his shoulder and away he ran out of the woods with peals18 of laughter waiting on his steps.
He traveled fast and at moonlight stood near a fence in a big city laughing softly to himself.
Suddenly strange sounds filled the still air.
Jock looked up and beheld19 a band of cats on the fence. At first he thought they were merely giving a concert to the good people of the neighborhood, but very soon he saw his mistake.
As he looked they began to slap each other254 right in the face, with uplifted paws and spat20 at each other with angry jaws21. Suddenly a battered22, yellow, one-eyed, tailless Tommy got his back up about something and cried like a baby. His granddaughter rebuked23 him with a gentle scratch. Then there was a rush, and instead of thirty-two cats in a line there were thirty-two cats in a ball. And it wasn’t football either.
There were howls, shrieks24, moans, and cat-calls. In the very midst of it all Jock opened his bag.
In the twinkling of an eye the fighting cats dropped into the bag, which shut up tight again, and Jock continued his journey.
But he was laughing so hard that he had to stand a moment to recover himself.
A little farther on he heard loud barking.
“’Tis the watch-dog’s honest bark,” quoted Jock; but just then he heard a terrible uproar
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