CHAPTER XII THE GOLD WAFFLE-IRON Meantime the Private Secretary departed, but now in a few moments returned with a very fine new Waffle-iron, all of gold, which he had had made as the Widow instructed, with small hills and hollows all over its surface. "This," said the Widow Pickle, "is the most beautiful Waffle-iron I ever used. If I do not make good Waffles now, it surely will be my own fault." So now the Private Secretary also got her some palm flour, and two quarts of cocoanut milk; and after making 58a little fire in front of the palace door, the Widow Pickle busied herself and soon produced a nice brown Waffle, with hills and hollows all over it, from her new gold Waffle-iron. "Now, if I only had some syrup," said she, "I am sure I could recommend this Waffle for any purposes connected with eating." 58 The King had been watching her very closely in her work. "What do you mean by syrup?" asked he curiously. "This," said the Widow, "is certainly a strange country—not that I wish to criticize in the least, your Majesty. But I was just thinking that a world without syrup is very singular indeed." "Well, you will understand," said the King of Gee-Whiz, "we who live on this Island are not very different from Fairies. At least, we are dependent upon the Fairies for all we eat and wear and use. They are our work people, and we have to take what they give us and be thankful. Now, I suppose the Fairies have never considered that syrup was necessary for us." Zuzu and Lulu listened with the greatest interest, and when the king spoke of Fairies they could not restrain themselves. "Oh, your Majesty," said Lulu, "have you ever really seen a Fairy?" 59"Have I?" said the King. "Thousands of them. We get all our gold from them—when their pretty Queen, Zulena, is good enough to grant our wishes. Fairies! Why, they are as common as leaves upon the trees. Are there none in your country, my Princess?" 59 "None," said Lulu, "only I have always so much wished to see just one Fairy." "If that is all you wish," said the King of Gee-Whiz, "there will not be the least trouble about it. We got this Enchanted Banjo
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