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"King Schelim was uncommonly pleased with what they said, although he had to lay down his pipe for a few minutes to receive their salutations, and give his in return; after which they returned to their palace on the hill, and led thenceforward useful, intelligent, and therefore happy lives, reforming grievances, consoling sorrows, and taking particular care that everybody had the opportunity of having SOMETHING TO DO.
But again, doth not another proverb say, "Will thy candle burn less brightly for lighting mine?" Wherefore the happiness which a man has, when he has discovered it, he is bound to impart to those that have it not. Have I spoken well? "Then King and the Hakim declared he had spoken remarkably well; nevertheless I am by no means sure that King Schelim knew what he meant.
"'Now, then, my sons are mad! exclaimed poor King Schelim, laying down his pipe, and rising from his recumbent position; 'and it is time that I bestir myself. "And thereupon he summoned his attendants, and sent for the royal Hakim, that is to say, physician; and the most learned and experienced Dervish, that is to say, religious teacher of the neighbourhood.
"A great many years ago, in a country which cannot be traced upon the maps, but which lies somewhere between the great rivers Indus and Euphrates, lived Schelim, King of the Hills. "His riches were unlimited, his palaces magnificent, and his dresses and jewels of the most costly description.
"And as they never again disturbed their father King Schelim, with foolish messages, he smoked his pipe in peace to the end of his days." "Nice old Schelim!" observed No. 8, when Aunt Judy's pause showed that the story was done. A conclusion which made the other little ones laugh; but now Aunt Judy spoke again. "You like the story, all of you?" Could there be a doubt about it? No!
"Powerful as well as rich, King Schelim could have anything in the world he wished for, but such is the perversity of human nature he cared very little for anything except smoking his pipe; of which, to say the truth, he was so fond, that he would have been well contented to have done nothing else all day long.
"And to soften the disagreeableness of the restraint which learning imposes, King Schelim gave more strict orders than ever, that, provided the young gentlemen only learnt their lessons well, every whim that came into their heads should be complied with soon as expressed. "In spite of all his ingenious arrangements, however, the royal father did not enjoy the amount of repose he expected.
Whereupon the Dervish offered to go at once to the four incomparable princes, and cure them of their madness in supposing they had nothing to do, and King Schelim in great delight, and thoroughly glad to be rid of the trouble, told him that he placed his sons entirely in his hands; then taking him aside, he addressed to him a parting word in confidence.
"Every wish of their hearts, therefore, was gratified from their baby days; but so far from being in consequence the happiest, they were the most discontented children in his dominions. "From the first year of their birth, King Schelim had never been able to smoke his pipe in peace.
"Schelim, King of the Hills, and his four sons," was one of Aunt Judy's very, very, very, best inventions. But they had the happy knack of always thinking so of the last they heard. "And yet there is a flaw in it," said Aunt Judy. "Aunt Judy!" exclaimed several voices at once, in a tone of expostulation.
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