The Fifth Surprise
The Monarch Celebrates His Birthday
THERE were great festivities in the Valley of Mo when the King had a birthday. The jolly monarch was born so many years ago that so everyone had forgotten the date. One of the Wise Men said the King was born in February; another declared it was in May, and a third figured the great event happened in October. So the King issued a royal decree that he should have three birthdays every year, in order to be on the safe side; and whenever he happened to think of it he put in an odd birthday or two for luck. The King's birthdays came to be regarded as very joyful events, for on these occasions festivities of unusual magnificence were held, and everybody in the kingdom was invited to participate.
On one occasion the King, suddenly recolle
