DAVID, and the King's messenger, and the six knights, and the herald rode away along the highway, over hill and dale, and across the meadows and through the towns and villages, and everybody shouted, "Huzza! huzza!" just as they had done down in the village. "Huzza! huzza! for the hero with the golden key to open the Wonder-Box!" The news of his coming spread like wild-fire, and people came from far and near to catch a glimpse of him as he rode by upon his way.
So at last they came to the King's town.
Thither the news had flown before them, and here, too, everybody shouted, "Huzza! Huzza for the man with the golden key who came to unlock the Wonder-Box!" All the town was packed and crowded as they rode through the streets; the windows were alive with folk looking out, and all was a tumult of waving kerchiefs and flags. As for the cheering, it sounded like the noise of great waters.
And in the midst of it all the hero David rode smiling, and his face shone as white as the moon.
So he rode up the great street of the town, and to the King's palace. And the King himself came out upon the steps to welcome him.
He took David by the hand and led him up the great marble steps, and into the palace, and through the palace to where the Princess Aurelia was waiting. And the lords and nobles, and knights and squires, all dressed in beautiful clothes of gold and silver, with sparkling jewels, made a lane for him up which he was to walk.
The King led him straight to a grand chamber, where was spread a carpet of silver thread, and at the far end sat the Princess Aurelia on a throne. At her right hand was a table, and on it was a box.
It was the Wonder-Box.
She came down the steps to meet him as he came up the steps to meet her. Then she placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned over and kissed him before them all.
All the lords and nobles cheered and shouted, and the King himself took their hands and joined them together.
The Princess led David up to where was the box, and David took the key that hung about his neck by the golden chain, and fitted it in the lock. Everything was hushed to a dead silence. David turned the key and opened the box, and there lay the Know-All Book as white as snow. He opened it, and on the first page were written, in letters of gold, the words--
"When we grow up we shall be married."
Yes; that is what they read when they opened the Wonder-Box; and what followed after, thousands upon thousands of words, told of the same thing--"when we grow up we shall be married; when we are married we shall grow up; when we are married there shall be joy; hence there shall be joy when we are married". Thus it was from the beginning to the end of all there was in the book.
"What!" you say, "was that all?"
Ah, little child, you do not know--you do not know.
The words sound as simple as moonshine, an the foolish man who believes himself wise may laugh to think of a hero going all the way to the other end of nowhere to fetch back nothing more than that written in it. But in all the world, and in all the world to come, there is nothing else that is worth while to write about; for if the yellow heaven had not married the brown earth there would never have been green and blue eyes to the peacock's tail feathers.
Yes; the words are as simple as moonshine, but then you must read them in the Know-All Book to understand what they mean.
Yes; and this that I have told you is not nonsense. The hero David did indeed bring back the Wonder-Box and the Know-All Book just exactly as I have told you--he did--he did--and those were the words written in it.
Do you not understand? Well, well; some day you may--but first you will have to bathe your eyes with moonshine and then read again.
And were David and the Princess married? Why, of course they were. For the simpleton always marries the Princess in the fairy tales, and that is why they are so true that wise people and little children would rather read them than anything else.
And did they ever go back into the moon-garden? Why, of course they did, for those who have read those words in the Know-All Book, and understand what they mean, may go to or come from anywhere, whenever they choose to do so.
Well, you may smile at this story if you choose, and call it all moonshine, but if you do not believe by this time that there is more in moonshine than the glimmer and the whiteness, why, I could not make you believe it if I were to write a hundred and twenty-seven great books instead of this short story.
END