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1. How the Nome King Became Angry
The Nome King was in an angry mood, and at such times he was very
disagreeable. Every one kept away from him, even his Chief Steward
Kaliko.
Therefore the King stormed and raved all by himself, walking up and
down in his jewel-studded cavern and getting angrier all the time. Then
he remembered that it was no fun being angry unless he had some one
to frighten and make miserable, and he rushed to his big gong and made
it clatter as loud as he could.
In came the Chief Steward, trying not to show the Nome King how
frightened he was.
"
Send the Chief Counselor here!" shouted the angry monarch.
Kaliko ran out as fast as his spindle legs could carry his fat, round body,
and soon the Chief Counselor entered the cavern. The King scowled and
said to him:
"
I'm in great trouble over the loss of my Magic Belt. Every little while I
want to do something magical, and find I can't because the Belt is gone.
That makes me angry, and when I'm angry I can't have a good time.
Now, what do you advise?"
"
"
Some people," said the Chief Counselor, "enjoy getting angry."
But not all the time," declared the King. "To be angry once in a while is
really good fun, because it makes others so miserable. But to be angry
morning, noon and night, as I am, grows monotonous and prevents my
gaining any other pleasure in life. Now what do you advise?"
"
Why, if you are angry because you want to do magical things and can't,
and if you don't want to get angry at all, my advice is not to want to do
magical things."
Hearing this, the King glared at his Counselor with a furious expression
and tugged at his own long white whiskers until he pulled them so hard
that he yelled with pain.
"
You are a fool!" he exclaimed.
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