CHAPTER IX.
THE COMICAL PEOPLE.
"HooRAY! that was some fun!" exclaimed Rufus Rose, after he had recovered his breath. "Why, I had no idea that fat Caleb Cactus could run so fast. Huh! if that fellow keeps on improving he may soon get in the HUMAN RACE!"
"And you had better be glad that he wasn't next to you this time," added Henry Hollyhock. "'Just take a good look and see how he scratched me with those sharp spines of his.' I certainly agree with what you suggested about Caleb going to the barber. The quicker he gets them trimmed, the better I will like it and him, too!"
"Oh, that wouldn't do at all," spoke up Prince Philip. "Why, Caleb couldn't look natural without his spines. Most anybody would think that he was a curious sort of cucumber, instead of a flower. Rough as he seems to be, I want him to always remain the same Caleb Cactus in our flower garden."
"Yes, we wish all of our Flower Folk friends to remain just as we always have known them," added the Princess.
"That's a very good thought," said the fairy. "We should never expect or wish to see our friends change. However, now that the Witching Wave surprise is over, let us see what other interesting things that the Rajah's Rug has in store for us."
She had no sooner spoken these words than she dipped her wand-star downward and it suddenly lost all its brilliant light. Then, just as suddenly, it flashed on again and standing before them were several curious mirrors. These odd looking-glasses were of different sizes and shapes, so nobody in the jolly party was aware that they were really mirrors until Caleb Cactus happened to step in front of one of them. Caleb didn't realize what was happening to him until Danny Dandelion shouted:
"Ha! ha! Quick! everybody look how SKINNY Caleb is! Why, the poor fellow is nothing but skin and bones now and he was the fattest one in the crowd just a minute ago!"
"What's all the laughing about -- I haven't changed any?" said Caleb.
"Take a look in that mirror and you'll at least CHANGE your mind!" laughed Danny.
But Caleb turned and glanced into a different mirror. He could scarcely believe what he saw.
"Why, instead of being skinny, I'm ten times fatter than I ever was and look as flat as a turnip!" he exclaimed in amazement, as the rest of the party joined in another hearty laugh and began to gather about him to get a closer view of Caleb's comical figure.
"I'm ten times fatter than I ever was!" exclaimed Caleb.
"Now, turn around and look in this other mirror and you'll see yourself as skinny as a string bean, just as I told you a minute ago," said Danny. "You are looking in the wrong mirror, please remember."
"Anything to oblige the crowd," replied Caleb, with a more cheerful smile, as he turned toward the mirror that had made him appear so skinny. "I seem to be the center of attraction, all right, but I notice that all of you also have rather funny figures in these mirrors, so I'm not the only one that's out of shape. It's something funny in the glass that makes us look like monkeys!"
"Yes, they are the Magic Mirrors which were sent to us by the Rajah's favorite genie, and you'll notice that some of them will make you seem more comical than the two into which Caleb has looked," said Moon Queen.
Sure enough when Penelope Pansy glanced into one of the others she was surprised to see that the upper part of her body was real skinny, while the other part was fat. Even the Prince and Princess had a peep into each mirror and enjoyed the fun just as much as anybody. After all had seen themselves in the several Magic Mirrors, everybody declared that Matthew Mole's figure was the most comical, especially when he looked into the one that caused his head and shoulders to be very fat and large, the rest of his body being exceedingly thin. The little fellow actually laughed at himself, as his shoulders are naturally large in proportion to his size, so he appeared to be a funny sort of animal boxer when he stood erect.
Matthew Mole's figure was the most comical
"Now that we have had our fun with the Magic Mirrors, I suppose it is about time for us to find something else interesting," said the fairy.
"Why, I don't see anything except the Rajah's Rug," spoke up the Princess. "Will the Magic Mirrors remain here to give us some more fun, or shall we take them back to Carol Castle with us?"
"Yes, please let us carry them home, for I'm sure that we could have lots of fun with them," added the Prince, a note of high interest in his voice showing how anxious he was to see how some of his little friends would enjoy such an attraction.
"Indeed, that's a very good idea," replied the fairy. "There is plenty of room for them under the Moon Flower Arbor in your garden. Perhaps you will be glad to keep them as souvenirs of the adventures and fun that you have enjoyed tonight. Yes, indeed, you shall have them in just a minute."
Moon Queen then began to move her gauzy wings and gently arose into the air far enough for her wand-star to touch the top of the center mirror. Then she began to say:
- "Genie of the Rajah's Rug,
- Make these Magic Mirrors snug
- They can prove that I was there!"
And just as she said each word, the outlines of each mirror become more dim, until finally the last word caused them to disappear altogether. They had gone to the Moon Flower Arbor at Carol Castle -- the genie had whisked them there quicker than it takes to tell it.