"Jo," said Ann, "I am going to conquer the
world, and I command you to join my Army."
"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "The bun crop has to
be picked."
"Let your wife and children do the picking,"
said Ann.
"But I'm a man of great importance, Your
Majesty," he protested.
"For that reason you shall be one of my
Generals, and wear a cocked hat with gold
braid, and curl your mustaches and clank a long
sword," she promised.
So he consented, although sorely against his
will, and the Queen walked on to the next
cottage. Here lived Jo Cone, so called because
the trees in his orchard bore crops of excellent
ice-cream cones.
"Jo," said Ann, "I am going to conquer the
world, and you must join my Army."
"Excuse me, please," said Jo Cone. "I am a
bad fighter. My good wife conquered me years
ago, for she can fight better than I. Take her,
Your Majesty, instead of me, and I'll bless you
for the favor."
"This must be an army of men--fierce, ferocious
warriors," declared Ann, looking sternly upon the
mild little man.
"And you will leave my wife here in Oogaboo?" he
asked.
"Yes; and make you a General."
"I'll go," said Jo Cone, and Ann went on to
the cottage of Jo Clock, who had an orchard of
clock-trees. This man at first insisted that he
would not join the army, but Queen Ann's
promise to make him a General finally won his
consent.
"How many Generals are there in your army?"
he asked.
"Four, so far," replied Ann.
"And how big will the army be?" was his next
question.
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