Free When Apples Grew Noses and White Horses Flew by Jan Andrews Page B

carry him into a closet and out.
    The princess was very interested. She wanted to look more closely.
    â€œMight I touch it?” she asked.
    â€œI would be honored.”
    â€œCould I try on the belt, perhaps?”
    â€œYou are most welcome,” Ti-Jean said.
    The princess put on the belt at once. Ti-Jean watched and waited.
    The princess ordered the belt to take her to her father’s throne room.
    The next thing Ti-Jean knew, he was facing the palace guards. They beat him until he was black and blue all over. They marched him through the palace door and left him in a ditch.
    Ti-Jean did not want to go home. He did not want to tell his brothers what had happened, but he did not know what else to do, so he set out.
    The way was long and perilous. By the time he arrived, his brothers were living much more comfortably, thanks to his oldest brother’s purse and the gold coins.
    His brothers welcomed him and teased him. They called him a dunderhead and life went on.
    Perhaps that would have been the end of it, but Ti-Jean wanted his belt back. He wanted it very much. As well, he kept remembering how pretty the Princess of Tomboso had looked.
    Perhaps she did not really mean to steal the belt from me. Perhaps it was really her father’s fault, he thought.
    He racked his brains and racked his brains until at last he came up with a plan. He went to his oldest brother.
    â€œI was wondering if I could borrow the purse from you,” he said.
    â€œThe purse? Why would I lend you the purse?”
    â€œBecause it’s the only way I can get my belt back. If I have the purse, I can buy the belt.”
    The oldest brother was very doubtful, but Ti-Jean begged and pleaded.
    â€œYou must promise you won’t let the princess hold the purse,” his brother said finally.
    â€œI promise,” Ti-Jean answered.
    â€œYou must promise you won’t even let her touch it.”
    â€œI promise! I promise! ”
    The oldest brother was still reluctant, but he agreed.
    Ti-Jean set out. He had the purse so he did not have to walk much. Mostly he could afford to ride. He was better dressed than he had been but he still looked like a farmer. He could pay the princess’s servants to let him into the palace, though.
    This time he came into her room through the door. Once more she was sitting on her throne. Once more she was eating an apple. She was still wearing the belt.
    The princess was not pleased to see him. She was not pleased at all.
    â€œI don’t want you in my room,” she told him.
    â€œI would go in an instant, if you would give me back my belt,” Ti-Jean said.
    â€œIt’s mine. I’m not giving it to anyone,” the princess answered.
    â€œThen perhaps I could buy it.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t have enough money.”
    â€œI could fill this room with gold coins again and again.”
    â€œHow could you possibly do that?”
    All this while, Ti-Jean had kept the purse in his pocket. Now he took it out. He told the princess how it worked. He produced one hundred gold coins and then another hundred.
    The princess looked at him and smiled.
    â€œI would like so much to touch this wonderful purse,” she said.
    â€œI don’t think you can,” said Ti-Jean. “I don’t think my brother would like it.”
    The princess smiled some more. Ti-Jean had never seen anyone so lovely. He forgot his promise. He forgot everything. He let her touch the purse.
    â€œCould I hold it?” she asked him.
    He let her.
    â€œCould I try it for myself?” she demanded.
    Ti-Jean was a little unsure, but only a little.
    â€œOf course you may try it, but then you must give it back,” he said.
    â€œWhat else would I do?” the princess cried.
    She tried the purse once. She tried it twice. Ti-Jean watched and waited.
    â€œI want to go to my father’s throne room now,” the princess told the belt.
    She took the purse with her. Of