The Little Lame Prince

mself. But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon

knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them-only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were

that happened there. And though he but faintly took in all this, still he did take it in a little, and worried his young brain about

pain, his desire to see the world somehow faded away. He contented himself with reading his books, and looking out of the

ver got the faintest chance of making it into a lark pie. Prince Dolor had his pet all to himself, and though he seldom saw it, h

less Tower-the little bird cheered and amused him. He scarcely needed anything more-not even hi

or lose them, apply them or misapply them, according to his own choice. That is all we can do with children when t

strong, with great sturdy shoulders, and muscular arms, upon which he could swing himself about almost like a monkey. As if in compensation for his useless lower limbs, Nature

e liked to look at him!

h was more than half the battle. He never gave up his lessons till he had learned them all-never tho

der than anybody-except kings. The princes I read about generally turn into kings. I wonder"-the boy was alw

seldom thought of either. Even her punishment-to be shut up for life in Hopeless Tower-she had gradually got used to. Used also to the little

, imprisoned here till he grew into an old man, and became a dull, worn-out creature like herself. Sometimes, watching him, she felt mo

he, "I don't mean to vex you, but tell

he ought to know it-for there had been various ups and downs, usurpations, revolutions, and restorations in Nomansland, as in most other countries. Something might happen-who could te

f, would be broken if she were to take a pencil and write what was to be told. A mere quibble-

ers to her lips, and taking the Prince's slate-with the sponge

are a

flushed all over; he held himself erect. Lame as

e who have done wrong always are frightened,-she wrote down in a few hurried sentences his history. How

get out into the world, and fight for your rights like a man. And fig

s he was, when he heard he was born to be a king, he felt like a m

tle lark singing in the sunrise, he barely listened to it. Thi

e, active people, as that boy I saw. They might only laugh at me-poor helpless creature that I am; but still I might sh

sed when he got no answer-only the little lark outside the window sa

which was hard work, for he was not used to it-he had alwa

ependent," thought he. "Fancy a

s before, and watched it unrolling itself-which it did rapidly, with a hearty good-will, as if quite tired of idleness. So was P

risen sun. "You have been my pleasure, my delight; now I must go and work. Sing to old nurse till I com

remembered that he had not determined where to go-inde

to see-never mind what I like to see," as a sudden idea came into his mind that he might see many painful and disagreeable things. But this journey was not for pleasu

stretches of forest, and smiling cultivated plains, and great lakes that seemed to him almost as shoreless as the sea,-he was often rather frightened

of a gigantic hive of bees. And, stretching his chin over the rim of his cloak, Prince Dolor saw-far,

buildings, churches, and squares. Also, perhaps, we have peeped into its miserable little back alleys, where dirty children play in gutters all day and half the night-even young boys go about picking p

it from the upper air, where, with your eyes and ears open, you could take in everything a

able to stand such a sight without being utterly overcome. But he was very

y below him, and then pu

ul. And I don't understand it-not one bit. There is nobod

o me. I was always conside

o lark this time, however, but a great black and white creature that flew into the cloak, and began walking round and

your acquaintance, sir

great antiquity; we have built in this palace for hundreds-that is to say, dozens of years. I am intimately acquainted with the king, the queen, and the little princes and princesses-also

e," said the

agpie. You will find me

n his own mind that Mag must have a very good opinion of herself.

e she balanced herself on the other, every object of interest, evidently believing, as no doubt all

take it upon trust, and suppose it to be, like every other fine city,

derstand them at all. One half the people seemed so happy and busy-hurrying up and down the full streets, or

ittle more level? I would tr

turned the magpie loftily. "And I'm here not to explain thi

l directions, but none of them had any particular view-except a small one, high up toward the roof, which looked out on the Beautiful Mountains. But since the queen died there it had been closed, boarde

see the king," s