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The Little Lame Prince
PRINCE CHERRY
LONG ago there lived a monarch； who was such a very； honest man
that his subjects entitled him the Good King。 One day； when he was out
hunting； a little white rabbit； which had been half…killed by his hounds；
leaped right into his majesty's arms。 Said he； caressing it： 〃This poor
creature has put itself under my protection； and I will allow no one to
injure it。〃 So he carried it to his palace； had prepared for it a neat little
rabbit…hutch； with abundance of the daintiest food； such as rabbits love；
and there he left it。
The same night； when he was alone in his chamber； there appeared to
him a beautiful lady。 She was dressed neither in gold； nor silver； nor
brocade； but her flowing robes were white as snow； and she wore a
garland of white roses on her head。 The Good King was greatly astonished
at the sight； for his door was locked； and he wondered how so dazzling a
lady could possibly enter； but she soon removed his doubts。
〃I am the fairy Candide；〃 said she； with a smiling and gracious air。
〃Passing through the wood where you were hunting； I took a desire to
know if you were as good as men say you are I therefore changed myself
into a white rabbit and took refuge in your arms。 You saved me and now I
know that those who are merciful to dum beasts will be ten times more so
to human beings。 You merit the name your subjects give you： you are the
Good King。 I thank you for your protection； and shall be always one of
your best friends。 You have but to say what you most desire； and I promise
you your wish shall be granted。〃
〃Madam；〃 replied the king； 〃if you are a fairy； you must know； without
my telling you； the wish of my heart。 I have one well…beloved son； Prince
Cherry： whatever kindly feeling you have toward me； extend it to him。〃
〃Willingly；〃 said Candide。 〃I will make him the handsomest； richest； or
most powerful prince in the world： choose whichever you desire for him。〃
〃None of the three；〃 returned the father。 〃I only wish him to be good
the best prince in the whole world。 Of what use would riches； power； or
beauty be to him if he were a bad man？〃
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The Little Lame Prince
〃You are right；〃 said the fairy； 〃but I can not make him good： he must
do that himself。 I can only change his external fortunes； for his personal
character； the utmost I can promise is to give him good counsel； reprove
him for his faults； and even punish him； if he will not punish himself。 You
mortals can do the same with your children。〃
〃Ah； yes！〃 said the king； sighing。 Still； he felt that the kindness of a
fairy was something gained for his son； and died not long after； content
and at peace。
Prince Cherry mourned deeply； for he dearly loved his father； and
would have gladly given all his kingdoms and treasures to keep him in life
a little longer。 Two days after the Good King was no more； Prince Cherry
was sleeping in his chamber； when he saw the same dazzling vision of the
fairy Candide。
〃I promised your father；〃 said she； 〃to be your best friend； and in
pledge of this take what I now give you；〃 and she placed a small gold ring
upon his finger。 〃Poor as it looks； it is more precious than diamonds； for
whenever you do ill it will prick your finger。 If； after that warning； you
still continue in evil； you will lose my friendship； and I shall become your
direst enemy。〃'
So saying； she disappeared； leaving Cherry in such amazement that he
would have believed it all a dream； save for the ring on his finger。
He was for a long time so good that the ring never pricked him at all；
and this made him so cheerful and pleasant in his humor that everybody
called him 〃Happy Prince Cherry。〃 But one unlucky day he was out
hunting and found no sport； which vexed him so much that he showed his
ill temper by his looks and ways。 He fancied his ring felt very tight and
uncomfortable； but as it did not prick him he took no heed of this： until；
re…entering his palace； his little pet dog； Bibi； jumped up upon him and
was sharply told to get away。 The creature； accustomed to nothing but
caresses； tried to attract his attention by pulling at his garments； when
Prince Cherry turned and gave it a severe kick。 At this moment he felt in
his finger a prick like a pin。
〃What nonsense！〃 said he to himself。 〃The fairy must be making game
of me。 Why； what great evil have I done！ I； the master of a great empire；
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The Little Lame Prince
cannot I kick my own dog？〃
A voice replied； or else Prince Cherry imagined it； 〃No； sire； the
master of a great empire has a right to do good； but not evil。 Ia fairyam
as much above you as you are above your dog。 I might punish you； kill
you； if I chose； but I prefer leaving you to amend your ways。 You have
been guilty of three faults todaybad temper； passion； cruelty： do better
to…morrow。〃
The prince promised； and kept his word a while； but he had been
brought up by a foolish nurse； who indulged him in every way and was
always telling him that he would be a king one day； when he might do as
he liked in all things。 He found out now that even a king cannot always do
that； it vexed him and made him angry。 His ring began to prick him so
often that his little finger was continually bleeding。 He disliked this； as
was natural； and soon began to consider whether it would not be easier to
throw the ring away altogether than to be constantly annoyed by it。 It was
such a queer thing for a king to have a spot of blood on his finger！ At last；
unable to put up with it any more； he took his ring off and hid it where he
would never see it； and believed himself the happiest of men； for he could
now do exactly what he liked。 He did it； and became every day more and
more miserable。
One day he saw a young girl； so beautiful that； being always
accustomed to have his own way； he immediately determined to espouse
her。 He never doubted that she would be only too glad to be made a queen；
for she was very poor。 But Zeliathat was her nameanswered； to his