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〃it is very graceful now。〃
〃The rear right foot is as it should be； now；〃 said a third； 〃and it adds
so much to the beauty of the whole！〃
The fourth said that he considered the tail greatly improved。
〃My courtiers are much pleased now；〃 said the prince to Herr Grupello；
〃they think the statue much improved by the changes you have made。〃
Herr Grupello smiled a little。 〃I am glad they are pleased；〃 he said；
〃but the fact is； I have changed nothing！〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said the prince in surprise。 〃Have we not heard
the sound of hammering every day？ What were you hammering at then？〃
〃I was hammering at the reputation of your courtiers； who found fault
simply because they were jealous；〃 said the artist。 〃And I rather think that
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their reputation is pretty well hammered to pieces！〃
It was； indeed。 The Elector laughed heartily； but the courtiers slunk
away； one after another； without a word。
PRINCE CHERRY＇1＇
＇1＇ A shortened version of the familiar tale。
There was once an old king； so wise and kind and true that the most
powerful good fairy of his land visited him and asked him to name the
dearest wish of his heart； that she might grant it。
〃Surely you know it；〃 said the good king； 〃it is for my only son； Prince
Cherry； do for him whatever you would have done for me。〃
〃Gladly；〃 said the great fairy； 〃choose what I shall give him。 I can
make him the richest； the most beautiful； or the most powerful prince in
the world； choose。〃
〃None of those things are what I want；〃 said the king。 〃I want only that
he shall be good。 Of what use will it be to him to be beautiful； rich； or
powerful； if he grows into a bad man？ Make him the best prince in the
world； I beg you！〃
〃Alas； I cannot make him good；〃 said the fairy； 〃he must do that for
himself。 I can give him good advice； reprove him when he does wrong；
and punish him if he will not punish himself； I can and will be his best
friend； but I cannot make him good unless he wills it。〃
The king was sad to hear this； but he rejoiced in the friendship of the
fairy for his son。 And when he died； soon after； he was happy to know that
he left Prince Cherry in her hands。
Prince Cherry grieved for his father and often lay awake at night；
thinking of him。 One night； when he was all alone in his room； a soft and
lovely light suddenly shone before him； and a beautiful vision stood at his
side。 It was the good fairy。 She was clad in robes of dazzling white； and on
her shining hair she wore a wreath of white roses。
〃I am the Fairy Candide；〃 she said to the prince。 〃I promised your
father that I would be your best friend； and as long as you live I shall
watch over your happiness。 I have brought you a gift； it is not wonderful
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to look at； but it has a wonderful power for your welfare； wear it； and let it
help you。〃
As she spoke； she placed a small gold ring on the prince's little finger。
〃This ring；〃 she said； 〃will help you to be good； when you do evil； it will
prick you； to remind you。 If you do not heed its warnings a worse thing
will happen to you； for I shall become your enemy。〃 Then she vanished。
Prince Cherry wore his ring； and said nothing to any one of the fairy's
gift。 It did not prick him for a long time； because he was good and merry
and happy。 But Prince Cherry had been rather spoiled by his nurse when
he was a child； she had always said to him that when he should become
king he could do exactly as he pleased。 Now； after a while； he began to
find out that this was not true； and it made him angry。
The first time that he noticed that even a king could not always have
his own way was on a day when he went hunting。 It happened that he got
no game。 This put him in such a bad temper that he grumbled and scolded
all the way home。 The little gold ring began to feel tight and
uncomfortable。 When he reached the palace his pet dog ran to meet him。
〃Go away！〃 said the prince； crossly。
But the little dog was so used to being petted that he only jumped up
on his master； and tried to kiss his hand。 The prince turned and kicked the
little creature。 At the instant； he felt a sharp prick in his little finger； like a
pin prick。
〃What nonsense！〃 said the prince to himself。 〃Am I not king of the
whole land？ May I not kick my own dog； if I choose？ What evil is there in
that？〃
A silver voice spoke in his ear： 〃The king of the land has a right to do
good； but not evil； you have been guilty of bad temper and of cruelty to…
day； see that you do better to…morrow。〃
The prince turned sharply； but no one was to be seen； yet he
recognized the voice as that of Fairy Candide。
He followed her advice for a little； but presently he forgot； and the ring
pricked him so sharply that his finger had a drop of blood on it。 This
happened again and again； for the prince grew more self…willed and
headstrong every day； he had some bad friends； too； who urged him on； in
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the hope that he would ruin himself and give them a chance to seize the
throne。 He treated his people carelessly and his servants cruelly； and
everything he wanted he felt that he must have。
The ring annoyed him terribly； it was embarrassing for a king to have
a drop of blood on his finger all the time！ At last he took the ring off and
put it out of sight。 Then he thought he should be perfectly happy； having
his own way； but instead； he grew more unhappy as he grew less good。
Whenever he was crossed； or could not have his own way instantly； he
flew into a passion；
Finally； he wanted something that he really could not have。 This time
it was a most beautiful young girl； named Zelia； the prince saw her； and
loved her so much that he wanted at once to make her his queen。 To his
great astonishment； she refused。
〃Am I not pleasing to you？〃 asked the prince in surprise。
〃You are very handsome； very charming； Prince；〃 said Zelia； 〃but you
are not like the good king； your father； I fear you would ma