the little lame prince-第13章
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The little old woman laughed gayly。 〃Forsake you？ that is impossible。 But it is just possible you may forsake me。 Not probable though。 Your mother never did； and she was a queen。 The sweetest queen in all the world was the Lady Dolorez。〃
〃Tell me about her；〃 said the boy eagerly。 〃As I get older I think I can understand more。 Do tell me。〃
〃Not now。 You couldn't hear me for the trumpets and the shouting。 But when you are come to the palace； ask for a long…closed upper room； which looks out upon the Beautiful Mountains； open it and take it for your own。 Whenever you go there you will always find me； and we will talk together about all sorts of things。〃
〃And about my mother？〃
The little old woman noddedand kept nodding and smiling to herself many times； as the boy repeated over and over again the sweet words he had never known or understood〃my mothermy mother。〃
〃Now I must go；〃 said she； as the trumpets blared louder and louder； and the shouts of the people showed that they would not endure any delay。 〃Good…by； good…by！ Open the window and out I fly。〃
Prince Dolor repeated gayly the musical rhymebut all the while tried to hold his godmother fast。
Vain； vain！ for the moment that a knocking was heard at his door the sun went behind a cloud； the bright stream of dancing motes vanished； and the little old woman with them he knew not where。
So Prince Dolor quitted his towerwhich he had entered so mournfully and ignominiously as a little helpless baby carried in the deaf…mute's armsquitted it as the great King of Nomansland。
The only thing he took away with him was something so insignificant that none of the lords； gentlemen； and soldiers who escorted him with such triumphant splendor could possibly notice ita tiny bundle； which he had found lying on the floor just where the bridge of sunbeams had rested。 At once he had pounced upon it； and thrust it secretly into his bosom； where it dwin… dled into such small proportions that it might have been taken for a mere chest…comforter； a bit of flannel； or an old pocket…handkerchief。 It was his traveling…cloak！
CHAPTER X
Did Prince Dolar become a great king？ Was he； though little more than a boy； 〃the father of his people；〃 as all kings ought to be？ Did his reign last longlong and happy？ and what were the principal events of it； as chronicled in the history of Nomansland？
Why； if I were to answer all these questions I should have to write another book。 And I'm tired； children； tiredas grown…up people sometimes are； though not always with play。 （Besides； I have a small person belonging to me； who； though she likes extremely to listen to the word…of…mouth story of this book； grumbles much at the writing of it； and has run about the house clapping her hands with joy when mamma told her that it was nearly finished。 But that is neither here nor there。）
I have related as well as I could the history of Prince Dolor； but with the history of Nomansland I am as yet unacquainted。 If anybody knows it； perhaps he or she will kindly write it all down in another book。 But mine is done。
However； of this I am sure； that Prince Dolor made an excellent king。 Nobody ever does anything less well； not even the commonest duty of common daily life； for having such a godmother as the little old woman clothed in gray； whose name iswell； I leave you to guess。 Nor； I think； is anybody less good； less capable of both work and enjoyment in after…life； for having been a little unhappy in his youth； as the prince had been。
I cannot take upon myself to say that he was always happy nowwho is？or that he had no cares； just show me the person who is quite free from them！ But whenever people worried and bothered himas they did sometimes； with state etiquette； state squabbles； and the like； setting up themselves and pulling down their neighbors he would take refuge in that upper room which looked out on the Beautiful Mountains； and； laying his head on his godmother's shoulder； become calmed and at rest。
Also； she helped him out of any difficulty which now and then occurredfor there never was such a wise old woman。 When the people of Nomansland raised the alarmas sometimes they didfor what people can exist without a little fault…finding？and began to cry out； 〃Un… happy is the nation whose king is a child；〃 she would say to him gently； 〃You are a child。 Accept the fact。 Be humblebe teachable。 Lean upon the wisdom of others till you have gained your own。〃
He did so。 He learned how to take advice before attempting to give it； to obey before he could righteously command。 He assembled round him all the good and wise of his kingdom laid all its affairs before them； and was guided by their opinions until he had maturely formed his own。
This he did sooner than anybody would have imagined who did not know of his godmother and his traveling…cloaktwo secret blessings； which； though many guessed at； nobody quite understood。 Nor did they understand why he loved so the little upper room； except that it had been his mother's room； from the window of which； as people remembered now； she had used to sit for hours watching the Beautiful Mountains。
Out of that window he used to flynot very often； as he grew older； the labors of state prevented the frequent use of his traveling…cloak； still he did use it sometimes。 Only now it was less for his own pleasure and amusement than to see something or investigate something for the good of the country。 But he prized his godmother's gift as dearly as ever。 It was a comfort to him in all his vexations； an enhancement of all his joys。 It made him almost forget his lamenesswhich was never cured。
However； the cruel things which had been once foreboded of him did not happen。 His misfortune was not such a heavy one； after all。 It proved to be of much less inconvenience； even to himself； than had been feared。 A council of eminent surgeons and mechanicians invented for him a wonderful pair of crutches； with the help of which； though he never walked easily or gracefully； he did manage to walk so as to be quite independent。 And such was the love his people bore him that they never heard the sound of his crutches on the marble palace floors without a leap of the heart； for they knew that good
was coming to them whenever he approached。
Thus； though he never walked in processions； never reviewed his troops mounted on a magnificent charger； nor did any of the things which make a show monarch so much appreciated； he was able for all the duties and a great many of the pleasures of his rank。 When he held his levees； not standing； but seated on a throne in… geniously contrived to hide his infirmity； the people thronged to greet him； when he drove out through the city streets； shouts followed him wherever he wentevery countenance brightened as he passed； and his own； perhaps； was the brightest of all。
First； because； accepting his affliction as inevitable； he took it patiently； second； because； being a brave man； he bore it bravely； trying to forget himself； and live out of himself； and in and for other people。 Therefore other people grew to love him so well that I think hundreds of his subjects might have been found who were almost ready to die for their poor lame king。
He never gave them a queen。 When they implored him to choose one； he replied that his country was his bride； and he desired no other。 But perhaps the real reason was that he shrank from any change； and that no wife in all the world would have been found so perfect； so lovable； so tender to him in all his weaknesses as his beautiful old godmother。
His twenty…four other godfathers and godmothers； or as many of them as were still alive； crowded round him as soon as he ascended the throne。 He was very civil to them all； but adopted none of the names they had given him； keeping to the one by which he had been always known； though it had now almost lost its meaning； for King Dolor was one of the happiest and cheerfulest men alive。
He did a good many things； however； unlike most men and most kings； which a little astonished his subjects。 First； he pardoned the condemned woman who had been his nurse； and ordained that from henceforth there should be no such thing as the punishment of death in Nomansland。 All capital criminals were to be
sent to perpetual imprisonment in Hopeless Tower and the plain round about it； where they could do no harm to anybody； and might in time do a little good； as the woman had done。
Another surprise he shortly afterward gave the nation。 He recalled his uncle's family； who had fled away in terror to another country； and restored them to all their honors in their own。 By and by he chose the eldest son of his eldest cousin （who had been dead a year）； and had him educated in the royal palace； as the heir to the throne。 This little prince was a quiet； unobtrusive boy； so that everybody wondered at the King's choosing him when there were so many more； but as he grew into a fine young fellow； good and brave； they agreed that the King judged more wisely than they。
〃Not a lame prince； either；〃 his Majesty observed one day； watching him affectionately； for he was the best runner； the highest leaper； the keenest and most active sportsman in the country。 〃One cannot make one's self； but one can sometimes help a little in the making of somebody else。 It is well。〃
This was said； not to any of his great lords and ladies； but to a good old womanhis first homely nurse whom he had sought for far and wide； and at last found in her cottage among the Beautiful Mountains。 He sent for her to visit him once a year； and treated her with great honor until she died。 He was equally kind； though somewhat less tender； to his other nurse； who； after receiving her pardon； returned to her native town and grew into a great lady； and I hope a good one。 But as she was so grand a personage now； any little faults she had did not show。
Thus King Dolor's reign passed year after year； long and prosperous。 Whether he were happy〃as happy as a king〃is a question no human being can decide。 But I think he was； because he had the power of making everybody about him happy； and did it too； also because he was his godmother's godson； and could shut himself up with her whenever he liked； in that quiet little room in view of the Beautiful Mountains； which nobody else ever saw or cared to see。 They were too far off； and the city lay so low。 But there they were； all the time。 No change ever came to them； and I think； at any day throughout his long reign； the King would sooner have lost his crown than have lost sight of the Beautiful Mountains。
In course of time； when the little Prince； his cousin； was grown into a tall young man； capable of all the duties of a man； his Majesty did one of the most extraordinary acts ever known in a sovereign beloved by his people and prosperous in his reign。 He announced that he wished to invest his heir with the royal purpleat any rate； for a timewhile he himself went away on a distant journey； whither he had long desired to go。
Everybody marveled； but nobody opposed him。 Who could oppose the good King； who was not a young king now？ And besides； the nation had a great admiration for the young regentand possibly a lurking pleasure in change。
So there was a fixed day when all
