the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第16章
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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！
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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
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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
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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
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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 an
