how to tell stories to children-第24节

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art　was　softened。　　He；　too；　felt　the　strange　blessed　presence　of　a　heavenly　power。　　He　thought　of　God；　and　of　his　own　wickedness；　he　remembered　how　happy　he　had　been；　and　how　little　good　he　had　done；　he　realized；　that　his　power　had　not　been　from　himself；　at　all。　　On　Easter　night；　as　he　crept　to　his　bed　of　straw；　he　wept；　not　because　he　was　so　wretched；　but　because　he　had　not　been　a　better　king　when　power　was　his。

At　last　all　the　festivities　were　over；　and　the　King　of　Sicily　went　home　to　his　own　　land　again；　with　his　people。　　Robert　the　jester　came　home　too。

On　the　day　of　their　home…coming；　there　was　a　special　service　in　the　royal　church；　and　even　after　the　service　was　over　for　the　people；　the　monks　held　prayers　of　thanksgiving　and　praise。　　The　sound　of　their　singing　came　softly　in　at　the　palace　windows。　　In　the　great　banquet　room；　the　king　sat；　wearing　his　royal　robes　and　his　crown；　while　many　subjects　came　to　greet　him。　　At　last；　he　sent　them　all　away；　saying　he　wanted　to　be　alone；　but　he　commanded　the　jester　to　stay。　　And　when　they　were　alone　together　the　king　looked　into　Robert's　eyes；　as　he　had　done　before；　and　said；　softly；　〃Who　art　thou？〃

Robert　of　Sicily　bowed　his　head。　　〃Thou　knowest　best；〃　he　said；　〃I　only　know　that　I　have　sinned。〃

As　he　spoke；　he　heard　the　voices　of　the　monks　singing；　〃He　hath　put　down　the　mighty　from　their　seat；〃and　his　head　sank　lower。　　But　suddenly　the　music　seemed　to　change；　a　wonderful　light　shone　all　about。　　As　Robert　raised　his　eyes；　he　saw　the　face　of　the　king　smiling　at　him　　with　a　radiance　like　nothing　on　earth；　and　as　he　sank　to　his　knees　before　the　glory　of　that　smile；　a　voice　sounded　with　the　music；　like　a　melody　throbbing　on　a　single　string：

〃I　am　an　angel；　and　thou　art　the　king！〃

Then　Robert　of　Sicily　was　alone。　　His　royal　robes　were　upon　him　once　more；　he　wore　his　crown　and　his　royal　ring。　　He　was　king。　　And　when　the　courtiers　came　back　they　found　their　king　kneeling　by　his　throne；　absorbed　in　silent　prayer。



THE　JEALOUS　COURTIERS＇1＇

＇1＇　Adapted　from　the　facts　given　in　the　German　of　H。　A。　Guerber's　Marchen　und　Erzahlungen　（D。　C。　Heath　&　Co。）。


I　wonder　if　you　have　ever　heard　the　anecdote　about　the　artist　of　Dusseldorf　and　the　jealous　courtiers。　　This　is　it。　　It　seems　there　was　once　a　very　famous　artist　who　lived　in　the　little　town　of　Dusseldorf。　　He　did　such　fine　work　that　the　Elector；　Prince　Johann　Wilhelm；　ordered　a　portrait　statue　of　himself；　on　horseback；　to　be　done　in　bronze。　　The　artist　was　overjoyed　at　the　commission；　and　worked　early　and　late　at　the　statue。

At　last　the　work　was　done；　and　the　artist　had　the　great　statue　set　up　in　the　public　square　of　Dusseldorf；　ready　for　the　opening　view。　　The　Elector　came　on　the　appointed　day；　and　with　him　came　his　favorite　courtiers　from　the　castle。　　Then　the　statue　was　unveiled。　　It　was　very　beautiful；　so　beautiful　that　the　prince　exclaimed　in　surprise。　　He　could　not　look　enough；　and　presently　he　turned　to　the　artist　and　shook　hands　with　him；　like　an　old　friend。　　〃Herr　Grupello；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　great　artist；　and　this　statue　will　make　your　fame　even　greater　than　it　is；　the　portrait　of　me　is　perfect！〃

When　the　courtiers　heard　this；　and　saw　the　friendly　hand…grasp；　their　jealousy　of　the　artist　was　beyond　bounds。　　Their　one　thought　was；　how　could　they　safely　do　something　to　humiliate　him。　　They　dared　not　pick　flaws　in　the　portrait　statue；　for　the　prince　had　declared　it　perfect。　　But　at　last　one　of　them　said；　with　an　air　of　great　frankness；　〃Indeed；　Herr　Grupello；　the　portrait　of　his　Royal　Highness　is　perfect；　　but　permit　me　to　say　that　the　statue　of　the　horse　is　not　quite　so　successful：　the　head　is　too　large；　it　is　out　of　proportion。〃

〃No；〃　said　another；　〃the　horse　is　really　not　so　successful；　the　turn　of　the　neck；　there；　is　awkward。〃

〃If　you　would　change　the　right　hind…　foot；　Herr　Grupello；〃　said　a　third；　〃it　would　be　an　improvement。〃

Still　another　found　fault　with　the　horse's　tail。

The　artist　listened；　quietly。　　When　they　had　all　finished；　he　turned　to　the　prince　and　said；　〃Your　courtiers；　Prince；　find　a　good　many　flaws　in　the　statue　of　the　horse；　will　you　permit　me　to　keep　it　a　few　days　more；　to　do　what　I　can　with　it？〃

The　Elector　assented；　and　the　artist　ordered　a　temporary　screen　built　around　the　statue；　so　that　his　assistants　could　work　undisturbed。　　For　several　days　the　sound　of　hammering　came　steadily　from　behind　the　enclosure。　　The　courtiers；　who　took　care　to　pass　that　way；　often；　were　delighted。　　Each　one　said　to　himself；　〃I　must　have　been　right；　really；　the　artist　himself　sees　that　something　was　wrong；　　now　I　shall　have　credit　for　saving　the　prince's　portrait　by　my　artistic　taste！〃

Once　more　the　artist　summoned　the　prince　and　his　courtiers；　and　once　more　the　statue　was　unveiled。　　Again　the　Elector　exclaimed　at　its　beauty；　and　then　he　turned　to　his　courtiers；　one　after　another；　to　see　what　they　had　to　say。

〃Perfect！〃　said　the　first。　　〃Now　that　the　horse's　head　is　in　proportion；　there　is　not　a　flaw。〃

〃The　change　in　the　neck　was　just　what　was　needed；〃　said　the　second；　〃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　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　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；　lik