stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第24章
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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
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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
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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
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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
