Принц і жебрак
The Prince with the peasants
Whenbreakfastwasover,thehousewifetoldtheKingtowashupthedishes.Thiscommandwasastaggerer,foramoment,andtheKingcamenearrebelling;butthenhesaidtohimself,"AlfredtheGreatwatchedthecakes;doubtlesshewouldhavewashedthedishestoo—thereforewillIessayit."
Hemadeasufficientlypoorjobofit;andtohissurprisetoo,forthecleaningofwoodenspoonsandtrenchershadseemedaneasythingtodo.Itwasatediousandtroublesomepieceofwork,buthefinisheditatlast.Hewasbecomingimpatienttogetawayonhisjourneynow;however,hewasnottolosethisthriftydame’ssocietysoeasily.Shefurnishedhimsomelittleoddsandendsofemployment,whichhegotthroughwithafterafairfashionandwithsomecredit.Thenshesethimandthelittlegirlstoparingsomewinterapples;buthewassoawkwardatthisservicethatsheretiredhimfromitandgavehimabutcherknifetogrind.
AfterwardsshekepthimcardingwooluntilhebegantothinkhehadlaidthegoodKingAlfredaboutfarenoughintheshadeforthepresentinthematterofshowymenialheroismsthatwouldreadpicturesquelyinstory-booksandhistories,andsohewashalf-mindedtoresign.Andwhen,justafterthenoondaydinner,thegoodwifegavehimabasketofkittenstodrown,hedidresign.Atleasthewasjustgoingtoresign—forhefeltthathemustdrawthelinesomewhere,anditseemedtohimthattodrawitatkitten-drowningwasabouttherightthing—whentherewasaninterruption
