Принц і жебрак
Tom’s early life.
Theygotdrunkwhenevertheycould;thentheyfoughteachotheroranybodyelsewhocameintheway; theycursedandsworealways,drunkorsober; JohnCantywasathief,andhismotherabeggar. Theymadebeggarsofthechildren,butfailedtomakethievesofthem. Among,butnotof,thedreadfulrabblethatinhabitedthehouse,wasagoodoldpriestwhomtheKinghadturnedoutofhouseandhomewithapensionofafewfarthings,andheusedtogetthechildrenasideandteachthemrightwayssecretly. FatherAndrewalsotaughtTomalittleLatin,andhowtoreadandwrite; andwouldhavedonethesamewiththegirls,buttheywereafraidofthejeersoftheirfriends,whocouldnothaveenduredsuchaqueeraccomplishmentinthem.
AllOffalCourtwasjustsuchanotherhiveasCanty’shouse. Drunkenness,riotandbrawlingweretheorder,there,everynightandnearlyallnightlong. Brokenheadswereascommonashungerinthatplace. YetlittleTomwasnotunhappy. Hehadahardtimeofit,butdidnotknowit. ItwasthesortoftimethatalltheOffalCourtboyshad,thereforehesupposeditwasthecorrectandcomfortablething. Whenhecamehomeempty-handedatnight,heknewhisfatherwouldcursehimandthrashhimfirst,andthatwhenhewasdonetheawfulgrandmotherwoulddoitalloveragainandimproveonit; andthatawayinthenighthisstarvingmotherwouldsliptohimstealthilywithanymiserablescraporcrustshehadbeenabletosaveforhimbygoinghungryherself,notwithstandingshewasoftencaughtinthatsortoftreasonandsoundlybeatenforitbyherhusband.
No,Tom’slifewentalongwellenough,especiallyinsummer. Heonlybeggedjustenoughtosavehimself,forthelawsagainstmendicancywerestringent,andthepenaltiesheavy; soheputinagooddealofhistimelisteningtogoodFatherAndrew’scharmingoldtalesandlegendsaboutgiantsandfairies,dwarfsandgenii,andenchantedcastles,andgorgeouskingsandprinces.
