Принц і жебрак
Tom’s early life.
Hisheadgrewtobefullofthesewonderfulthings,andmanyanightashelayinthedarkonhisscantandoffensivestraw,tired,hungry,andsmartingfromathrashing,heunleashedhisimaginationandsoonforgothisachesandpainsindeliciouspicturingstohimselfofthecharmedlifeofapettedprinceinaregalpalace. Onedesirecameintimetohaunthimdayandnight: itwastoseearealprince,withhisowneyes. HespokeofitoncetosomeofhisOffalCourtcomrades;buttheyjeeredhimandscoffedhimsounmercifullythathewasgladtokeephisdreamtohimselfafterthat.
Heoftenreadthepriest’soldbooksandgothimtoexplainandenlargeuponthem. Hisdreamingsandreadingsworkedcertainchangesinhim,by-and-by. Hisdream-peopleweresofinethathegrewtolamenthisshabbyclothingandhisdirt,andtowishtobecleanandbetterclad. Hewentonplayinginthemudjustthesame,andenjoyingit,too;but,insteadofsplashingaroundintheThamessolelyforthefunofit,hebegantofindanaddedvalueinitbecauseofthewashingsandcleansingsitafforded.
TomcouldalwaysfindsomethinggoingonaroundtheMaypoleinCheapside,andatthefairs; andnowandthenheandtherestofLondonhadachancetoseeamilitaryparadewhensomefamousunfortunatewascarriedprisonertotheTower,bylandorboat. Onesummer’sdayhesawpoorAnneAskewandthreemenburnedatthestakeinSmithfield,andheardanex-Bishoppreachasermontothemwhichdidnotinteresthim. Yes,Tom’slifewasvariedandpleasantenough,onthewhole.
By-and-byTom’sreadinganddreamingaboutprincelylifewroughtsuchastrongeffectuponhimthathebegantoacttheprince,unconsciously. Hisspeechandmannersbecamecuriouslyceremoniousandcourtly,tothevastadmirationandamusementofhisintimates.
