Принц і жебрак
Tom’s early life.
OneJanuaryday,onhisusualbeggingtour,hetrampeddespondentlyupanddowntheregionroundaboutMincingLaneandLittleEastCheap,hourafterhour,bare-footedandcold,lookinginatcook-shopwindowsandlongingforthedreadfulpork-piesandotherdeadlyinventionsdisplayedthere—fortohimtheseweredaintiesfitfortheangels; thatis,judgingbythesmell,theywere—forithadneverbeenhisgoodlucktoownandeatone. Therewasacolddrizzleofrain;theatmospherewasmurky;itwasamelancholyday. AtnightTomreachedhomesowetandtiredandhungrythatitwasnotpossibleforhisfatherandgrandmothertoobservehisforlornconditionandnotbemoved—aftertheirfashion; whereforetheygavehimabriskcuffingatonceandsenthimtobed. Foralongtimehispainandhunger,andtheswearingandfightinggoingoninthebuilding,kepthimawake; butatlasthisthoughtsdriftedawaytofar,romanticlands,andhefellasleepinthecompanyofjewelledandgildedprincelingswholiveinvastpalaces,andhadservantssalaamingbeforethemorflyingtoexecutetheirorders. Andthen,asusual,hedreamedthathewasaprincelinghimself.
Allnightlongthegloriesofhisroyalestateshoneuponhim; hemovedamonggreatlordsandladies,inablazeoflight,breathingperfumes,drinkingindeliciousmusic,andansweringthereverentobeisancesoftheglitteringthrongasitpartedtomakewayforhim,withhereasmile,andthereanodofhisprincelyhead.
Andwhenheawokeinthemorningandlookeduponthewretchednessabouthim,hisdreamhadhaditsusualeffect—ithadintensifiedthesordidnessofhissurroundingsathousandfold. Thencamebitterness,andheart-break,andtears.
