Story of a Princely Boy.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 570, 15 January 1876, Page 2 (Supplement)

Story of a Princely Boy.

CnAitLES X., of France, when a child, was one day playing in an apartment of the palace, while a peasant of Auvergne was busily employed in scrubbing the floor. The latter, encouraged by the gayefcy and playfulness of the young Count, entered familiarly into conversation with him, and to amuse him, told him a number of diverting stories and anecdotes of his province. The prince, with all the ingenuousness of caildhood, expressed his conrniserati m for the njrrator'a evident poverty, and for the labour ho was obliged to undergo in order to obtain a scanty livelihood. ' £ h !' said the man, ' my poor wife and five children often go supperleas to bed.' 1 Well, then,' replied the prince, with tears in h:s eyes, 'you must let me manage for you. JVIy governor every month gives me some pocket money, for which, after all, I have no occasion, since I want for nothing; Ton shall take this money and give ife to your wife and children ; but be sure not tv mention a word of the matter to a living soul, or you will be finely scolded.' On leaving the apartment, the honest dependent acquainted the governor of the young Prince with the conversation that had taken place. The latter, after praising the servant highly for his scrupulous integrity, desired him to accept tne money, and to keep the affair a profound secret, adding that he should have no cause to repent of his discretion. At the end of the month, the Count d'^rtoia received his allowance as usual, and, watching the moment when he was unobserved, hastly slipped the whole sum into the hand of his protege. On the same evening a child's lottery was proposed for the amusement of the young princes by the governor, who had purposely Ghtributed among the prizes such objects as were most likely to tempt a boy of the Count's age. Fach of his brothers eagerly hazarded his little store, but the Count d' Artois kept aloof from his favourite amusement. The governor,feigningastonishment, at last demanded the reason for his unusual prudence; still no answer came from the Count. One of the princes, his brother, next testified his surprise, and at length pressed the young Count so hard that in a moment of childish impatience he exclaimed : ' This is all very well for you; but what would you do if, like me, you had a wife and five children to support?'.