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The Little Lame Prince
ragged； half…naked； covered with wounds and sores。 Some of them
dropped dead at once； others dragged themselves on a little way and then
lay down； dying of hunger； and vainly begged a morsel of bread from
others who were entering inwho never took the least notice of them。
Cherry perceived one woman； who was trying feebly to gather and eat
some green herbs。 〃Poor thing！〃 said he to himself； 〃I know what it is to
be hungry； and I want my breakfast badly enough； but still it will kill me
to wait till dinner time； and my crust may save the life of this poor
woman。〃
So the little dog ran up to her and dropped his bread at her feet； she
picked it up and ate it with avidity。 Soon she looked quite recovered； and
Cherry； delighted； was trotting back again to his kennel； when he heard
loud cries； and saw a young girl dragged by four men to the door of the
palace； which they were trying to compel her to enter。 Oh； how he wished
himself a monster again； as when he slew the tiger！for the young girl was
no other than his beloved Zelia。 Alas！ what could a poor little dog do to
defend her？ But he ran forward and barked at the men； and bit their heels；
until at last they chased him away with heavy blows。 And then he lay
down outside the palace door； determined to watch and see what had
become of Zelia。
Conscience pricked him now。 〃What！〃 thought he； 〃I am furious
against these wicked men； who are carrying her away； and did I not do the
same myself？ Did I not cast her into prison； and intend to sell her as a
slave？ Who knows how much more wickedness I might not have done to
her and others； if Heaven's justice had not stopped me in time？〃
While he lay thinking and repenting； he heard a window open and saw
Zelia throw out of it a bit of dainty meat。 Cherry； who felt hungry enough
by this time； was just about to eat it； when the woman to whom he had
given his crust snatched him up in her arms
〃Poor little beast！〃 cried she； patting him； 〃every bit of food in that
palace is poisoned： you shall not touch a morsel。〃
And at the same time the voice in the air repeated again； 〃Good actions
never go unrewarded；〃 and Cherry found himself changed into a beautiful
little white pigeon。 He remembered with joy that white was the color of
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The Little Lame Prince
the fairy Candide； and began to hope that she was taking him into favor
again。
So he stretched his wings； delighted that he might now have a chance
of approaching his fair Zelia。 He flew up to the palace windows； and；
finding one of them open； entered and sought everywhere； but he could
not find Zelia。 Then； in despair； he flew out again； resolved to go over the
world until he beheld her once more。
He took flight at once and traversed many countries； swiftly as a bird
can； but found no trace of his beloved。 At length in a desert； sitting beside
an old hermit in his cave and par… taking with him his frugal repast； Cherry
saw a poor peasant girl and recognized Zelia。 Transported with joy； he
flew in； perched on her shoulder； and expressed his delight and affection
by a thousand caresses。
She； charmed with the pretty little pigeon； caressed it in her turn； and
promised it that if it would stay with her she would love it always。
〃What have you done； Zelia？〃 said the hermit； smiling； and while he
spoke the white pigeon vanished； and there stood Prince Cherry in his own
natural form。 〃Your enchantment ended； prince； when Zelia promised to
love you。 Indeed； she has loved you always； but your many faults
constrained her to hide her love。 These are now amended； and you may
both live happy if you will； because your union is founded upon mutual
esteem。〃
Cherry and Zelia threw themselves at the feet of the hermit； whose
form also began to change。 His soiled garments became of dazzling
whiteness； and his long beard and withered face grew into the flowing hair
and lovely countenance of the fairy Candide。
〃Rise up； my children；〃 said she； 〃I must now transport you to your
palace and restore to Prince Cherry his father's crown； of which he is now
worthy。〃
She had scarcely ceased speaking when they found themselves in the
chamber of Suliman； who； delighted to find again his beloved pupil and
master； willingly resigned the throne； and became the most faithful of his
subjects。
King Cherry and Queen Zelia reigned together for many years； and it
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The Little Lame Prince
is said that the former was so blameless and strict in all his duties that
though he constantly wore the ring which Candide had restored to him； it
never once pricked his finger enough to make it bleed。
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The Little Lame Prince
THE PRINCE WITH THE NOSE
THERE was once a king who was passionately in love with a beautiful
princess； but she could not be married because a magican｛sic｝ had
enchanted her。 The king went to a good fairy to inquire what he should do。
Said the fairy； after receiving him graciously： 〃Sir； I will tell you a great
secret。 The princess has a great cat whom she loves so well that she cares
for nothing and nobody else； but she will be obliged to marry any person
who is adroit enough to walk upon the cat's tail。〃
〃That will not be very difficult；〃 thought the king to himself； and
departed； resolving to trample the cat's tail to pieces rather than not
succeed in walking upon it。 He went immediately to the palace of his fair
mistress and the cat； the animal came in front of him； arching its back in
anger as it was wont to do。 The king lifted up his foot； thinking nothing
would be so easy as to tread on the tail； but he found himself mistaken。
Minonthat was the creature's nametwisted itself round so sharply that
the king only hurt his own foot by stamping on the floor。 For eight days
did he pursue the cat everywhere： up and down the palace he was after it
from morning till night； but with no better success； the tail seemed made
of quicksilver； so very lively was it。 At last the king had the good fortune
to catch Minon sleeping； when tramp！ tramp！ he trod on the tail with all
his force。
Minon woke up； mewed horribly； and immediately changed from a cat
into a large； fierce… looking man； who regarded the king with flashing
eyes。
〃You must marry the princess；〃 cried he； 〃because you have broken the
enchantment in which I held her； but I will be revenged on you。 You shall
have a son with a nose as long as that；〃 he made in the air a curve of half
a foot； 〃yet he shall believe it is just like all other noses； and shall be
always unfortunate till he has found out it is not。 And if you ever tell
anybody of this threat of mine； you shall die on the spot。〃 So saying the
magician disappeared。
The king； who was at first much terrified； soon began to laugh at this
adventure。 〃My son might have a worse misfortune than too long a nose；〃
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thought he。 〃At least it will hinder him neither in seeing nor hearing。 I will
go and find the princess and marry her at once。〃
He did so； but he only lived a few months after； and died before his
little son was born； so that nobody knew anything about the secret of the
nose。
The little prince was so much wished for that when he came into the
world they agreed to call him Prince Wish。 He had beautiful blue eyes and
a sweet little mouth； but his nose was so big that it covered half his face。
The queen； his mother； was inconsolable； but her ladies tried to satisfy her
by telling her that the nose was not nearly so large as it seemed； that it
would grow smaller as the prince grew bigger； and that if it did not a large
nose was indispensable to a hero。 All great soldiers； they said； had great
noses； as everybody k