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CHILDREN'S PRATTLE 683
elbows quite pointed, to show how it was to be done and her little arms were very pretty. She was sweet.
But the little daughter of the merchant became very angry at this speech, for her father's name was Madsen, and she knew that the name ended in ' sen ' ; and therefore she said, as proudly as ever she could,
' But my papa can buy a hundred dollars' worth of bon-bons, and throw them to the children ! Can your papa do that ? '
' Yes, but my papa,' said an author's little daughter, ' can put your papa and everybody's papa into the newspaper. All people are afraid of him, my mamma says, for it is my father who rules in the paper.'
And the little maiden looked exceedingly proud, as though she had been a real Princess, who is expected to look proud.
But outside at the dooi, which was ajar, stood a poor boy, peeping through the crack. He was of such lowly station that he was not even allowed to enter the room. He had turned the spit for the cook, and she had allowed him to stand behind the door, and to look at the well-dressed children who were making a merry day within, and for him that was a great deal.
' Oh, to be one of them ! ' thought he ; and then he heard what was said, which was certainly calculated to make him very unhappy. His parents at home had not a penny to spare to buy a newspaper, much less could they write one ; and what was worst of all, his father's name, and consequently his own, was a common one, ending in " son ", and so he could not turn out well. That was terrible. But, after all, he had been born, and very well born as it seemed to him ; there was no getting over that.
And that is what was done on that evening.
Many years have elapsed since then, and in the course of years children become grown-up persons.
In the town stood a splendid house ; it was filled with all kinds of beautiful objects and treasures, and all people wished to see it; even people who dwelt out of town came in to see it. Which of the children of whom we have told might call this house his own ? To know that is very |
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