Advertisement
Not a member of Pastebin yet?
Sign Up,
it unlocks many cool features!
- THE KINGDOMS
- THERE was once a king of Prussia whose name was Frederick William.
- On a fine morning in June he went out alone to walk in the green woods.
- He was tired of the noise of the city, and he was glad to get away from
- it.
- So, as he walked among the trees, he often stopped to listen to the
- singing birds, or to look at the wild flowers that grew on every side. Now
- and then he stooped to pluck a violet, or a primrose, or a yellow
- buttercup. Soon his hands were full of pretty blossoms.
- After a while he came to a little meadow in the midst of the wood. Some
- children were playing there. They were running here and there, and
- gathering the cowslips that were blooming among the grass.
- It made the king glad to see the happy children, and hear their merry
- voices. He stood still for some time, and watched them as they played.
- Then he called them around him, and all sat down together in the
- pleasant shade. The children did not know who the strange gentleman
- was; but they liked his kind face and gentle manners.
- "Now, my little folks," said the king, "I want to ask you some questions,
- and the child who gives the best answer shall have a prize."
- Then he held up an orange so that all the children could see.
- "You know that we all live in the kingdom of Prussia," he said; "but tell
- me, to what kingdom does this orange belong?"
- The children were puzzled. They looked at one another, and sat very
- still for a little while. Then a brave, bright boy spoke up and said,—
- "It belongs to the vegetable kingdom, sir."
- "Why so, my lad?" asked the king.
- "It is the fruit of a plant, and all plants belong to that kingdom," said the
- boy.
- The king was pleased. "You are quite right," he said; "and you shall have
- the orange for your prize."
- He tossed it gayly to the boy. "Catch it if you can!" he said.
- Then he took a yellow gold piece from his pocket, and held it up so that it
- glittered in the sunlight.
- "Now to what kingdom does this belong?" he asked.
- Another bright boy answered quickly, "To the mineral kingdom, sir! All
- metals belong to that kingdom."
- "That is a good answer," said the king. "The gold piece is your prize."
- The children were delighted. With eager faces they waited to hear what
- the stranger would say next.
- "I will ask you only one more question," said the king, "and it is an easy
- one." Then he stood up, and said, "Tell me, my little folks, to what
- kingdom do I belong?"
- The bright boys were puzzled now. Some thought of saying, "To the
- kingdom of Prussia." Some wanted to say, "To the animal kingdom." But
- they were a little afraid, and all kept still.
- At last a tiny blue-eyed child looked up into the king's smiling face, and
- said in her simple way,—
- "I think to the kingdom of heaven."
- King Frederick William stooped down and lifted the little maiden in his
- arms. Tears were in his eyes as he kissed her, and said, "So be it, my
- child! So be it."
Advertisement
Add Comment
Please, Sign In to add comment
Advertisement