"Poor as it looks, it is more precious than
diamonds; for whenever you do ill it will prick your finger. If, after
that warning, you still continue in evil, you will lose my friendship,
and I shall become your direst enemy."
So saying, she disappeared, leaving Cherry in such amazement, that he
would have believed it all a dream, save for the ring on his finger.
He was for a long time so good that the ring never pricked him at all;
and this made him so cheerful and pleasant in his humour that
everybody called him, "Happy Prince Cherry." But, one unlucky day, he
was out hunting and found no sport, which vexed him so much that he
showed his ill temper by his looks and ways. He fancied his ring felt
very tight and uncomfortable, but as it did not prick him, he took no
heed of this: until, re-entering his palace, his little pet dog, Bibi,
jumped up upon him, and was sharply told to get away. The creature,
accustomed to nothing but caresses, tried to attract his attention by
pulling at his garments, when Prince Cherry turned and gave it a
severe kick. At this moment he felt in his finger a prick like a pin.
"What nonsense!" said he to himself. "The fairy must be making game of
me. Why, what great evil have I done! I, the master of a great empire,
cannot I kick my own dog?"
A voice replied, or else Prince Cherry imagined it, "No, sire; the
master of a great empire has a right to do good, but not evil.
Pages:
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363