Fifty Famous Stories Retold | Page 5

but
Prince William with his younger friends waited a little while. They had
had so joyous a time in France that they were in no great haste to tear
them-selves away.
Then they went on board of the ship which was waiting to carry them
home. It was a beau-ti-ful ship with white sails and white masts, and it
had been fitted up on purpose for this voyage.
The sea was smooth, the winds were fair, and no one thought of danger.

On the ship, every-thing had been ar-ranged to make the trip a pleasant
one. There was music and dancing, and everybody was merry and glad.
The sun had gone down before the white-winged vessel was fairly out
of the bay. But what of that? The moon was at its full, and it would
give light enough; and before the dawn of the morrow, the narrow sea
would be crossed. And so the prince, and the young people who were
with him, gave themselves up to mer-ri-ment and feasting and joy.
The ear-li-er hours of the night passed by; and then there was a cry of
alarm on deck. A moment after-ward there was a great crash. The ship
had struck upon a rock. The water rushed in. She was sinking. Ah,
where now were those who had lately been so heart-free and glad?
Every heart was full of fear. No one knew what to do. A small boat was
quickly launched, and the prince with a few of his bravest friends
leaped into it. They pushed off just as the ship was be-gin-ning to settle
beneath the waves. Would they be saved?
They had rowed hardly ten yards from the ship, when there was a cry
from among those that were left behind.
"Row back!" cried the prince. "It is my little sister. She must be saved!"
The men did not dare to disobey. The boat was again brought
along-side of the sinking vessel. The prince stood up, and held out his
arms for his sister. At that moment the ship gave a great lurch forward
into the waves. One shriek of terror was heard, and then all was still
save the sound of the moaning waters.
Ship and boat, prince and prin-cess, and all the gay com-pa-ny that had
set sail from France, went down to the bottom together. One man clung
to a floating plank, and was saved the next day. He was the only person
left alive to tell the sad story.
When King Henry heard of the death of his son his grief was more than
he could bear. His heart was broken. He had no more joy in life; and
men say that no one ever saw him smile again.

Here is a poem about him that your teacher may read to you, and
perhaps, after a while, you may learn it by heart.
HE NEVER SMILED AGAIN.
The bark that held the prince went down, The sweeping waves rolled
on; And what was England's glorious crown To him that wept a son?
He lived, for life may long be borne Ere sorrow breaks its chain: Why
comes not death to those who mourn? He never smiled again.
There stood proud forms before his throne, The stately and the brave;
But who could fill the place of one,-- That one beneath the wave?
Before him passed the young and fair, In pleasure's reckless train; But
seas dashed o'er his son's bright hair-- He never smiled again.
He sat where festal bowls went round; He heard the minstrel sing; He
saw the tour-ney's victor crowned Amid the knightly ring. A murmur of
the restless deep Was blent with every strain, A voice of winds that
would not sleep-- He never smiled again.
Hearts, in that time, closed o'er the trace Of vows once fondly poured,
And strangers took the kins-man's place At many a joyous board;
Graves which true love had bathed with tears Were left to heaven's
bright rain; Fresh hopes were born for other years-- He never smiled
again!
MRS. HEMANS.

KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT.
I. THE THREE QUESTIONS.
There was once a king of England whose name was John. He was a bad
king; for he was harsh and cruel to his people, and so long as he could
have his own way, he did not care what became of other folks. He was
the worst king that England ever had.

Now, there was in the town of Can´ter-bur-y a rich old abbot who lived
in grand style in a great house called the Abbey. Every day a hundred
noble men sat down with him to dine; and fifty brave knights, in fine
velvet coats and gold chains, waited upon him at his table.
When King John heard of the way in