A Children's Story - “How The Beggars Came To Town”

We have a lovely happy story with a great ending. Good for playtime with your child. It’s about how young Prince Lilimond learned a valuable lesson, and it turned out to be the greatest birthday gift ever, and a powerful life lesson! Things aren’t always what they seem to be, sometimes we must dig a little deeper.

Transcript

Hi,

This is Stefania and it's time for a story.

This is the story of a young prince who became very wise in a very short period of time.

He learned a good lesson.

It's called How the Baggers Came to Town.

Hark,

Hark!

The dogs do bark.

The beggars are coming to town,

Some in rags,

Some in tags,

And some in velvet gown.

And how did it happen?

You'll find out.

How the beggars came to town.

Very fair and sweet was little Prince Lillimonde,

And few could resist his soft pleading voice and gentle blue eyes.

And as he stood in the presence of the King,

His father,

And bent his knee gracefully before his Majesty,

The act was so courteous and dignified it would have honored the oldest nobleman of the court.

The King was delighted and for a time sat silently regarding his son and noting every detail of his appearance.

From the dark velvet suit with the stainty ruffles and collar,

To the diamond buckles on the little shoes,

And back again to the flowing curls that clustered thick about the bright childish face.

Well,

Might any father be so proud of so manly and beautiful a child?

And the King's heart swelled within him as he gazed upon his air.

Borland,

He said to the tutor who stood modestly behind the Prince,

You may retire.

I wish to speak privately with his Royal Highness.

The tutor bowed low and disappeared within the ante room and the King continued kindly.

Come here Lillimonde and sit beside me.

Methinks you seem over serious this morning.

It is my birthday,

Your Majesty,

Replied the Prince as he slowly obeyed his father and sat beside him upon the rich brodered Christians of the throne.

I am 12 years of age.

So old,

Said the King smiling into the little face that was raised to his.

And is it the weight of years that makes you sad?

No,

Your Majesty.

I long for the years to pass that I may become a man and take my part in the world's affairs.

It is the sad condition of my country which troubles me.

Indeed,

Exclaimed the King,

Casting a keen glance at his son.

Are you interested in politics then or is there some grievous reach of court etiquette which has attracted your attention?

I know little of politics and less of the court,

Sire,

Replied Lillimonde.

It is the distress of the people that worries me.

The people?

Of a surety,

Prince,

You are better posted than I am.

Since of the people and their affairs I know nothing at all.

I have appointed officers to look after their interests and therefore I have no cause to come in contact with them myself.

But what is wrong?

They are starving,

Said the Prince,

Looking at his father very seriously.

The country is filled with beggars who appeal for charity since they are unable otherwise to get food.

Starving,

Replied the King,

Surely you are misinformed.

My Lord Chamberlain told me but this morning the people were loyal and contented and my Lord of the Treasury reports that all taxes and tithes have been paid and my coffers are running over.

Your Lord Chamberlain is wrong,

Sire,

Returned the Prince.

My tutor Borland and I have talked with many of these beggars these past few days and we find the tithes and taxes which have enriched you have taken the bread from their wives and children.

So,

Exclaimed the King,

We must examine into this matter.

He touched a bell beside him and when a retainer appeared directed his Chamberlain and his Treasurer to come to him at once.

The Prince rested his head upon his hand and waited patiently but the King was very impatient indeed to the high officers of the court stood before him.

Then said the King addressing his Chamberlain,

Sir,

I am informed my people are murmuring at my injustice.

Is it true?

The officer cast an inquiring glance at the Prince who met his eyes gravely before he replied,

The people always murmur,

Your Majesty,

They are many and not all can be content even when ruled by so wise and just a King.

In every land and in every age there are those who rebel against the laws and the protests of the few are ever heard above the contentment of the many.

I am told,

Continued the King severely,

That my country is overrun with beggars who suffer for lack of bread we have taken from them by our taxation.

Is this true?

There are always beggars,

Your Majesty,

In every country,

Replied the Chamberlain,

And it is their custom to blame others for their misfortune.

The King thought deeply for a moment then he turned to the Lord of the Treasury.

Do we tax the poor?

He demanded.

All are taxed,

Sire,

Returned the Treasurer who was pale from anxiety,

For never had the King so questioned him.

But from the rich we take much,

From the poor very little.

But a little from the poor man may distress him.

Why,

The rich subject would never feel the loss.

Why do we tax the poor at all?

Because,

Your Majesty,

Should we declare the poor free from taxation,

All of your subjects would at once complain to be poor,

And the Royal Treasury would remain empty.

And as none are so rich,

But there are those richer,

How should we in justice determine which are the rich and which are the poor?

Again the King was silent while he pondered upon the words of the Royal Treasurer.

Then with a wave of his hand he dismissed them and turned to the Prince saying,

You have heard the wise words of my Consulors,

Prince.

What have you to say in reply?

If you will pardon me,

Your Majesty,

I think you are wrong to leave the affairs of the people to others too direct.

If you knew them as well as I do,

You would distrust the words of your Consulors,

Who naturally fear your anger more than they do that of your subjects.

If they fear my anger,

They will be careful to do no injustice to my people.

Surely you cannot expect me to attend to levying the taxes myself,

Continued the King with growing annoyance.

What are my officers for but to serve me?

They should serve you,

It is true replied the Prince thoughtfully,

But they should serve the people as well.

Nonsense,

Answered the King.

You are too young as yet to properly understand such matters,

And it is a way youth has to imagine it is wiser than age and experience combined.

Still,

I will investigate the subject further and see that justice is done the poor.

In the meantime,

Said the Prince,

Many will starve to death.

Can you not assist these poor bakers at once?

In what way,

Demanded the King,

By giving them money from your full coffers.

Nonsense,

Again cried the King,

This time with real anger.

You have heard what the Chamberlain said,

We always have bakers and none as yet have starved to death.

Besides,

I must use the money for the grand ball and tourney next month,

As I have promised the ladies of the court a carnival of unusual magnificence.

The Prince did not reply to this,

But remained in silent thought,

Wondering what he might do to ease the suffering he feared existed on every hand amongst the poor of the kingdom.

He had hoped to persuade the King to assist these bakers,

But since the interview with the officers of the court,

He had lost heart and despaired of influencing his royal father in any way.

Suddenly,

The King spoke,

Let us dismiss this subject,

Lillimon,

For it only serves to distress us both,

And no good can come of it.

You have nearly made me forget it is your birthday.

Now,

Listen my son,

I am much pleased with you and thank God that he has given me such a successor for my crown.

For I perceive your mind is as beautiful as your person,

And that you will in time be fitted to rule the land with wisdom and justice.

Therefore,

I promise in honor of your birthday to grant any desire you may express,

Provided it lies within my power.

Nor will I make any further condition since I rely upon your judgment to select some gift I may be glad to give.

As the King spoke,

Lillimon suddenly became impressed with an idea through which he might help the poor,

And therefore he answered,

Call in the ladies and gentlemen of the court,

My father,

And before them all will I claim your promise.

Good!

Exclaimed the King,

Who looked for some amusement in his son's request,

And at once he ordered the court to assemble.

The ladies and gentlemen,

As they filed into the audience theater,

Were astonished to see the Prince seated upon the throne beside his father,

But being too well-bred to betray their surprise,

They only wondered what amusement his Majesty had in store for them.

When all were assembled,

The Prince rose to his feet and addressed them.

His Majesty the King,

Whose kindness of heart and royal condescension is well known to you all,

Hath but promised me,

Seeing that it is my birthday,

To grant any one request that I may prefer.

Is it not true,

Your Majesty?

It is true,

Answered the King,

Smiling upon his son,

And pleased to see him addressing the court so gravely and with so manly an air.

Whatsoever the Prince may ask,

That I will freely grant.

Then,

O sire,

Said the Prince,

Kneeling before the throne,

I ask that for the period of one day I may reign as King in your place,

Having at my command all kingly power and the obedience of all who owe allegiance to the Crown.

For a time there was perfect silence in the court.

The King growing red with dismay and embarrassment,

And the courtiers waiting curiously his reply.

Lillimon still remained kneeling before the throne,

And as the King looked upon him,

He realized it would be impossible to break his royal word,

And the affair promised him amusement after all,

So he quickly decided in what manner to reply.

Rise,

O Prince,

He said cheerfully.

Your request is granted.

Upon what day will it please you to reign?

Lillimon arose to his feet.

Upon the seventh day from this,

He answered.

So be it,

Replied the King,

Then turning to the royal herald he added.

Make proclamation throughout the kingdom that on the seventh day from this,

Prince Lillimon will reign as King from sunrise to sunset,

And whoever dares to disobey his commands will be guilty of treason and shall be punished with death.

The court was then dismissed,

All wondering at this marvelous decree,

And the Prince returned to his own apartment where his tutor,

Borland,

Anxiously awaited him.

Now this Borland was a man of good heart and much intelligence,

But wholly unused to the ways of the world.

He had lately noted,

With much grief,

The number of beggars who solicited alms as he walked out with the Prince,

And he had given freely until his purse was empty.

Then he talked long and earnestly with the Prince concerning this shocking condition in the kingdom,

Never dreaming that his own generosity had attracted all the beggars of the city towards him and encouraged them to become more bold than usual.

Thus was the young and tender-hearted Prince brought to a knowledge of all these beggars,

And therefore it was their condition that filled him with sadness and made him speak so boldly to the King,

His father.

When he returned to Borland with the news that the King had granted him permission to rule for a day the kingdom,

The tutor was overjoyed,

And at once they began to plan ways for relieving all the poor of the country in that one day.

For one thing,

They dispatched private messengers to every part of the kingdom,

Asking them to tell each beggar they met to come to the Prince on that one day he should be King,

And he would relieve their wants,

Giving a gold piece to every poor man or woman who asked.

For the Prince had determined to devote to this purpose the gold that filled the royal coffers,

And as for the great ball and tourney the King had planned,

Why,

That could go begging much better than the starving people.

On the night before the day the Prince was to reign,

There was great confusion of noise within the city,

For beggars from all parts of the kingdom began to arrive,

Each one filled with joy at the prospect of receiving a piece of gold.

There was a continual tramp,

Tramp,

Tramp of feet,

And a great barking of dogs,

As all dogs in those days were trained to bark at every beggar they saw,

And now it was difficult to stop them.

And the beggars came to town singly,

And by twos,

And by threes,

Until hundreds were there to await the morrow.

Some few were very pitiful to behold,

Being feeble and infirm from age and disease,

Dressed in rags and tags and presenting an appearance of great distress.

But there were many more who were seemingly hearty and vigorous,

And these were the lazy ones who,

Not being willing to work,

Begged for a livelihood.

And some,

Some there were dressed in silken stockings and velvet gowns,

Who,

Forgetting all shame and eager for gold,

Had been led by the Prince's offer to pretend to be beggars,

That they might add to their wealth without trouble or cost to themselves.

The next morning,

When the sun rose upon the evenful day,

It found the Prince sitting upon the throne of his father,

Dressed in a robe of fur and purple,

A crown upon his flowing logs,

And the King's scepter clasped tightly in his little hand.

He was somewhat frightened at the noise of the crowd outside the palace,

But Borland,

Who stood beside him,

Whispered,

The more you can give,

The greater will be your glory,

And you will live in the hearts of your people as the kind Prince who relieved their sufferings.

Be of good cheer,

Your Majesty,

For all is well.

Then did the Prince command the Treasurer to bring before him the royal coffers,

And to stand ready to present each beggar a piece of gold.

The Treasurer was very unwilling to do this,

But he was under penalty of death if he refused,

And so the coffers were brought forth.

Your Majesty,

Said the Treasurer,

If each of those who stand outside is to receive a piece of gold,

There will not be enough within these coffers to go around.

Some will receive,

And others be denied,

Since there is no further store of gold to be had.

At this news the Prince was both puzzled and alarmed.

What are we to do?

He asked of the Tutor,

But Borland was unable to suggest a remedy.

Then said the Aged Chamberlain,

Coming forward and bowing low before the little King,

Your Majesty,

I think I can assist you in your difficulty.

You did but promise a piece of gold to those who are really suffering and in need,

But so great is the greed of mankind that many without outside are in no need whatsoever,

But only seek to enrich themselves at your expense.

Therefore I propose you examine carefully each case that presents itself,

And unless the beggar is in need of alms,

Turn him away empty-handed as being a fraud and a charlatan.

Your counsel is wise,

Old Chamberlain,

Replied the Prince after a moment's thought,

And by turning away the impostors we shall have enough gold for the needy.

Therefore bid the guards to admit the beggars one by one.

When the first beggar came before him the Prince asked,

Are you in need?

I am starving,

Your Majesty,

Replied the man in a whining tone.

He was poorly dressed but seemed strong and well,

And the Prince examined him carefully for a moment.

Then he answered the fellow saying,

Since you are starving,

Go and sell the gold ring I see you are wearing upon your finger.

I can assist only those who are unable to help themselves.

At this the man turned away muttering angrily,

And the courtiers murmured their approval of the Prince's wisdom.

The next beggar was dressed in velvet,

And the Prince sent him away with a sharp rebuke.

But the third was a woman,

Old and feeble,

And she blessed the Prince as she hobbled joyfully away with a broad gold piece clasped tightly within her withered hand.

The next told so pitiful a story that he also received a gold piece.

But as he turned away the Prince saw that beneath his robe his shoes were fastened with silver buckles,

And so he commanded the guard to take away the gold and to punish the man for attempting to deceive his King.

And so many came to him that were found to be unworthy that he finally bade the guards proclaim to all who waited that any who should be found undeserving would be beaten.

That rule so frightened the imposters that they quickly fled,

And only those few who were actually in want dared to present themselves before the King.

And there the task that has seemed too great for one day was performed in a few hours,

And when all the needy had been provided for only one of the royal coffers had been opened,

And that was scarcely empty.

What do you think Borlen?

Asked the Prince anxiously.

Have we done right?

I have learned,

Your Majesty,

Answered the tutor,

That there is a great difference between those who beg and those who suffer for lack of bread,

For while all who needed aid were in truth beggars,

Not all the beggars needed aid.

And from now on I shall only give alms to those I know to be honestly in want.

It is wisely said,

My friend,

Returned the Prince,

And I feel I was wrong to doubt the wisdom of my father's consulars.

Go,

Borlen,

And ask the King if he will graciously attend me here.

The King arrived and bowed smilingly before the Prince,

Whom he had set to reign in his own place,

And at once the boy arose and presented his father with the sceptre and crown,

Saying,

Forgive me,

O my King,

That I presumed to doubt the wisdom of your rule,

For though the sun has not yet set,

I feel that I am all unworthy to sit in your place,

And so I willingly resign my power to your more skillful hands.

And the coffers which I,

In my ignorance,

Had determined to empty for the benefit of those unworthy are still nearly full,

And more than enough remains for the expenses of the carnival.

Therefore,

Forgive me,

My father,

And let me learn wisdom in the future from the justness of your rule.

Thus ended the reign of Prince Lillimonde as King,

And not till many years later did he again ascend the throne upon the death of his father.

I wish all those in power were as kind-hearted as little Prince Lillimonde,

And as ready to help the needy,

For then there would be more light hearts in the world,

Since it is better to give than to receive.

And that is the story behind the old saying,

Hark,

Hark,

The dogs do bark,

The bakers are coming to town,

Some in rags and some in tags,

And some in velvet gown.

We'll be back again soon with another story.

Bye for now.

Reviews

Love the story 1 of my favorite 😍 ❤️ 💕 💙 ♥️ 💗 😍 ❤️ 💕 💙 ♥️ 💗 😍 ❤️ 💕 💙 ♥️ 💗 😍 ❤️ 💕 yay

All your story’s are better ,than the best!!! 😀👍🏻👏🏻 Thank you!!! This deserves 1,000,000 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story was so good. Can you please make another sleep story soon👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

Wonderful
Wonderful
Wonderful
Wonderful
Wonderful
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This rly showd a lesson and it was fun to lesin to