Orphan Little Jamie and the Prince

A little boy, who lived in Scotland,  felt a very great desire to see  Queen Victoria. He was an orphan boy, and had no one to care for him. He thought if he could only see the Queen, she would pity, him, and send him school where be might learn to read and write, and, thus, try to work for bread afterwards.

Little Jamie started off one fine morning for Balmoral, to talk to the Queen, as he said. Those who heard him thought he was a very foolish, ignorant, little boy to think that Her Majesty would have anything to say to such a little ragged and poor boy as he was; but Jamie did not mind what they said. He was quite determined to see the Queen, and tell all his wants.

When Jamie came to the castle gate he was going to walk right in but a great soldier stepped out quite crossly, and said, “ You cannot go in there. What do you want!”

Jamie answered, "Please soldier, I want to see the Queen.”

But the soldier only laughed and told him “to be gone;” that such ragged boy as he could not get into the beautiful palace; and so the poor lad drew back with a heavy heart, and, sitting down on a stone some few yards in front of the gate, he began to cry piteously.

Just thEn a young gentleman came near, and hearing Jamie sob, went up to him, and said kindly:

"Well, my little man what is the matter?"

He spoke gently and he looked so very good as Jaime glanced at him through his tears  that he regained his trouble to the young gentleman who when he  heard it all only smiled and said

"So, my little man, you want to see the Queen, do you ?"

And Jamie said, “Yes, sir.'"

“Well,” said the gentleman, "Will you come along with me, and I will bring you in?"

But Jamie answered doubtingly.

“Oh, but sir, you big soldier won’t will let me by neither."

"Oh, yes, he will," said the young gentleman. “Only try him now. Just put your hand in mine and trust me and will got you in; for he must let me through."

Half doubtingly, little Jamie took another good-look at the young gentleman; and then checking his sobs, he boldly put his little dirty hand into that of his kind conductor, and walked off with him to the gate.

Here, the soldier stepped out and moved his gun, and little Jamie thought he was going  to shoot him, but he was not, for he, very, respectfully presented arms to the young gentleman, and did not mind the little lad at all.

Jamie jumped for joy when he got  inside the gate; but he soon began to be troubled again, for he saw another great soldier near the palace door, so he turned to the young gentleman, and said, as he looked, down, upon, his rags, that the soldier would not let them pass but the young gentleman replied: "Don't fear, Jamie, my lad, only hold my hand and trust me, I'll bring you to the Queen.”

And the little boy asked, “Gentleman, who are you that is so kind to poor Jamie?"

The young gentleman said, "Oh, I am the Queen's son, so you see you need not fear."

The little lad did not fear after that, but boldly walked past the soldier who was at the door, and wondered how was that the Prince would walk with a very  poor looking boy.

And by and by the Prince walked into a beautiful large room, and left Jamie alone for a little bit, whilst, he went and told Her Majesty; and presently he was brought in to the Queen, who was so kind to him, and pitied him so much, that he sent him to a good school, where he was looked after, and taught to read and write. The young prince, by the way, is Prince Arthur. The Ballarat Star 30 May 1885   

 

 

 

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