Mark Twain

The Prince and the Pauper Mark Twain

In the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenthcentury, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him. On the sameday another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him. AllEngland wanted him too. England had so longed for him, and hoped for him, and prayed God forhim, that, now that he was really come, the people went nearly mad for joy. Mere acquaintanceshugged and kissed each other and cried. Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feasted and danced and sang, and got very mellow; and they kept this up for days and nightstogether. By day, London was a sight to see, with gay banners waving from every balcony andhousetop, and splendid pageants marching along. By night, it was again a sight to see, with its greatbonfires at every corner, and its troops of revellers making merry around them. There was no talk inall England but of the new baby, Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, who lay lapped in silks and satins, unconscious of all this fuss, and not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him andwatching over him-and not caring, either. But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble withhis presen