ANECDOTE OF CHARLES X

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1889

ANECDOTE OF CHARLES X.

CHARLES X., of France, when a child, was one day playing in an apartment of the palace while a peasant from Auvergne was busily employed in scrubbing the floor. The latter, encouraged by the gayety and playfulness of the young count, entered familiarly into conversation with him, and to amuse him told him a number of diverting stories and anecdotes of his province. The prince, with all the ingenuousness of childhood, expressed his commiseration for the narrator's poverty and for the labor he was obliged to undergo in order to obtain a scanty livelihood. "Ah!" said the man, "my wife and five children often go supperless to bed." "Well, then," replied the prince, with tears in his eyes, "I must manage for you. My governor every month gives me some pocket money, for which, after all, I have no occasion, since I want for nothing. You shall take the money and give it to your wife and children; but be sure not to mention the matter to a living soul, or you will be finely scolded."

On leaving the apartment, the honest dependent acquainted the governor of the young prince with the conversation that had taken place. The latter, after praising the servant highly for his scrupulous integrity, desired him to accept the money, and keep the affair a profound secret; adding, that he should have no cause to repent of his discretion. At the end of the month, the young count d'Artois received his allowance as usual, and watching the moment when he was unobserved, hastily slipped the whole sum into the hands of his protégé.

On the same evening a child's lottery was proposed, for the amusement of the young princes, by the governor, who had purposely distributed among the prizes such objects as were most likely to tempt a boy of the count's age. Each of his brothers eagerly hazarded his little store, but the Count d'Artois kept aloof from his favorite amusement. The governor, feigning astonishment, at last demanded the reason of his prudence; still no answer from the count. One of the princes, his brother, next testified his surprise, and at length pressed the count so hard that in a moment of childish impatience he exclaimed: "This may be very well for you; but what would you do if, like me, you had a wife and five children to support?"—Selected.