THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE HEMPSEED. 17

scampered over the green fields, carrying to market flowers,
egos, and fruits. He
was so docile —so
submissive—so mild,
under the ill-treat-
ment which he en-
dured, in the shape
of privations and
biows, that the people
of the castle and its
neighbcurhood had —}
all agreed in calling ===
him Lutience. 7, ——=
Wehaveonlynow  ~ .
to speak of three other victims of the wicked Rol: these
were, the magpie, the red parrot, and the pigeon, whom
that bad man hated and ill-treated as much as he could,
and who would have died very soon had it not been for the
kindness of good little Prince Hempseed.

The magpie had a name as well as the cat, the monkey,
and the donkey, and just as suitable as their's. Fond of
talking, and as full of gossip as any old washerwoman, she
was called Chatterbox. Indeed, she was always chattering.
But the words that she loved best were “a halfpenny! a
halfpenny ! a halfpenny!” And
this was the reason: every morn-
ing when he came to the cage of
his favourite magpie, Prince
Hempsced said, “ Here is a half-
‘fs| penny to buy some nice cream
cheese for Chatterbox.” By
always hearing the same thing,
the magpie had got by heart
the word “halfpenny,” which
her liking for cream cheese made
her constantly repeat.