CHAPTER I
CONCERNING A HUMP

HERE once lived a King and a
Queen who had an only son
upon whom they doated. As
fathers and mothers are very

much in the habit of being fond of their

children, and more especially so of a child

who has no brother or sister upon whom a

share of the parental love can be bestowed,

it is very probable that this particular royal
pair would have doated upon this son, even
if he had been blind, deaf, dumb and an
idiot to boot.

But Prince Filderkin (for such was his
name) was none of these things. He had
two eyes and ears, which saw and heard as