THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND 215

but in return for the love you have shown and the money
you have given the poor and needy, I am charged with this
message—that God has taken pity on your sorrow, and that
ere long you will be the mother of a son, the like of whom
has never yet been seen.”

The old man, having spoken thus, vanished.

The queen, whose tears were falling, felt a strange joy enter
her heart and a feeling of happiness steal over her, as she went
to the king and repeated the old man’s words. And so it
came to pass, for a week or two later God sent her a son, and
he was in no way like an ordinary child. His eyes resembled
those of a falcon, and his eyebrows the sable’s fur. His right
hand was of pure gold, and his manner and appearance were
so full of an indescribable majesty, that he was looked upon
by every one with a feeling of awe.

His growth, too, was not like that of other children.
When but three days old, he stepped out of his swaddling-
clothes and left his cradle. And he was so strong that when
his parents entered the room he ran towards them, crying out,
“Good morning, dear parents, why are you so sad? Are you
not happy at the sight of me?”

‘We are indeed happy, dear child, and we thank God for
having sent us you in our great grief. But we cannot forget
your two brothers; they were so handsome and brave, and
worthy of a great destiny. And our sadness is increased when
we remember that, instead of resting in their own country in
the tomb of their forefathers, they sleep in an unknown land,
perhaps without burial. Alas! it is three years since we had
news of them.”

At these words the child’s tears fell, and he embraced his