If
you weep, I should want to weep with you; and you see, my son, that
it would not be becoming for a queen to weep. The wicked people, who
want to hurt our feelings, they find pleasure in it, and therefore
we must be altogether too proud to let them see what we suffer. I
have this pride, but when I see you suffer it takes away all my
strength. You remember our ride from Versailles here, my son? How
the bad men who surrounded us, mocked at me and said foul things to
me! I was cold and calm, but I could not help weeping, my child,
when you complained of being hungry."
"Mamma," cried the child, with flashing eyes, "I will never complain
again, and the bad men shall never have the pleasure of seeing me
weep."
"But good men, my child, you must always treat kindly, and behave
very prettily to them."
"I will do so," answered the dauphin, thoughtfully. "But, mamma
queen, tell me who the good men are!"
"You must believe, Louis, that all men are good, and therefore you
must be kind to all. If then they despise your goodness or
friendliness, and cast it from them, it will not be your fault, and
our heavenly Father and your parents will be pleased with you."
"But, mamma," cried the prince, and a shadow passed over his pure,
beautiful child's face, "but, mamma, I cannot see that all men are
good.
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