The tutor afterwards inquired whether George had divided the money equally with Michel, and found he had not given him a piece too little. His own part, he carried to his father, and had not kept a penny to himself.
Prince Frederick went every day to the bird’s nest. At first, the birds were a little afraid of him, but when they saw that he did not disturb them, they lost their fear, and went and came freely, before him.
The prince’s delight was full when he saw how the little birds crept from their shells. How they all opened their yellow bills and piped loud, when the parents brought their food. How the young nestlings grew, were covered with soft down, and then with feathers; and at length, one day, amid the loud rejoicings of the parents, they ventured their first flight to the nearest twig of the thorn-tree, where the old birds fed them tenderly.
The prince and his tutor often met little George as he tended his sheep, while they strayed,—now here, now there. The tutor was much pleased to observe that he always had his book with him, and spent all his spare time in reading.
“You know how to amuse yourself in the best manner, George,” said he to the boy. “I should be pleased to hear you read a little from that book which you love so well.”
George read aloud, with great zeal, and although he now and then miscalled a word, he did his best, and the tutor was pleased.
“That is very well,” said he. “In what school did you learn to read?”
“I have never been in any school,” said George, sadly. “The school is too far off, and my father had no money to pay for it. Besides, I have not any time to go to school. In summer I tend the sheep, and in winter I spin at home. But my good friend, Michel, can read very well, and he has promised to tell me all he knows. He taught me all the letters, and the lines of spelling. This is the same book that Michel learnt from. He gave it to me, and I have read it through three times. To be sure, it is so worn out now, that you cannot see all the words, and it is not so easy to read as it was.”
The next time the prince came to the woods, he showed George a beautiful book, bound, in gilded morocco.
“I will lend you this book, George,” said the prince, “and as soon as you can read a whole page without one mistake, it shall be yours.”