Page:Lange - The Blue Fairy Book.djvu/336

Rh

NCE upon a time there was an old king who was so ill that he thought to himself, ‘I am most likely on my death-bed.’ Then he said, ‘Send Trusty John to me.’ Now Trusty John was his favourite servant, and was so called because all his life he had served him so faithfully.



When he approached the bed the King spake to him. ‘Most trusty John, I feel my end is drawing near, and I could face it without a care were it not for my son. He is still too young to decide everything for himself, and unless you promise me to instruct