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Show 102 1'11t: LJBI:Jt'l'\' IH:\.1 .. was &itting with her two children under a palm trcc,-tho mother ,.,.0cping hittcrly,-onc chil(l asleep, tho other wondering. Tho Queen inquired into her regrets, and found that, in her country, it was so different from what it was hero ! 'fhcrc, one's lifo was safe i and she could never feel sure of her children's lives here. There, people belonged to themselves, and coulJ make thcmsolvcs happy, or try to do so, in their own way. " So it is here/' replied the Queen. ''If you understood our language better, you would know that that is what we have been rejoicing about to-day. Everybody now bas- what everybody ought to have,- security as to life,- ancl liberty, -and to be happy.'' 11 And I," - cried NAN, starting U}J, "I and my children . · · ? " "You and your children arc out of the question, of course/' replied the Queen. n Look at your skins,-how disgustingly pale they nrc ! They NAN'S LOT lN J,lfl'., 193 are darker, however, than when you arrin~d, and that shows how good it is for you to be here. But you know, you nrc of an inferior race ; :md T have undertaken to arrange your hallpineSB for you. You mn.y bo n.s Jmppy here ns your nnture allows, if you only think so. Why do you sigh? You like your own ways better than my arran"e· menta ! That shows how you nce<l 0 my care. But,- it now occurs to me,_ were you a princess in your own country?_ You were not?_ Then there is no excuse for these tears. Your Fetis~ made your skin pale. Mine nllowed me the privilege of a dark one. I must know wLnt is gcod for you, therefore, better thn.n you 030 yourself : and, after explaining the case to you, I shall have you punished if I see you again sullen. l!"'~or this time, I forgive you." " Mother," said 1\bo, when the Queen was out of bearing, ~< what is there so bad in our skins being pale ? " 17 |