Did Tom Canty never feel troubled about the poor little rightful prince who

Had treated him so kindly, and flown out with such hot zeal to avenge him

upon the insolent sentinel at the palace gate? Yes; his first royal days and

Nights were pretty well sprinkled with painful thoughts about the lost prince,

And with sincere longings for his return and happy restoration to his native

rights and splendors. But as time wore on, and the prince did not come, Tom's

Mind became more and more occupied with his new and enchanting

Experiences, and by little and little the vanished monarch faded almost out of

His thoughts; and finally, when he did intrude upon them at intervals, he was

Become an unwelcome specter, for he made Tom feel guilty and ashamed.

Tom's poor mother and sisters traveled the same road out of his mind. At first

He pined for them, sorrowed for them, longed to see them; but later, the

Thought of their coming some day in their rags and dirt, and betraying him

With their kisses, and pulling him down from his lofty place and dragging him

Back to penury and degradation and the slums, made him shudder. At last

They ceased to trouble his thoughts almost wholly. And he was content, even

Glad; for, whenever their mournful and accusing faces did rise before him

Now, they made him feel more despicable than the worms that crawl.