Chapter I. The birth of the Prince and the Pauper.

by Mark Twain

　　In the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in thesecond quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poorfamily of the name of Canty, who did not want him. On the sameday another English child was born to a rich family of the name ofTudor, who did want him. All England wanted him too. England hadso longed for him, and hoped for him, and prayed God for him,that, now that he was really come, the people went nearly mad forjoy. Mere acquaintances hugged and kissed each other and cried.Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feastedand danced and sang, and got very mellow; and they kept this upfor days and nights together. By day, London was a sight to see,with gay banners waving from every balcony and housetop, andsplendid pageants marching along. By night, it was again a sightto see, with its great bonfires at every corner, and its troops ofrevellers making merry around them. There was no talk in allEngland but of the new baby, Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, wholay lapped in silks and satins, unconscious of all this fuss, andnot knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him andwatching over him--and not caring, either. But there was no talkabout the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, exceptamong the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble withhis presence.