` Go and see who it is that is crying so , ' said he to one of his servants , and the man went . In a few minutes he returned saying : ` Your Majesty , it is a little boy who is kneeling there sobbing because his mother has beaten him . ' ` Bring him to me at once , ' commanded the monarch , ` and tell him that it is the king who sends for him , and that he has never cried in all his life and can not bear anyone else to do so . ' On receiving this message the boy dried his tears and went with the servant to the royal carriage . ` Will you be my son ? ' asked the king . ` Yes , if my mother will let me , ' answered the boy . And the king bade the servant go back to the mother and say that if she would give her boy to him , he should live in the palace and marry his prettiest daughter as soon as he was a man . The widow 's anger now turned into joy , and she came running to the splendid coach and kissed the king 's hand . ' I hope you will be more obedient to his Majesty than you were to me , ' she said ; and the boy shrank away half-frightened . But when she had gone back to her cottage , he asked the king if he might fetch something that he had left in the garden , and when he was given permission , he pulled up his little sword , which he slid into the scabbard . Then he climbed into the coach and was driven away . After they had gone some distance the king said : ` Why were you crying so bitterly in the garden just now ? ' ` Because my mother had been beating me , ' replied the boy . ` And what did she do that for ? ' asked the king again . ` Because I would not tell her my dream . ' ` And why would n't you tell it to her ? ' ` Because I will never tell it to anyone till it comes true , ' answered the boy . ` And wo n't you tell it to me either ? '
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