<h2><SPAN name="GOOD_LUCK_IS_BETTER_THAN_GOLD" id="GOOD_LUCK_IS_BETTER_THAN_GOLD"></SPAN>GOOD LUCK IS BETTER THAN GOLD.</h2>
<p>There was once upon a time a child who had Good Luck for his
godfather.</p>
<p>"I am not Fortune," said Good Luck to the parents; "I have
no gifts to bestow, but whenever he needs help I will be at
hand."</p>
<p>"Nothing could be better," said the old couple. They were
delighted. But what pleases the father often fails to satisfy
the son: moreover, every man thinks that he deserves just a
little more than he has got, and does not reckon it to the
purpose if his father had less.</p>
<p>Many a one would be thankful to have as good reasons for
contentment as he who had Good Luck for his godfather.</p>
<p>If he fell, Good Luck popped something soft in the way to
break his fall; if he fought, Good Luck directed his blows, or
tripped up his adversary; if he got into a scrape, Good Luck
helped him out of it; and if ever Misfortune met him, Good Luck
contrived to hustle her on the pathway till his godson got
safely by.</p>
<p>In games of hazard the godfather played over his shoulder.
In matters of choice he chose for him. And when the lad began
to work on his father's farm the farmer began to get rich. For
no bird or field-mouse touched a seed that his son had sown,
and every plant he planted throve when Good Luck smiled on
it.</p>
<p>The boy was not fond of work, but when he did go into the
fields, Good Luck followed him.</p>
<p>"Your christening-day was a blessed day for us all," said
the old farmer.</p>
<p>"He has never given me so much as a lucky sixpence,"
muttered Good Luck's godson.</p>
<p>"I am not Fortune—I make no presents," said the
godfather.</p>
<p>When we are discontented it is oftener to please our
neighbours than ourselves. It was because the other boys had
said—"Simon, the shoemaker's son, has an alderman for his
godfather. He gave him a silver spoon with the Apostle Peter
for the handle; but thy godfather is more powerful than any
alderman"—that Good Luck's godson complained, "He has
never given me so much as a bent sixpence."</p>
<p>By and by the old farmer died, and his son grew up, and had
the largest farm in the country. The other boys grew up also,
and as they looked over the farmer's boundary-wall, they would
say:</p>
<p>"Good-morning, Neighbour. That is certainly a fine farm of
yours. Your cattle thrive without loss. Your crops grow in the
rain and are reaped with the sunshine. Mischance never comes
your road. What you have worked for you enjoy. Such success
would turn the heads of poor folk like us. At the same time one
would think a man need hardly work for his living at all who
has Good Luck for his godfather."</p>
<p>"That is very true," thought the farmer. "Many a man is
prosperous, and reaps what he sows, who had no more than the
clerk and the sexton for gossips at his christening."</p>
<p>"What is the matter, Godson?" asked Good Luck, who was with
him in the field.</p>
<p>"I want to be rich," said the farmer.</p>
<p>"You will not have to wait long," replied the godfather. "In
every field you sow, in every flock you rear there is increase
without abatement. Your wealth is already tenfold greater than
your father's."</p>
<p>"Aye, aye," replied the farmer. "Good wages for good work.
But many a young man has gold at his command who need never
turn a sod, and none of the Good People came to <i>his</i>
christening. Fortunatus's Purse now, or even a sack or two of
gold—"</p>
<p>"Peace!" cried the godfather; "I have said that I give no
gifts."</p>
<p>Though he had not Fortunatus's Purse, the farmer had now
money and to spare, and when the harvest was gathered in, he
bought a fine suit of clothes, and took his best horse and went
to the royal city to see the sights.</p>
<p>The pomp and splendour, the festivities and fine clothes
dazzled him.</p>
<p>"This is a gay life which these young courtiers lead," said
he. "A man has nothing to do but to enjoy himself."</p>
<p>"If he has plenty of gold in his pocket," said a
bystander.</p>
<p>By and by the Princess passed in her carriage. She was the
King's only daughter. She had hair made of sunshine, and her
eyes were stars.</p>
<p>"What an exquisite creature!" cried the farmer. "What would
not one give to possess her?"</p>
<p>"She has as many suitors as hairs on her head," replied the
bystander. "She wants to marry the Prince of Moonshine, but he
only dresses in silver, and the King thinks he might find a
richer son-in-law. The Princess will go to the highest
bidder."</p>
<p>"And I have Good Luck for my godfather, and am not even at
court!" cried the farmer; and he put spurs to his horse, and
rode home.</p>
<p>Good Luck was taking care of the farm.</p>
<p>"Listen, Godfather!" cried the young man. "I am in love with
the King's daughter, and want her to wife."</p>
<p>"It is not an easy matter," replied Good Luck, "but I will
do what I can for you. Say that by good luck you saved the
Princess's life, or perhaps better the King's—for they
say he is selfish—"</p>
<p>"Tush!" cried the farmer. "The King is covetous, and wants a
rich son-in-law."</p>
<p>"A wise man may bring wealth to a kingdom with his head, if
not with his hands," said Good Luck, "and I can show you a
district where the earth only wants mining to be flooded with
wealth. Besides, there are a thousand opportunities that can be
turned to account and influence. By wits and work, and with
Good Luck to help him, many a poorer man than you has risen to
greatness."</p>
<p>"Wits and work!" cried the indignant godson. "You speak
well—truly! A hillman would have made a better godfather.
Give me as much gold as will fill three meal-bins, and you may
keep the rest of your help for those who want it."</p>
<p>Now at this moment by Good Luck stood Dame Fortune. She
likes handsome young men, and there was some little jealousy
between her and the godfather so she smiled at the quarrel.</p>
<p>"You would rather have had me for your gossip?" said
she.</p>
<p>"If you would give me three wishes, I would," replied the
farmer boldly, "and I would trouble you no more."</p>
<p>"Will you make him over to me?" said Dame Fortune to the
godfather.</p>
<p>"If he wishes it," replied Good Luck. "But if he accepts
your gifts he has no further claim on me."</p>
<p>"Nor on me either," said the Dame. "Hark ye, young man, you
mortals are apt to make a hobble of your three wishes, and you
may end with a sausage at your nose, like your betters."</p>
<p>"I have thought of it too often," replied the farmer, "and I
know what I want. For my first wish I desire imperishable
beauty."</p>
<p>"It is yours," said Dame Fortune, smiling as she looked at
him.</p>
<p>"The face of a prince and the manners of a clown are poor
partners," said the farmer. "My second wish is for suitable
learning and courtly manners, which cannot be gained at the
plough-tail."</p>
<p>"You have them in perfection," said the Dame, as the young
man thanked her by a graceful bow.</p>
<p>"Thirdly," said he, "I demand a store of gold that I can
never exhaust."</p>
<p>"I will lead you to it," said Dame Fortune; and the young
man was so eager to follow her that he did not even look back
to bid farewell to his godfather.</p>
<p>He was soon at court. He lived in the utmost pomp. He had a
suit of armour made for himself out of beaten gold. No metal
less precious might come near his person, except for the blade
of his sword. This was obliged to be made of steel, for gold is
not always strong enough to defend one's life or his honour.
But the Princess still loved the Prince of Moonshine.</p>
<p>"Stuff and nonsense!" said the King. "I shall give you to
the Prince of Gold."</p>
<p>"I wish I had the good luck to please her," muttered the
young Prince. But he had not, for all his beauty and his
wealth. However, she was to marry him, and that was
something.</p>
<p>The preparations for the wedding were magnificent.</p>
<p>"It is a great expense," sighed the King, "but then I get
the Prince of Gold for a son-in-law."</p>
<p>The Prince and his bride drove round the city in a triumphal
procession. Her hair fell over her like sunshine, but the
starlight of her eyes was cold.</p>
<p>In the train rode the Prince of Moonshine, dressed in
silver, and with no colour in his face.</p>
<p>As the bridal chariot approached one of the city gates, two
black ravens hovered over it, and then flew away, and settled
on a tree.</p>
<p>Good Luck was sitting under the tree to see his godson's
triumph, and he heard the birds talking above him.</p>
<p>"Has the Prince of Gold no friend who can tell him that
there is a loose stone above the archway that is tottering to
fall?" said they. And Good Luck covered his face with his
mantle as the Prince drove through.</p>
<p>Just as they were passing out of the gateway the stone fell
on to the Prince's head. He wore a casque of pure gold, but his
neck was broken.</p>
<br/>
<div class="blockquot">
<p>"We can't have all this expense for nothing," said the
King: so he married his daughter to the Prince of
Moonshine. If one can't get gold one must be content with
silver.</p>
</div>
<br/>
<p>"Will you come to the funeral?" asked Dame Fortune of the
godfather.</p>
<p>"Not I," replied Good Luck. "I had no hand in <i>this</i>
matter."</p>
<p>The rain came down in torrents. The black feathers on the
ravens' backs looked as if they had been oiled.</p>
<p>"Caw! caw!" said they. "It was an unlucky end."</p>
<p>However, the funeral was a very magnificent one, for there
was no stint of gold.</p>
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