the minuter details of george iv’s life are not of a kind either to interest or edify young people, but here is an anecdote of his boyhood that will be certain of securing your sympathies.
the manners and appearance of george iii and his family were entirely simple and unostentatious, and the early youth of the young princes and princesses was but very slightly different from that of other young people of rank throughout the kingdom. it was the frequent habit of the king to wander about the neighborhood of windsor, altogether unattended, and accompanied only by the young prince of wales, who was his almost inseparable companion.
one morning they were pursuing their walk in their usual manner, when they met a farm servant driving a covered cart towards windsor; they had passed him[86] only by a few paces, when a sudden stoppage of the vehicle, and the outcries of the driver, caused them to look around, and they then perceived that the cart had got fast into a rut of the road, and the man was vainly urging his horses to drag it out.
the prince sprang back, and with little thought of ceremony, began applying his strength to the wheel, his majesty watching his efforts for a moment in silence, but instantly after stepping forward himself in the same service. encouraged by this unlooked for help, the carter flogged and bawled to his horses, while the royal shoulders heaved as heartily at the wheel; and hercules—moved no doubt by their ship-shape mode of invoking his aid—gave them strength enough to accomplish what they desired: the vehicle was extricated, and the driver, grateful to his friends, swore roundly that they must take a draught of ale with him, offering at the same time a seat in front of his cart to the next public house.
this civil offer was not accepted; the king and prince shook the dust of their late labor from their plain clothing, and prepared to bid their friend adieu; but first his majesty presented the fortunate carter with a guinea, which the prince, holding to be no very worthy gift, instantly amended by a couple from his own purse. the carter, lost in astonishment, stood looking[87] after these surprising helpmates (first making any thing but graceful, though very sincere acknowledgments), and it was not until they had got fairly out of his sight that he could bethink himself of once more getting on with his team.
on arriving at the public house which he had destined as the place of his rejected treat, and relating the wondrous occurrence that had taken place, he was acquainted with the quality of his assistants; but he could in no way be brought to believe the fact. above all, he insisted that, though the prince might be the prince, yet the king could not be the king; for, he argued, why else did the first give him two guineas, when the second, whom his informants would have to be the greater, gave him only one! no, this was not “in his philosophy,” and he was convinced that his friends were wrong.
the story, and especially the man’s obstinacy, was talked of till it reached the king, whom it greatly amused. some time after, his majesty met the same man on the road, and thus accosted him:
“so, you think, my friend, that my present was not a king’s present, though my son’s might do for a prince, hey? but remember that i must be just before i am generous; the prince has only himself to think about, but i have many who look up to me, as your children[88] at home do to you, for all they want—do not forget that, my friend; good morning, good morning.” and the monarch once more left john carter to his cogitations.
