[adapted]

by
Mark Twain

Chapter I.
The Birth of the Prince and the Pauper

In old London, on a cold autumn day, two boys were born. One was Tom Canty. He was born in a very poor family that did not want him. The other was Edward Tudor. He was born in a rich royal family that wanted him very much.

All England was happy about Edward. People had waited a long time for a prince. When he was born, the city celebrated. People hugged each other, cried, and laughed. They sang and danced in the streets for many days. Bright flags hung from buildings. At night, there were big fires, and people gathered around them.

Edward, the Prince of Wales, lay in soft clothes and did not know about the joy. Important people watched over him. Everyone talked about him. No one talked about Tom Canty, except his poor family. He lay in dirty rags and brought trouble to his home.

Chapter II.
Tom’s Early Life

Some years later, London was a large city, but the streets were narrow, dirty, and crowded. Tom lived near London Bridge, in a place called Offal Court. The houses were old, broken, and full of poor people.

Tom’s family lived in one small room. His father, John Canty, was a thief. His grandmother begged in the streets. They were cruel and often drunk. They beat Tom and the others. Tom had two sisters, Bet and Nan. They were kind but very poor and uneducated. His mother was gentle and tried to help him when she could.

At night, Tom often went to bed hungry. If he did not bring money, his father beat him. His grandmother beat him again. Sometimes his mother gave him a small piece of food in secret, even though she was afraid.

There was one good man in Offal Court. He was Father Andrew, an old priest. He taught Tom to read and write. He also told him stories about kings, princes, and magical lands.

Tom loved these stories. He dreamed about a better life. At night, he forgot his hunger and pain. He imagined he was a prince in a grand palace. Soon, he had one strong wish: he wanted to see a real prince.

Tom began to change. He wanted to be clean and wear better clothes. He still played in the mud, but he also washed himself in the river when he could. He read books and thought about noble life. Sometimes he saw events in the city. He saw prisoners taken to the Tower. One day, he saw people burned in the street. Life was hard, but it was not always boring.

Slowly, Tom began to act like a prince. His words and manners became polite and formal. Other children noticed this. They listened to him and respected him. Even adults came to him with problems, and he gave clever answers.

In secret, Tom made his own small royal court. He was the prince. His friends played guards and servants. They acted out royal life every day. But after this, Tom went back to his real life. He begged for money, ate little food, and suffered beatings. At night, he dreamed again of being a prince. His wish grew stronger every day. He wanted to see a real prince more than anything else.

One cold January day, Tom walked the streets, hungry and tired. He looked at food in shop windows but had no money to buy it. Rain fell, and he felt miserable.

When he went home, his father and grandmother beat him again. He went to bed in pain and hunger. After some time, he fell asleep and dreamed of a beautiful royal life. In his dream, he wore fine clothes and stood among rich people. They bowed to him, and he smiled like a true prince. But in the morning, he woke up in his poor room. The dream made his real life feel even worse. He felt very sad and began to cry.

Chapter III.
Tom Meets the Prince

Tom woke up hungry and left home. He walked through the city without thinking. People pushed him and spoke to him, but he did not notice. He was thinking about his dream of princes and palaces.

Soon he came to a place he had never seen before. He walked past large buildings and fine houses. At last, he saw a great palace. It was Westminster. Tom stopped and stared in wonder. It was huge and beautiful, with tall towers and strong walls. At the gate stood guards in shining armor.

Many people stood nearby, hoping to see someone from the royal family. Fine carriages came and went. Tom moved closer to the gate, full of hope.

Then he saw him. Inside the gate stood a boy dressed in rich clothes, with jewels and a small sword. Servants stood near him. Tom knew at once. This was a real prince. Tom felt great excitement. He wanted to see the prince more closely. Without thinking, he pressed his face against the gate.

A soldier suddenly pulled him away and pushed him hard. “Go away, beggar!” the soldier said. The crowd laughed. At once, the young prince ran to the gate. His face was red with anger.

“How can you treat a poor boy like that?” he cried. “Open the gate and let him in!”

The crowd cheered. The guards opened the gate. Tom, in his rags, walked inside to meet the Prince of Wales.

The prince spoke kindly. “You look tired and hungry. Come with me.”

He took Tom into a rich room in the palace. Food was brought. The prince sent the servants away so Tom would feel comfortable. Then he sat near Tom and asked questions while Tom ate.

“What is your name?”

“Tom Canty, sir.”

“Where do you live?”

“In Offal Court, near Pudding Lane, sir.”

The prince asked about Tom’s family. Tom told him about his father and grandmother. They were cruel and often beat him. The prince was shocked and angry.

“They beat you?” he said.

“Yes, sir.”

The prince said they should be punished, but then he remembered they were poor people. He asked about Tom’s mother and sisters. Tom said they were kind.

The prince spoke about his own family. He did not always like his father, the king. Then he asked about Tom’s life. Tom told him about games in the street, shows, and swimming in the river. He spoke about playing in the mud and having fun with other boys.

The prince listened with great interest. “I would like to try that life,” he said. “Just once.”

Tom looked at the prince’s fine clothes. “And I would like to dress like you, sir. Just once.”

The prince smiled. “Then we will change clothes for a short time.”

They quickly exchanged their clothes. Tom now wore the prince’s rich garments. The prince wore Tom’s rags. They stood in front of a mirror. Both boys were surprised. They looked exactly the same.

“You and I are alike in every way,” the prince said. “No one could tell us apart.”

Then the prince saw a mark on Tom’s hand. He became angry again.

“This is from the soldier,” Tom said.

The prince was upset. “Wait here,” he said. “Do not move.” He ran out of the room, still wearing Tom’s poor clothes.

He rushed to the palace gate and shouted, “Open the gate!”

The same soldier opened it. When the prince ran out, the soldier hit him hard and pushed him into the street.

“Take that, you beggar!” the soldier said. The crowd laughed. The prince stood up, angry and shocked.

“I am the Prince of Wales!” he cried. “You will be punished!”

But the soldier laughed at him. The crowd surrounded the prince and pushed him away, shouting and mocking him. “Make way for the Prince of Wales!” they cried, laughing as they drove him down the road.

Chapter IV.
The Prince’s Troubles Begin

After a long time, the crowd left the prince alone. At first, they laughed at him because he spoke like a king. But when he became too tired to speak, they lost interest and went away.

The prince looked around. He did not know where he was. He walked on without direction. Soon, the streets became quieter, and there were fewer people. He stopped by a small stream and washed his hurt feet. Then he rested and walked again.

After some time, he saw a large open space and a big church. He knew this place. It was Grey Friars’ Church. His father had made it a home for poor children. The prince felt hope. “They will help me here,” he thought. “I am poor now, like them, but I am still the king’s son.”

He went to the boys playing outside. They were running and shouting. They all wore the same simple clothes.

The prince stood proudly and said, “Tell your master that Edward, Prince of Wales, wishes to speak with him.”