Some children were at play on their playground one day, when a herald (传令官) rode through the town,1 a trumpet (喇叭), and crying aloud, "The King passes by this road today. Make2 for the King!"
The children stopped their play, and looked at one another. "Did you hear that?" they said. "The King is coming. He may3 this wall and see our playground. Who knows? We must put it4 . "
The playground was dirty, and in the corners (角落) were used paper and5 toys. They worked hard, till at last it was clean and tidy.
"Now it's clean!" they said, "but we must make it pretty, too, for kings are used to6 things. " So they started to bring beautiful7 and hung them on the walls. When all was done, the playground was really pretty. "Let us8 it always like this!" the littlest one said happily.
They waited all day for the coming of the King, but he never came. Only, towards sunset, a man with travel-worn clothes, and a kind,9 face passed along the road and stopped to look over the wall.
"What a (an)10 place!" said the man, "May I11 and rest, dear children?"
"Please do and take a seat. " They12 a bench with the old red cloth to make it look like a throne (宝座), and it made a very good one.
"It's our playground!" they said. "We made it pretty for the King, but he didn't come. Now we 13 to keep it so for ourselves and for tired people to rest in!"
"That is the best of all!" said the man. Then he14 them and went on his way. But before he left, he laid (放) his hand on their heads for a moment and the15 went warm to their hearts.
