The Jack of Hearts by Rachel Johnson (best books to read for students .TXT) 📖

The Jack of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts,
She made some tarts,
All on a summer's day;
The Jack of Hearts,
He stole those tarts,
And took them clean away.
The King of Hearts
Called for the tarts,
And beat the jack full sore;
The Jack of Hearts
Brought back the tarts,
And vowed he'd steal no more.

-Nursery Rhyme

Chapter I

Once upon a time, during the reign of the King of Hearts, a young peasant boy sat on his doorstep, pondering over the meaning of life. Why were some people born into the royal courts of the Red King, while others were born into peasant homes? And still others were not even born at all. His own mother had lost two children before they even had a chance to live. Who decided where a person was born? Whatever the reason was and whoever the person was, he decided right then and there that he would live in the Royal Courts one day, no matter what.
10 years later, that same boy was living in the Royal Courts, as the court jester. He was known by most as the Jack of Hearts.
But the Jack of Hearts had a secret, for it is true that as a boy he desired to enter the Royal Courts merely because he wanted to defy fate and be royalty instead of a poor peasant boy. But when he grew older he fell madly in love with the Princess of Hearts. He had only seen her once, when she was being led through the city on her way to a neighboring kingdom, but one look was enough to make his heart burn with love. Desperately he had perfected his jokes and humor until even the King had heard of him. Not long after he was invited into the Palace as the court jester. At first he was content with being allowed to stand and watch the princess laugh at his many jokes and imitations, just looking at her fed his soul. However, one day, when he overheard two servants gossiping about the possible match between the Princess of Hearts and the Prince of Spades, he knew that he would have to act quickly. That evening he was called to entertain the court.
“There was once a gardener named John
Who had a fine green lawn
He hoed and sowed
And sowed and hoed
While his spade would nod and yawn,” said the Jack of Hearts.
“Ah! There is more truth to this limerick than meets the eye, the Prince of Spades is the picture of laziness, a terrible ruler he will be,” remarked one of the King’s subjects. Everyone laughed and agreed with him that the Prince of Spades was terribly lazy. The Jack of Heart’s plan had worked. He knew that the King wouldn’t dare betroth his daughter to a man that had been openly made fun of in court.

Chapter II

Unable to gather enough courage to profess his love to the Princess Sarah of Hearts, the Jack was internally tortured. Finally, after much contemplation, the Jack of Hearts decided that he would tell Sarah of his love. He composed the following letter during the endless nights of summer.

My love for thee is unfailing
My longing for you is undying
Every night while you slumber,
I suffer
Every morning when you dress,
I guess
I guess your thoughts and your regrets
My suffering would end
If you would call me friend
My guessing would cease
If you would give me peace
Tell me, oh fair maiden
Is there a place for us in heaven?
Forever Yours,
- The Jack of Hearts

The following morning, the Princess was looking through her mail that her handmaiden had recently delivered. Most of the letters were dull, matters of state that should have been addressed to her father, not her. Then she spied a much more interesting letter. It was from the Prince of Diamonds.

Dearest Princess Sarah,
Ever since I first laid eyes upon your wondrous beauty I have hoped and wished that one-day you would be mine. I propose a marriage. Now, before you say no, there are a few things I wish you would consider. You are the only child of your father, and if we marry, you would be able to inherit the Kingdom of Hearts, without your marriage to a prince, your nearest cousin, Sir Charles, would inherit the thrown. And you know how despicable he is.
I have enclosed a diamond necklace that belonged to my great-grandmother. I hope you will accept it as a token of our engagement.
-The Prince of Diamonds

“Of all the nerve! He knows that his older brother, the crown prince, will inherit the Throne of Diamonds, he merely wants this marriage for the Throne of Hearts! And my cousin is not despicable, he will make a fine ruler; he is cheery but at the same time respectable and serious,” shouted the princess, to the shock of her handmaiden. “But what can I do but accept. Who else am I to marry? I simply cannot marry the Prince of Spades, not after he was openly mocked in court, the Crown Prince of Diamonds is already engaged, and there is no Prince of Clubs. I fear I must accept. Although I like cousin Charley, my father would die if I didn’t take the throne.”
Soon after she composed a letter to the Prince of Diamonds, accepting his proposal.
“Nancy, could you take this letter to the messenger and ask him to deliver it to the Royal Courts of Diamonds?” the Princess asked her handmaiden.
“Yes, your highness,” replied Nancy.
Moments later, Sarah found the letter that the Jack of Hearts had written her. It was such a different letter from the Prince’s. The Prince talked of reasons why she should marry him, while the Jack’s letter merely professed his love. She knew that she had to stop her letter from reaching the Prince of Diamond’s hands.
“Nancy, did the messenger leave already?”
“Yes, he left as soon as I told him to,” replied Nancy.

This is only the first two chapters of the book, more will come shortly...

Publication Date: 07-07-2010

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