Publisher's Synopsis
F you have never heard the legend of Gilligren and the King's pie you will scarcelyunderstand the above verse; so I will tell you the whole story, and then you will be able tobetter appreciate the rhyme.Gilligren was an orphan, and lived with an uncle and aunt who were very unkind to him.They cuffed him and scolded him upon the slightest provocation, and made his life verymiserable indeed. Gilligren never rebelled against this treatment, but bore their crueltysilently and with patience, although often he longed to leave them and seek a homeamongst kinder people.It so happened that when Gilligren was twelve years old the King died, and his son wasto be proclaimed King in his place, and crowned with great ceremony. People were flockingto London from all parts of the country, to witness the festivities, and the boy longed to gowith them.One evening he said to his uncle,"If I had sixpence I could make my fortune.""Pooh! nonsense!" exclaimed his uncle, "a sixpence is a small thing. How then could youmake a fortune from it?""That I cannot tell you," replied Gilligren, "but if you will give me the sixpence I will go toLondon, and not return until I am a rich man."
