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This story is called “A Chaparral Prince”. It was written by O. Henry, a famous American writer. He lived in the early 1900s. O. Henry is well known for writing short stories with kind people, surprise endings, and deep meaning. His stories often show love, hope, and kindness, even in hard times.
This version of the story is written for people who are learning English. It is an English story level 1. That means the words are simple, the grammar is easy, and the sentences are short. You can read and enjoy it even if your English is still basic. It is great for practice!
The story is about a young girl who works very hard in a hotel. She is far away from her family. She is tired, sad, and dreams of a better life. One day, something surprising happens that changes everything. You will feel her pain, her hope, and her happiness.
We do not tell the full story here. It is better for you to read it yourself. That way, it will be exciting and interesting.
So, are you ready? Let’s begin this beautiful and simple story.
This story was rewritten by LearnEnglish-new.com for English learners. Enjoy reading the story and improve your English skills!
A Chaparral Prince
By O. Henry
Contents
Chapter One: Lena and the Ogre’s Castle
Chapter Two: A Letter Full of Tears
Chapter Three: The Road of Danger
Chapter Four: The Prince Comes at Last
Chapter One
Lena and the Ogre’s Castle
Lena was only eleven years old. She worked all day in a big, noisy hotel. It was called the Quarrymen’s Hotel, where men who cut stones lived. They were rough and loud. Lena had to work hard—cleaning, cooking, washing, and carrying water. It was too much for a small girl.
She was tired every evening. Her back hurt. Her hands were red. Her eyes were sad. But every night, when her work was done, she went to her small room. There, she lit a tiny candle, sat on her wooden chair, and read her favorite book—Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
The stories helped her forget the pain. In the stories, there were princes, fairies, and brave girls. She dreamed that one day, someone would come and save her too. Maybe a prince, strong and kind, would take her far away from the hotel.
Mrs. Maloney, the hotel manager, did not like books. She said, “Servants don’t need to read! They need to sleep and work hard!” She took away Lena’s book. Now, Lena felt even more alone.
Lena’s home was in Fredericksburg, a town with many German families. Her father, Peter Hildesmuller, was a strict and serious man. He sent Lena to work thirty miles away to earn money. She made three dollars a week. He saved every cent.
At night, Lena missed her family. She wanted to go home. She wanted to see her mamma, her brothers and sisters—Gretel, Claus, Heinrich, and little Adolf. She felt very sad and very tired.
Chapter 1 – Vocabulary
1. Young /jʌŋ/ — having lived for only a short time; not old
Example: Lena was only eleven years old.
2. Hotel /həʊˈtel/ — a place where people pay to stay and sleep
Example: She worked all day in a big, noisy hotel.
3. Rough /rʌf/ — not gentle or kind; hard to deal with
Example: They were rough and loud.
4. Tired /taɪəd/ — needing to rest or sleep because you have worked a lot
Example: She was tired every evening.
5. Hurt /hɜːt/ — to feel pain in a part of your body
Example: Her back hurt.
6. Dream /driːm/ — to imagine something that you want to happen
Example: She dreamed that one day, someone would come and save her too.
7. Favorite /ˈfeɪvərɪt/ — liked more than all the others
Example: She read her favorite book—Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
8. Family /ˈfæməli/ — a group of people who are related to each other
Example: At night, Lena missed her family.
Chapter 1 – Comprehension Questions
1. How old was Lena?
2. Where did Lena work?
3. What kind of work did Lena do at the hotel?
4. How did Lena feel after working all day?
5. What book did Lena like to read?
6. Why did Lena like reading fairy tales?
7. Why did Lena’s father send her to work?
8. Who did Lena want to see when she missed her family?
Chapter 1 – Grammar Exercises
1. Lena ______ eleven years old.
A) is
B) was
C) were
2. She ______ all day in a big hotel.
A) work
B) worked
C) working
3. Lena ______ tired every evening.
A) was
B) were
C) are
4. She ______ her favorite book at night.
A) read
B) reads
C) reading
5. Lena ______ her family at night.
A) miss
B) missed
C) missing
6. Her father ______ her to work.
A) sent
B) send
C) sending
7. Lena ______ to go home.
A) want
B) wanted
C) wanting
8. She ______ a tiny candle in her room.
A) light
B) lit
C) lighting
Answers
1-B, 2-B, 3-A, 4-A, 5-B, 6-A, 7-B, 8-B
Chapter Two
A Letter Full of Tears
One night, Lena was too sad to sleep. Her hands hurt from carrying heavy wood, and her heart felt empty. She sat by the candlelight and took an old box. Inside it, she found a small piece of paper and a short pencil.
“I must write to Mamma,” she whispered.
She began to write slowly. Her hand shook. She bit the wood around the pencil to make it sharp.
This is what Lena wrote:
Dearest Mamma,
I want to see you so much. And I want to see Gretel, Claus, Heinrich, and little Adolf too. I am very tired. Today, Mrs. Maloney hit me. I had no supper. My hand hurts from carrying wood. She also took away my book—Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I only read it a little each night. It helped me feel strong and brave.
But now I feel weak. There is too much work, and I am only a little girl. Mamma, if you don’t send for me tomorrow, I will go to a deep place in the river. I know where it is. I will go there. I want to see you. There is no one else for me.
Your respectful and loving daughter,
Lena
After writing the letter, Lena looked out the window. Her friend Tommy Ryan, who worked in the quarry, waited in the dark. He was seventeen and kind. Every night, he passed Lena’s window.
Lena threw the letter to him. “Please give this to the postman at Ballinger’s,” she said.
Tommy nodded and hid the letter under his coat. He promised to send it.
Lena blew out her candle and lay down on her thin mattress. She didn’t change her clothes. She didn’t cry anymore. She was too tired to cry.
Far away, in Fredericksburg, her family sat at tables along the sidewalk. They drank beer and played cards. Her father saved money, hoping to be rich one day. But no one knew Lena’s pain.
Chapter 2 – Vocabulary
1. Whisper /ˈwɪspər/ — to speak very quietly
Example: “I must write to Mamma,” she whispered.
2. Pencil /ˈpensəl/ — a tool used for writing or drawing
Example: She found a small piece of paper and a short pencil.
3. Slowly /ˈsləʊli/ — not quickly
Example: She began to write slowly.
4. Shake /ʃeɪk/ — to move from side to side, often because you are afraid or weak
Example: Her hand shook.
5. Supper /ˈsʌpər/ — an evening meal
Example: Today, Mrs. Maloney hit me. I had no supper.
6. Weak /wiːk/ — not strong
Example: But now I feel weak.
7. Daughter /ˈdɔːtər/ — a girl or woman who has parents
Example: Your respectful and loving daughter.
8. Promised /ˈprɒmɪst/ — said that you would do something
Example: He promised to send it.
Chapter 2 – Comprehension Questions
1. Why could Lena not sleep one night?
2. What did Lena find in the old box?
3. Who did Lena want to write a letter to?
4. What happened to Lena’s hand?
5. What did Mrs. Maloney take away from Lena?
6. What did Lena ask her mother to do?
7. Who was Tommy Ryan?
8. What did Tommy promise to do with Lena’s letter?
Chapter 2 – Grammar Exercises
1. Lena ______ too sad to sleep.
A) was
B) were
C) are
2. She ______ to write to Mamma.
A) want
B) wanted
C) wanting
3. She ______ slowly.
A) write
B) wrote
C) writing
4. Her hand ______.
A) shake
B) shook
C) shaking
5. Mrs. Maloney ______ Lena.
A) hit
B) hits
C) hitting
6. Lena ______ no supper.
A) have
B) had
C) having
7. Tommy ______ the letter under his coat.
A) hide
B) hid
C) hiding
8. He ______ to send the letter.
A) promised
B) promise
C) promising
Answers:
1-A, 2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-A, 6-B, 7-B, 8-A
Chapter Three
The Road of Danger
Tommy Ryan held Lena’s letter close to his chest. He walked through the night, climbing the steep hill to Ballinger’s place. Old Mr. Ballinger was the local postmaster. He lived in a small house at the edge of town.
At 10:30, Mr. Ballinger came outside in his stocking feet, rubbing his sore toe. He waited for the mail wagon. Soon, he heard the sound of small hooves—clip-clop, clip-clop. It was Fritz Bergmann, the mail driver, with his two little black mules.
Fritz wore big glasses and had a loud voice. He loved his mules more than anything. After greeting Mr. Ballinger, he picked up the mail sack. Tommy ran to him and handed over Lena’s letter.
“Please,” said Tommy, “this is for Mrs. Hildesmuller in Fredericksburg. It’s from her daughter.”
Fritz smiled. “Of course, Tommy. I’ll take good care of it.”
But that night, something terrible happened.
Robbers on the Road
Fritz was halfway to Fredericksburg when bandits attacked. They came out of the woods, shouting and shooting into the air. The mules stopped in fear. The robbers laughed and told Fritz to get down.
One of the robbers was called Hondo Bill. He was tall and strong. He had a shiny gun and a big voice. Another robber, Rattlesnake Rogers, pulled hard on one mule’s rope. The mule cried in pain. Fritz became angry and punched him!
“You hurt my mule!” he shouted.
The robbers tied Fritz to a tree. They took the mail sacks and looked for money. One robber said, “These people send money in the mail. Let’s find it!”
They found Lena’s letter and gave it to Hondo Bill. He opened it. It was written in German.
“This is just a child’s letter!” shouted Hondo. “What kind of trick is this?”
Fritz begged, “Please, don’t throw it away. It’s from a little girl. She’s tired and wants to go home.”
“Translate it,” said Hondo.
Fritz read it out loud. The robbers listened. The fire grew quiet. The night was still.
The letter touched their hearts.
The Decision
“She is eleven?” Hondo asked.
“Yes,” said Fritz. “She’s working like a servant. She writes that she might drown in the river.”
Hondo’s voice became angry. “These people… they send their children to work instead of letting them play. That’s not right.”
Then Hondo shouted, “Boys, let’s do something better tonight. We’re not just robbers—we’re knights!”
They made a fast plan.
One robber whispered, “We’ll sneak into the hotel. No one will know.”
Another said, “Let’s take the girl and bring her home.”
So, they did.
They quietly entered the hotel. They found Lena asleep in her bed, wrapped in a thin blanket. They didn’t wake her. They gently carried her out, wrapped her in warm quilts from the wagon, and placed her in the back, safe and sound.
Chapter 3 – Vocabulary
1. Postmaster /ˈpəʊstˌmɑːstə/ — a person who works in a post office
Example: Old Mr. Ballinger was the local postmaster.
2. Mail /meɪl/ — letters and packages sent by post
Example: He waited for the mail wagon.
3. Driver /ˈdraɪvə/ — a person who drives a vehicle
Example: It was Fritz Bergmann, the mail driver.
4. Robber /ˈrɒbə/ — a person who steals money or things
Example: Fritz was halfway to Fredericksburg when bandits attacked.
5. Attack /əˈtæk/ — to try to hurt someone
Example: Bandits attacked Fritz.
6. Gun /ɡʌn/ — a weapon that shoots bullets
Example: He had a shiny gun and a big voice.
7. Quiet /ˈkwaɪət/ — making little or no sound
Example: The fire grew quiet.
8. Save /seɪv/ — to help someone out of danger
Example: The robbers had saved her.
Chapter 3 – Comprehension Questions
1. Who was Mr. Ballinger?
2. Where did Mr. Ballinger live?
3. Who was Fritz Bergmann?
4. What animals pulled Fritz’s wagon?
5. Who attacked Fritz on the road?
6. What did the robbers take from Fritz?
7. What did Hondo Bill do with Lena’s letter?
8. Why did the robbers decide to help Lena?
Chapter 3 – Grammar Exercises
1. Tommy ______ Lena’s letter to Mr. Ballinger.
A) carry
B) carried
C) carrying
2. Fritz ______ the mail wagon at night.
A) drove
B) drive
C) driving
3. The bandits ______ Fritz on the road.
A) attack
B) attacked
C) attacking
4. The mules ______ in fear.
A) stopped
B) stop
C) stopping
5. The robbers ______ Fritz to a tree.
A) tied
B) tie
C) tying
6. Hondo Bill ______ Lena’s letter.
A) opened
B) open
C) opening
7. The robbers ______ the letter.
A) read
B) reads
C) reading
8. They ______ to help Lena.
A) decided
B) decide
C) deciding
Answers:
1-B, 2-A, 3-B, 4-A, 5-A, 6-A, 7-A, 8-A
Chapter Four
The Prince Comes at Last
The night was cold, but Lena was warm. She was wrapped in soft blankets and lay in the back of the wagon, sleeping deeply. She did not know the robbers had saved her. She did not hear the sound of the mules. She did not feel the road under the wheels.
The sun came up slowly. Fritz, the mailman, was free again. The robbers had untied him and told him, “Go home, Dutch. You’ve had a wild night!”
Fritz was still dizzy, but he got in the wagon, took the reins, and drove. He didn’t know that Lena was in the back, sleeping under the quilts.
At eleven o’clock in the morning, Fritz reached Fredericksburg. He passed the Hildesmuller house and shouted at the gate. The whole family rushed out.
“Did you bring a letter from Lena?” asked Frau Hildesmuller, her mother.
“Yes,” said Fritz. “And I must tell you a strange story…”
He told them everything—the robbers, the letter, the danger. Frau Hildesmuller began to cry. “My poor little Lena! Why did we send her away?”
Peter Hildesmuller dropped his pipe and shouted at his wife, “It’s your fault!”
But suddenly, a soft voice called out:
“Mamma!”
Everyone turned.
There, from the back of the wagon, stood Lena! Her eyes were sleepy. Her cheeks were pale. But she was smiling. She ran to her mother.
“Lena!” cried her family. They hugged her, kissed her, and held her close.
Fritz stood there with his mouth open. “Gott in Himmel!” he shouted. “How did she get in my wagon?”
Frau Hildesmuller cried with joy, “You brought her home, Fritz! You are our hero!”
Lena looked around and said softly, “The Prince brought me.”
Everyone stared.
“What?” asked her mother.
“I don’t know how I got in the wagon,” said Lena. “But I know how I got away from the hotel. Last night, the Prince came.”
Lena sat on the steps and told her story.
“Last night,” she said, “the Prince came with his knights. They broke the doors. They scared Mrs. Maloney and threw flour on her. They put Mr. Maloney in a big barrel of water!”
Everyone laughed.
“They came up to my room,” Lena said, smiling. “The Prince picked me up and wrapped me in warm blankets. He was tall and strong. His face was rough like a scrubbing brush, but he smelled sweet, like schnapps. He put me on his horse and held me close. I fell asleep.”
Fritz scratched his head. “Fairy tales! That’s not how she got here!”
But Lena looked up and said again, “The Prince brought me.”
And to this day, no one in Fredericksburg has ever made her say anything else.
— THE END –
The Original Version of the Story: americanliterature.com
Chapter 4 – Vocabulary
1. Cold /kəʊld/ — having a low temperature
Example: The night was cold.
2. Warm /wɔːm/ — having a comfortable temperature
Example: Lena was warm.
3. Sleeping /ˈsliːpɪŋ/ — resting with your eyes closed
Example: She was sleeping deeply.
4. Wagon /ˈwæɡən/ — a vehicle with four wheels, usually pulled by animals
Example: Fritz reached Fredericksburg in the wagon.
5. Family /ˈfæməli/ — parents, children, brothers, and sisters
Example: The whole family rushed out.
6. Cry /kraɪ/ — to have tears come from your eyes
Example: Frau Hildesmuller began to cry.
7. Smile /smaɪl/ — to show happiness with your face
Example: She was smiling.
8. Hero /ˈhɪərəʊ/ — a person who does something brave or good
Example: “You brought her home, Fritz! You are our hero!”
Chapter 4 – Comprehension Questions
1. Where was Lena sleeping?
2. How was Lena kept warm during the night?
3. When did Fritz reach Fredericksburg?
4. Who came out when Fritz arrived at the Hildesmuller house?
5. What did Fritz tell Lena’s family?
6. How did Lena’s mother feel when she saw Lena?
7. Who did Lena say brought her home?
8. What did Lena think the Prince did for her?
Chapter 4 – Grammar Exercises
1. Lena ______ sleeping in the back of the wagon.
A) was
B) were
C) are
2. Fritz ______ the wagon to Fredericksburg.
A) drive
B) drove
C) driving
3. The whole family ______ out of the house.
A) rushed
B) rush
C) rushing
4. Frau Hildesmuller ______ to cry.
A) begin
B) began
C) beginning
5. Lena ______ to her mother.
A) ran
B) run
C) running
6. Everyone ______ Lena.
A) hugged
B) hug
C) hugging
7. Lena ______ that the Prince brought her home.
A) said
B) say
C) saying
8. She ______ asleep on the way home.
A) fall
B) fell
C) falling
Answers:
1-A, 2-B, 3-A, 4-B, 5-A, 6-A, 7-A, 8-B
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