Little
Prince Table of Contents
The next planet was inhabited by a tippler.
This
was a very short visit, but it plunged the little prince into
deep dejection. "What are you doing there?" he said to the tippler,
whom he found settled down in silence before a collection of empty
bottles and also a collection of full bottles.
"I am drinking," replied the tippler, with a lugubrious air.
"Why
are you drinking?" demanded the little prince.
"So
that I may forget," replied the tippler. "Forget what?" inquired
the little prince, who already was sorry for him.
"Forget
that I am ashamed," the tippler confessed, hanging his head.
"Ashamed of what?" insisted the little prince, who wanted to help
him.
"Ashamed
of drinking!" The tippler brought his speech to an end, and shut
himself up in an impregnable silence.
And
the little prince went away, puzzled. "The grown-ups are certainly
very, very odd," he said to himself, as he continued on his journey.
Go
to Chapter 13
