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VOL. i.
University of Nebraska.
NO. 4.
VlAVY,
J;uc ton tiPictetY, zZet'ctf.
872.
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Translated from tho French.
The Old King and the Young Girl.
CUA1TKR I.
Iliad been in London two months; the
two months the most foggy of foggy Eng
land. At lust, toward the middle of Feb
ruary, through a veil of grayish clouds, I
perceived as a pale reflection of our sun of
France, the sun of Great Britain. It was
necessary for me, in order to hrcathc at
ease, to leave the heavy atmosphere which
oppressed my breast, and 1 resolved to go
to Richmond, which I had often heard
spoken of as one of the most beautiful
places in the vicinity of London. Quitting
with pleasure my black and smoked hotel,
1 took a seat in a light stage coach, and ar
rived in a few hours at my destination.
The sight which presents itself to the
traveller from the height of the terrace of
Richmond, is the most smiling and beauti
ful in Englffhd. A dense, vast forest dis
plays itself before the eyes, which seems to
characterize all the country, and in the
midst .of whoso soft, thick shades all the
. dwellings are deep set.- From distance to
distance beautiful lawns extend, "whlclr
resemblo tho glades Intersecting the wood,
wherein stags, roes and f-iwns hound and
play in the mellow light of the sun.
It is from the hill of Richmond that the
course of the Thames is seen ; it is not yet
the proud queen of rivers ; here it is simplo
and modest as the village maid who has
not j'et seen the city of kings. All poetry
apart, the Thames is very insignificant at
Richmond ; no one would say, seeing it so
humble, that a few miles further on, it be
comes so powerful by the abundance of its
waters and its riches.
After having breakfasted at the hotel of
the "Star," I visited the house of the cele
brated Pope. It was then inhabited by the
Princes of Orleans. This pretty villa must
have been dear to the heart of tho English
poet; it is tranquilly and admirably sit
uated on the gentle slope of a hill, which
forms a lawn before the house, and which
is bathed by the waters of the Thames.
1 devoted my evening to exploring the
park of Kew and the botanical garden.
This very modest residence belongs to the
crown ; it was the favorite retreat of Char
lotte, Queen of George III. The little pa
vilion which the royal couple inhabited,
would seem too homely for n't upstart of
our days.
CHAPTER II.
Queen Charlotte was entirely satisfied at
Kew ;she was happier there than atWlndsor.
This Queen, with a mind little spughtly
.but solid, possessed some great qualities ;
she was tho model of tho wives of Great
Britain. The English of our day still re
member the assiduous and tender care
which she never ceased to lavish upon her
wretched husband during liis long and
painful sickness.
At Kew, Charlotte and George III. lived
very retired ; they were often seen seated
under tho shade of the noble cedars; there,
they forgot the cares of the throne, the
ennuis of court, and occupied themselves
with the delights of botany, which they
passionately loved. v
One day, a pretty child, with beautiful
black curls, passed near the bench where
they were resting from their walk. The
Queen called the little girl, whom she
found to be charming. It was the child of
a French emiyrc. The little girl had filled
her apron with field flowers, that she had
just gathered on tho lawn. The Queen at
first spoke to her In English. Tho child,
not comprehending this language, her
parents having lately arrived in England,
the Queen said to her in French :
"You have some beautiful flowers; for
whom are they?"
"For mama, who Is very fond of flowers,
but who cannot come to see those that arc
here because, she is sick."
"lias she suffered long?"
"Oh! yes, very long! very long! ever
since she heard of the death of papa, whom
kthojyijikcd ones have killed."
"What wicked ones ?'!
"Tho 'revolutionaries,' avIio have killed
the Kiug."
"Poor child !" said King George, passing
his hand over the beautiful hair of the little
French girl; "may God spare you your
mother!"
"I ask it of the good God every day and
meanwhile she does not recover. I wished
to remain with her to-day ; but she ordered
my nurse to bring me here."
Then Charlotte arose ami told the child
to conduct her to her nurse. The old gov
erness was far from thinking this to be a
Queen who came towards her, so simply
attired, and leading the little one by the
hand.
"Whence come you, Mademoiselle
Louise?" she asked, In a severe tone; "I
told you not to go far."
"Do not scold," said the Queen; "the
poor child has been speaking to me of her
mother, and I have come to ask you,
Madam, to conduct me to her."
CIIAITKIt III.
"My mistress is very sick," replied tho
governess; saying this, she passed her
hand over her eyes, "which were wet with
tears. Charlotte added :
"I shall bo able perhaps to diminish her
sufferings, and shall bo very happy to
render her a service. Let us go, then, to
your home."
They soon arrived at the house in which
dwelt the emigre, in tho village of Kew.
"Mama ! Mama ! here is a good lady who
has come to sco you. She has promised to
give me every day some beautiful flowers
for you."
At these words, the sick lady, who. was
seated near tho window, upon which were
placed some pots of mignonette, and who,
her head supported on her hand, was look
ing at the setting sun, attempted to rise;
but the Queen restrained her, and taking a
chair near her, said : "Do you sutler much,
Madam?"
"I have not the strength to suffer much
but I have suffered a great deal," replied
the widow emiyrc.
"Your charming child has told me, and I
have come to propose a change of house ;
this is damp and sickly. You have not
enough sunshine. I have a dwelling close
by in tills neighborhood. Your pretty
child will have more room to run and
play. Permit me, Madam, to semi for you
to-morrow."
"Oh! I have but a short time to live;
It is scarcely worth while. I thank you,
Madam."
Put away these sombre thoughts.
t
Think of your child, and you will accept
my offer ; 1 make it freely. I will come to
take you myself. My husband and myself
love the French emigres very much."
"Oh! so much tho better! so much the
IJetter !" repeated little Louise. "I am de
lighted to go into a large house, with a
beautiful garden. Mama, you will be much
better there than here."
The ncxt'daya carriage canio for the
floor eick lady. It was not until they ar
rived at the pavilion of Kew, that she
learned that the Queen was her bene
factress. 'Who would ever havo believed that this
was a Queen?" the old governess Treated
Incessantly In her joy; "a lady In a calico
dress and straw hat!"
The utmost sympathy, tho kindest atten
tions, were lavished upon the mother of
Louise, but it did not restore her to health ;
care had penetrated too deeply into her
heart.
In regard to the little girl, sho could not
believe that a large garden, with many
beautiful flowers, and a good room, with
handsome furniture, would not restoro her
mother. She wan very happy the charm
ing child to play in the aviary of tho
Queen and feed the birds.
4, CIIAITKIt IV.
jOne day old King Georgo, who had Just
fallen again into one of his sombre moods
of melancholy, heard the little French girl
singing. ITo was struck wllji tho sweet
ness of her voice; ho called her, and taking
her upon his knees, said :
"Louise, sing to me what you Just sang."
"Oh 1 it is very sad," replied tho child.
"That make no difference ; I love tho air,
and I shall bo much pleased to hear it
again."
Then Louise obeyed, and commenced
this touching complaint on tho death of
lWib XVI.1:
'0 my people ! what havo I done?
I loved virtue, juat'eo;
Your happlucBH was my only object;
And you drag mo to tho ocaffbldlW . . a
While the little girl was singing this sad
refrain, the old monarch, his eyes fixed
upon her and buried In a sad reverie, wa
weeping silently. That evening, when he
was alone in ids room, and the lamps had
not yet been lighted, lie seated himself at
the piano and repeated the air of Poor
James, on which the royal complaint had
been fouuded.
After that day, he often sent for tho little
orphan, who had just lost her mother, and
said to her :
"Child, sing the air of Louis XVI.; the
air which made me weep."
When Louise commenced to sing, the old
monarch seated himself at the piano,-- and
accompanied her softly, and with strains so
sad, that they resembled melodious wait
ings. Ah ! It was truly a touching sight to see
and to hear this little orphan singing in a
trembling voice the misfortunes of a martyr
king to another king crushed under the
hand of God.
Queen Charlotte becamo more and more
attached to Louise do Glandeuil. She had
cared for the mother until the last mo
ment; she adopted the child, raised her
well, and later, having richly dowered her,
married her to an English nobleman.
Loulso lives yet; her beautiful black hair
has become white, and in the ease and
peace which God has given her on this
strange earth, she preserves sacredly thv
remembrance of her poor mother and her
noblo benefactors. Hers Is a beautiful old
age; tho memory of tho heart has not been
extinguished in her, When, three years
ago, I returned to England, I saw at the
house of Madame Radnor nee Glandeuil a
portrait of George III., painted in his last
days.
The blind monarch seems crushed be
neath tho burden of his years and misfor
tunes; a long whlto beard streams down
upon liis breast; his venerable hair parted
in front, falls from right and left over his
shoulders; tho head of the old monarch
seems to bo bowed by tho weight of his
crown; meanwhile, there is yet a smllo
wandorlng and vaguo upon liis lips. It Is
perhaps a remembrance of the glory of his
reign, which comes to him in tho midst of
the wanderings of his mind, as u light in
tho depths of darkness, or as a ray of tho
sun on a tomb. Le. Vlcomte Walsh.
A Pkrhian philosopher being asked by
what method ho had acquired so much
knowledge, answered: "By not being prc-
vented by shamo from asking questions,
when I was ignorant."
A negro boy was driving a mule, when
tho animal stoped short and refused to
move "Won't go oh?", said the boy; "feel
mighty grand do you ? I s'pose you forget
your fader was a jackass."
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