The Van Buren press., 1867-11-08
Anecdotes Of Victoria by Grace Green
wood.


When was in England heard sever.
al pleasant anecdotes of the Queen aud
her family, from lady who received
them from her friend, the governess OF
her royal children. This govcrness, Il
very interesting young lady, was the or
phan daughter of a Scottish clergyman.
During the first year of her residence at
Windsor her mother died. When she
first received news of her serious illness
she applied to the Queen for permission
to resign her situation, feeling that TO her
mother she owed more sacred duty
than even to her sovereign The Queen,
who had been much pleased with her,
would not hear of her making this sacri-
fice-but said, in tone of the most gen
tie sympathy, "Go at once to your
mother, child; stay with her as long as
she needs you, and then come back to us.
| will keep your place for you. Prince
Albert and will hear the children's les
sons so in any event let your mind be at
rest in regard to your pupils.
The governess went and had several
weeks of sweet mournful communion
with her dying mother; then. when she
had seen that dear form laid To sleep un-
der the daises in the old kirk yard, return.
ed to the palace, where the loneliness of
royal grandeur would have oppressed her
sorrowing heart beyond endurance, had
it not been for the gracious, womanly
/ sympathy of the Queen, who came every
day to her school room, and the consid
crate kindness of her young pupils. A
year went by; the first anniversary of her
great loss dawned upon her, and she was
overwheled as never before by the utter
loneliness of her grief She felt that no
one in all that great household knew how
much goodness and sweetness passed out
of mortal life that day year ago--or
could give with her one tear, one thought
to that grave under the Scottish daisies.
Every morning, before breakfast, which
the elder children took with their mother
in the pleasant crimson parlor looking
out on the terrace at Windsor, her pupils
came to the school room for brief re-
ligious exercise. This morning the voice
of the governess trembled in reciting the
Scriptures for the day; some words Of
tenderness were too much for her poor,
lonely, grieving heart--her strength gave
way, and laying her head on the desk be-
fore her she burst into tears, murmurng,
"Oh, mother mother" One after an
other the children stole out of the room
and went to their mother to tell how cad
ly their govcrness was feeling; and that
soft hearted monarch, exclaiming, "Oh,
poor girl, it Is the anniversary OF her
mothers DEATH" hurried to the school
room, where she found Miss strug
Cling to regain her composure. MY
poor child" she said, 81 am sorry the
children disturbed you this morning. /
meant to have given orders that you
should have this day entirely to yourself
Take it, as sad and sacred holiday-I
will hear the lessons of the children. T"
And then she added To show you that
! have not forgotten this mournful ami
versary bring you this gift" clasping
on her arm beautiful mourning brace
let, attached to which was lockct for
her mothers hair marked with the date
Of her mothers death. What wonder
that the orphan kissed with tears this
Gift and the more than royal hand that
bestowed it! This was Victoria fifteen
years ago-and l don't believe she has
morally "advanced backward" since then.
Another anecdote illustrating Victo-
rias admirable good sense and strict do
mestic discipline came to me directly
from one who witnessed the occurrence.
One day, when the Queen was present in
her carriage at military review. the
Princess Royal, then rather willful girl
of about thirteen, sitting on the front
seat, seemed disposed to be rather famil-
lar and coquetsh with some young Of
ficers of the escort Her Majesty gave
several reproving looks, but without
avail" winked at her, but she would
not stay winked' At length, in flirting
her handkerchief over the side Of the car
riage, she dropped it-too evidently not
accidentally Instantly two or three
young heroes sprang from their saddles
to return it to her fair hand--but the aw-
full voice Of royalty stayed them Stop,
gentlemen exclaimed the Queen
"leavc it just where it lies Now, my
daughter, get down from the carriage and
pick up your handkerchief" There was
no help for it. The royal footmcn lc,
down the steps for the little royal lady,
who proceeded to lift from the dust the
pretty piece Of cambric and lace. She
blushed a good deal, though she tossed
her head saucily, and she was doubtless
angry enough; but the Notifying lesson
may have nipped in the bud her first i'm
pulse toward coquetry. 1t was hard, but
it was wholesome. How many American
mothers would be equal to such a piece
Of Spartan discipline?
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