Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1871-12-15
Gelcltc0 nlisfeIIanD.
Story of a Ducal Mansion.


One fine autumn day in the year 1850, ms
his Majesty George the Second, surrounded by
his escort, was entering Hyde Park on horse
back, his eye was attracted by the figure of an
old soldier resting on bench at the foot Of
the Cromwell Oak that still stands in vgor-
Gus age close by the Achilles Statue. The
King, whose memory CT faces was remarkable
recognized him AS u veteran who had fought
brayely ut his side in the continental battles !;
and kindly accosting him, the old man, who
was lame, hobbled toward him
"Well, my friend said the monarch, at
is now some years since we heard the bullets
whistle at the battle Of Detiingen; tell me
what has befallen you since"
81 was wounded in the leg, please your
Majesty, and received my discharge. My wife
aud | are living on the pension | receive, and
trying to bring up our only SON"
care you comfortable Is there anything
you particularly wish for ~
'tPlease your Majesty, if might make bold
to speak, there is one thing that would make
my wife, poor woman, as happy as Queen, If
she could only get 1t. George, our son--we
named him after your Majesty--is a bright
boy, aud as we are anxious to give him good
education, we try every means to earn an
honest penny; 50 my wife Keeps An apple stall
outside The Park gate. But IT Is very hard
the sun and dust spoil the fruit, the rain keeps
her home, the Park guards sometimes drive
her away, and the Ranger says we have mo
right TO be there. Now, please your Majesty,
if you would have the goodness to give her
the waste bit Of ground outside the Park gate,
we could build shed for her fruit stall, and
il would be, ! may say, an estate to u.s.
The good-natured King smiled, and said,
"You shall havcit my friend" and rode on,
OF course the King had no more constitu-
tionnl power to bestow rood Of Hyde Park
upon peer or peasant, Mt that day, than the
Queen has now But the Second George was
arbitrary Pelham, the Prime Minister, was
a tool of the crown Parliament seldom failed
10 do the bidding of The King and the people,
though jealous Of their liberties forgnve and
forgot usurpations 10 the splendid successes
which crowned the British arms by sea and
land during the thrty-three years reign of
George H. Whatever scruples, therefore, may
have been suggested to the monarchs parting
with any portion Of the public domain did
not stand long 10 the way The Kings word
had been given to the old soldier Ii was the
Minister'S duty TO see it kept. In few DAYS
n formal conveyance of the bit of ground 10
James Allen his wife, and their heirs forever
was forwarded TO their humble dwelling.
One morning Of the Summer of 1863 nine
teen years after good King George had made |
Ihe soldiers wife happy as queen" by his |
gift, Aunt Betsey arriving from market, rs |
usual, at her place Of merchandise, was star
led TO perceive the space around her fruit-stall |
ind cottage filed with workmen aud teams. |
were being made in the ground |
blocks Of UNDERMINING stone were being nm |
alden bricks and material for mortar almost /
iindered her approach carpenters with axes |
md saws were ready 10 demolish the apple |
tall and cottage.
Come, old woman" said the foreman,
move your things out of ills Look sharp |
We can't wait all day for you The men can T
10 nothing till the shed is down !"
"My house and stall, that good King George
ave ne nigh twenty years ago Tear down
~ cottage and shed No, no / There's no
Nv in the land can do that Who sent YOU
ere 10 destroy my property ~
well, well, my good woman" said the
ret speaker, ''you must settle that with the
ord Chancellor. If you are wronged. he'll
ee you righted. Earl Bathurst is no tyrant.
tut your house must come down; so move
our things out as fast as you can. There is
palace TO be built here somewhat grander
IAN your apple-stall -
The poor woman's tears and lamentations
iere in vain her asseyerations Of ownership
'ere treated with ridicnle. The little house
nd shed were legeled to the ground, and Aunt
eisey returned home heart-gick and despond-
~.
Misfortunes, it is said mover come sineIy.
hat evening George Allen entered bis moth
rs dwelling wearing countenaneo almost as
elected as her own. lie threw himself on a