, 1877-12-07
A Child Queen.

Iwonder how many of the little girl
readers of 81. Nicholas are fond Of his
toryl If they answer candidly, do not
doubt that very large proportion will
declare that they prefer the charming
stories they find in 50. Nicholas to the
dull pages of history, with its countless
battles and murdered sovereigns. But
history is not every bit dull, by any
means, as you will find if your elder sis
tiers and friends will select portions for
you to read that are suitable to your age
and interests. Perhaps you are very i'm
aginative, and prefer fairy tales to all
Others. l am sure, then, that you will
like the story am about to tell you, of
little French princess, who was mar
ried and crowned Queen of England
when only eight years old, and who be-
came widow at twelve.
This child-sovereign was born many
hundred years ago-in 13S7-at the pal
ace of the Louvre in Paris, of whose
noble picture. gallery am sure you all
have heard-if, indeed, many Of you
have not seen it yourselves. She was the
daughter of the poor King Charles VI,
whose misfOrtunes made him insane, and
for whose amusement playing-cards were
invented, and of his queen, lsabeau of
Bavaria, beautiful but very wicked
woman. Little Princess Isabella was the
eldest of twelve children. She inherited
her mothers beauty, and was petted by
her parents and the entire court of
France.
King Richard II. of England, who was
widower about thirty years old, was
urged to marry again; aud, instead of
selecting wife near his own age, his
choice fell upon little Princess Isabella.
"She is much too young" he was told.
SEVEN in five or six years she will not be
old enough to be married" The king,
however, thought this objection too trif-
ing to stand in the way Of his marriage,
and saying, "The lady's age is fault
that every day will remedy" he sent a
magnificent embassy to the court of
France, headed by the Archbishop of
Dublin, and consisting of earls, mar
shals, knights, and squires of honor un-
counted, with attendants to the number
of five hundred.
When the embassy reached Paris, and
the offer of marriage had been formally
accepted, the archbishop and the earls
asked to see the little princess who was
soon to become their queen. At first the
French Council refused, saying so young
a child was not prepared to appear on
public occasions, and they could not tell
how she might behave. The English
noblemen were so solicitous, however,
that at last she was brought before them.
The earl marshal Immediately knelt be-
fore her, and said, in the old-fashioned
language Of the time "Madam, if il
please God, you shall be our lady and
queen"
Queen Isabeau stood at little dis
tance, curious and anxious, no doubt, to
know how her little daughter would an
swer this formal address. To her great
pleasure, and the great surprise OF all
present, Princess Isabella replied:
''Sir, if il please God aud my father
that | be Queen of England, shall be
well pleased, for am told shall then
be a great lady"
Then, giving ths marshal her tiny
hand to kiss, she bade him rise from his
knees, and leading him to her mother.
she presented him 10 her with the grace
and ease Of amature woman.
According to the fashion of the time,
Princess Isabella was Immediately mar.
ried by proxy, and received the title of
Queen Of England. Froissart, cele-
brated historian living at that epoch,
says at was very pretty 10 see her.
young as she was, practicing how to act
the queen"
In few days, King Richard arrived
from England with gay and numerous
retinue Of titled ladies 10 attend his lit
tie bride. After many grand festivities
they were married aud were taken in
state TO England, where the Baby Queen
was crowned in the famous Westminster
Ab0ey.-Ceeilid CiereldHd, in 50. NieIolds.