The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-16
A ROYAL Nursery Story.

The world is still eager for all it can
get about the poor German Emperor
Frederick, and the other day when
read how the common people of the
empire kept their dear dead rulers
birthday by planting " Frederick sap
ings," | was sure it would have been
much more to his taste than cannon
and parades and reviews. | was re-
minded of an intimate glimpse of the
royal home-life when he was crown
prince given me by the late Madame
Rudersdorff. | was dining quietly with
Madame Rudersdorff one evening, and
after dinner was admiring an exquisite
cup and saucer of the most delicate
Sevres that stood on a cabinet in her
fascinating little drawing-room. " They
are connected with one of the pleasant
est experiences of my professional life"
said madame, touching them caress-
ingly. "They were given me by the
crown princess of Prussia. / was
singing at Berlin, at a court concert,
and after it was over | was summoned
to the imperial presence. I found the
emperor gracious and kindly, the En-
press Augusta stiff and forbidding, re-
ceiving me merely because it was her
duty, and not at al from any personal
interest in me. She was like an ice
berg, and l was feeling perfectly frozen,
in spite of the suavity of the emperor,
when | was presented to the crown
princess. She was one of our own
English princesses, you know, and as |
was just from home, as she always
called England, she received me with
the greatest cordially and asked me to
breakfast with her next morning. 1t
was indeed delightful morning. We
breakfasted together, talking of En-
gland and art, aud afterwards | sang
song after song, while the princess
played. BY and by she asked me if
was tired, and if | would not like to
visit the royal nursery and see the little
children. | replied that | would, so we
went together. There were three occu-
pants of this nursery-a sturdy boy, a
toddling girl and a baby in long
clothes. Down | sat on the floor, and
delightful romp we had. The baby
was in my arms laughing and growing,
the little girl was playing with a charm
on my watch-chain and the boy had
both arms around my neck, when the
door opened and the Crown Prince
Frederick entered. Full of mischief,
and enjoying the position in which l
was placed, the princess at once intro
duced me to her royal husband.
was in predicament. l could not rise
to acknowledge the introduction with
out bringing disaster on the royal fam
lily, so was compelled to keep still.
gazed up at the pleasant, smiling face
that was looking down upon me, quite
as amused as was that of the princess,
and said: Your royal highness sees
my predicament. l must either disre-
gard court etiquette, or drop the court
baby 'Ah, madame, but the court
baby mustn't be dropped, whatever
else may happen and the prince
stopped and patted the baby fondly on
the cheek, as any father would do. The
nurse came then and took the children,
and | was relieved from my awkward
position, and ready to meet the crown
prince properly, whom | found very
nice and quite worthy his lovely En-
glish wife. When l came away the
cup and SANGER from which had drank
was given me as souvenir, and there
it stands in the place of honor on my
cabinet. "-SdIIy Jog White