The Newtown bee., 1889-12-27
Bessie's Letter to the King.

It is such a charming little story that one almost envies the Philadelphia h. quirer the privilege of having been the first to learn and tell it.
 Six years ago, Frank $. Moore, of that town, was sailor on board the Rhine land steamship, plying between Phila- delpha and Antwerp. \ letter from home informed him that his favorite sis ter was dying and wanted to see him. He took it to his captain and asked leave of absence. The captain said "No." Then Moore, watching his chance, de- serted. He reached home in time.
 After his sisters death he changed his steamship of the same line. All went well until he and d shipmate of his fell in love simultaneously with pretty girl, an orphan, living ut Antwerp. Then his rival, who had known all along who he was, denounced him to their captain, who put him in irons and Ut the first oppor- tunity turned him over to the Antwerp authorities. He was taken into court, where he didn't understand word that was said, even when the bailiff made him stand up and the judge addressed q few words to him from the bench. After ward he was told that he had been sen- tenced to an Imprisonment of seven months in the city jail.
 The Antwerp girl learned in some way of his misfortune, got d permit to visit him, and by paying weekly out of her own pocket the equivalent of three dollars of our money succeeded in get ting him transferred to a less comfortless cell, supplied with more palatable food the open air. She also smuggled little notes to him in rolls of bread, and one day mustered up courage to obtain an audience with the king and intercede for his release. But his majesty told her he couldn't interfere.
 Meanwhile one of Moore's shipmates had looked up his people and told them what had happened. The very next day the following letter was written and mailed to Leopold II, king of the Bel gians:
 Your Majesty-I am a little girl l3 years old and hope you will pardon me tor writing to you when you hear all.
 My uncle, Frank s. Moore, is now in the Belgium prison for desertion from the Rhine- land over six years ago. He was sailing on the Rhineland and my aunt was very sick. Her only prayer was to see Uncle Frank be- fore she died. We sent word to him that she was dying. He showed the letter to the cap tain Of the Rhineland, but he refused to let him leave the steamer. The sailors advised Uucle Frank to run away and he did. Aunt Debbie lived about a week afterw ards. After she died, Uncle Frank found that his ves- | sel had sailed, so he sailed on the Waesland under the name of Frank s. Walker. That has i been over six years ago and hewsls just ar rested in Antwerp, as you can see by the newspaper slip that send in my letter. Your majesty, it you had been in his place would you not have done the same? Hoping l you will pardon Uncle Frank for deserting and me for writing to you, am. Yours re spectfnlly,-l Bessie Keim.
 l Bessie waited as patiently and hope fully as she could, and she didn't have to
 wait very long. One happy day, T letter came from her uncle himself announcing
 his release, and right on it's heels another l big letter with big stamp on it, such as
 Bessie had never seen before. This sec
 ono. letter was in French, so she had to get somebody to translate it for her, and
 this is what the translator made of it AT THE PALACE, BRUssELs* I CABINET OF THE KING. I MADAME. have the honor ofinforming you ! that the King has read your letter and taken acfion upon your request therein contained l by which you solicit that he remit your un JcIes iInprisonment.
 By His Majesty's command, ,an order to thai < effect has been transmitted to the Minister Q l Justice, ont of compliment to His Majesty'i 4 little friend. For tho King. BoMMERHEIM. Secretary.
 One little American girl, r says tn
 Inquirer, 'spray ys nightly for Leopold II
 King of the Belgians. Courant.