The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-10-23
The Tiny Crown Prince OF
Germany.

You have heard how, all in few
months, Germany had, one after
another, three emperOrs. First, the
dear old Emperor William, whom
everybody loved, died; and then his
son Frederick, who was already very
ill, took his place, but was emperor for
short time only, when he died, leav-
ing the throne in turn to his oldest son,
William, who is the present emperor.
1t was very interesting sight to see
together the great grandfather, EN-
peror William, his son, his grandson,
and his tiny great-grandson, all born to
be emperors. Now there are left only
the present emperor and his little boy,
who is the Crown Prince William, and
the future emperor of Germany. Can
you imagine what it must be like to
know that some day you will be king,
and to have everybody making you re-
member it all the time from the mo-
ment you know enough to talk? 1t is
a very serious thing, and though it
may amuse little fellow very much, |
fancy he sometimes wishes, as he
grows older. that he had not been born
with such heavy burden to carry
through life. For he must learn every
thing it is possible for a man to know
He can not govern other people unless
he knows how to govern himself, and
therefore he must be very strictly dis
ciplined.
The little Crown Prince William of
Germany is now only seven years old,
and he finds it very fine thing to live
in great palace and get beautiful pres
ents from his great grandmother, Queen
Victoria of England. He eats and
sleeps and plays and learns to read just
like any other little boy, and when he
is naughty he gets punished; sometimes
he even gets little whipping, or he is
put to bed with only bread 10 eat.
He is very loving, affectionate child,
but he is full of mischief, and he often
gives his nurse and his governess a
great deal of trouble. Older people
pay him much attention. When he
drives out, all the people in the streets
take off their hats to him; all the other
little children make low bows, which
he very gravely returns, as he has been
taught. Would it not seem very queer
to you to have even great men and old
ladies' always making way for you, a
little child, to pass, and paying you such
attentions? The little crown princes
papa dll lltillllld nav Z " u am MN Wei
carefully, lest he forget that after all be
is only little child, and that he will
owe everything he has to these people
over whom he must rule some day, and
whose good he must think of before he
thinks of himself.
But the mischief-lovi crown prince
sometimes does very funny things, and
he takes advantage, little as he is, of
l., ;u TO f,,,, &C q.
Around the palace in Berlin are sta
toned the kings guard-soldiers who
stand before the doors night and day,
that no harm may come to the royal
household. When any member of the
emperor's family passes in or out, or
before the court where they are sta
toned, each soldier must salute him
and present arms. The little crown
prince has always liked very much to
see these soldiers handle their guns and
stand up so straight and stiff when his
papa took him by them. They looked
very funny to him. lie noticed, when
he was almost a baby, that every time
he himself passed the guard every man
sauted him.
His great-grandpapa, Emperor Will
lam, once stood by the window of the
palace on an upper floor, looking down
into the court. There he suddenly saw
something very queer. The soldiers
on guard were going through what
seemed like drill. Every half-minute
they would present arms. The old en-
per0r watched them for some time,
growing more mystifed every moment,
aud at last he descended, to see
if the soldiers had lost their wits.
What do you think he saw? He found
behind pillar of the doorway the then
tive-year-old crown prince, who had run
away and was having great fun all by
himself, though it was not all fun for
the soldiers, who, however, dared not
complain, nor fail to show the little
future king the greatest Difference.
The naughty child would hide be.
hind the great stone pillar half a minute
then suddenly jump out in front of il
and look at the soldiers, who promptly
presented arms. He would again wait
out of sight till they had resumed theiI
position, when he would as suddenly
appear again. For half an hour he haC
kept up this little game, till the soldiers
were getting tired; but he seemed tc
be enjoying il as much as ever when
he found himself caught by the old EN-
peror himself You know how very
good and forgiving grandpapas are
The good old emperor knew that his
little great-grandson was very naughty
but he could not help laughing when hi
saw the funny sight, and the two wen
hand in hand up the staircase, botl
laughing with much glee at the es