The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-11
A QUEEN COUNTED THE WASH.
An Experience of Queen WiIheImIna
of Holland With n WasherwOman.


Annie C. Kniper in St. Nicholas
The young Queen has-necessarily more
than other children-always had a good
many lessons to learn, good many tasks
to perform a good many duties to go
through; but she has had her holidays as
well as other children. and certainly enjoy
er them quite as much. She Of course,
particularly liked the Christmas holidays.
and the pleasant surprises they brought
with them, and one of her special pleas
uTes was to prepare Christmas tree for
an elderly court lady, of whom she was
very fond.
The winter of 1895 made no exception to
the rule. Queen Wilhelmina's old friend
was, under some pretext or other, induced
to go out. Her retreatng footsteps were
eagerly listened for; then the girl Queen
of fifteen years gave strict orders that
no one-no one--should interrupt her or
enter the room while she was busy with
the tree. The lackeys bowed low, and
promised obedience; the tree and the deco
rations and the presents were carried into
the old lady's room; then the Queen, left
alone, began to work
She had been busy for some time, now
and then standing on tiptoe to fasten a
bright bit of orange ribbon on a higher
branch of the tree, when there was a
knock al hte door. With indignant eyes
the Queen looked up, or rather looked
down, from the tree to the door Who
was ii that dared trouble her, contrary
to her most positive commands? She
knitted her brows, and went on with her
work, feigning not TO have heard the
knock. Surely they would not dare to
repeat ID? Harkl there IL was again. 1t
was too bad! She quietly walked up to
the door, opened it a very little bit, and
asked impatently, why did you knock?
Who is it?"
The answer was given without the least
hesitation. 1T is me, the washerwoman."
The washerwomanl Queen Wilhelmina-
was perplexed. She did not wish any one
to see the tree, and could not send for the
court lady, OF any of her attendants. SO
opening the door, she said kindly:
We'll come in and put down the bas-
ket, but don't look around"
The woman did as she was told She had
never seen the Queen of Holland, and she
felt perfectly at ease in the presence Of
this young girl, almost a child, who was
very simply dressed in some dark wooden
winter material
Good afternoon. missy" she said.
Where shall / put the things?"
Put them? Has the basket to be I'M
packed?'
why of course it has, missy That is
always done"
"Oh, indeed Then put the things some
where and make a little haste please"
The woman nodded and obeyed When
the basket was empty, she handed the
Queen a bit of paper. and said;
you will see that the things on this list
are all there, won't you, missy?"
missy" began to enjoy The joke She
consulted the list. and couQted the things
to see that all was correct. \Then she said
kindly:
1T is all right You can go now"
But the washerwOman was not salts
fed
cor" she repeated Indignantly. mo. in
deed, I shan't go. IN be paid first. The
lady always pays me directly"
docs She really?' asked the Queen.
Indeed she does. You can ask her, II
you like"
The Queen saw that she would have to
act her part Of missy" to the end She
found the situa ion amusing, and casting
down her laughing eyes, she took out her
purse. and counted the money into the
laundress' hand.
That's al right and thank you kindly"
the woman said, taking up her basket,and
going to the door Then, with a glance
at the half-decorated Christmas tree, she
added good-naturedly: And / wish YOU
much pleasure. GOod-by, missy"
A gay musical laugh rang through the
room when missy was alone again Her
Majesty the Queen Of Holland was in
deed. not accustomed to be addressed by
that unDretendiug title. How her symna-
thetic mother must have smiled with pleas
ure when the tree was ready. and the
Queen Of fifteen years ran away TO tell
her what had happened