The Virginia enterprise., 1898-11-11
Queen Counts the Was h.


more than other children-always had Il
good many lessons to learn, good many
tasks to perform, good many duties 10
go through, says A. G. Kniper in telling
the readers of st. Nicholas about the
youthful ruler of Holland. But she has
had her holidays as we'll as other chill
dren, and certainly enjoyed 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 pleasures was to pre-
pare 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 60 out. Her retreating foot
steps were eagerly listened for; then the
girl Queen of Is 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
decorations 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 higher
branch of the tree, when there was a
knock at the door. With indignant eyes
the Queen looked up, or rather looked
down, from the tree to the door, Who
her most positive commands? She knit
ted her brows, and went on with her
work, feigning not to have heard the
knock. Surely they would not dare to re-
peat it? Hark! there it was again. 1t
was too bad! She quickly walked up to
the door, opened it a very little bit, and
asked impatiently, "Why did you knock
Who is it?'
The answer was given without the
least hesitation. 1T is me, the washer
woman"
The washerwoman! Queen Wihelmina
was perplexed. She did not wish any one
to see the tree, and could not send for
the court lady, or any of her attendants.
So opening the door, she said kindly:
"Well, 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 pres
ence of this young girl, almost child.
who was very simply dressed in some
dark wooden winter material.
Good afternoon, Missy she said
'Where shall I put the things?''
Put them? Has the basket to be un,
packed?''
"Why, of course it has, missy. That
is always done.'
"Oh, indeed! Then put the things some.
where, and make little haste. please
The woman nodded and obeyed. When
the basket was empty. she handed the
Queen 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 counted the things
to see that all was correct Then she said
kindly:
1T is all right You can 80 now"
But the washerwoman was not salts
fed.
"Go?" she repeated Indignantly. "No
indeed, 1 shan't go. III be paid first
The lady always pays me directly
"Does she, really?" asked the Queen.
Indeed she does. You can ask her, il
you like
The Queen saw that she would have tc
act her part of missy" to the end. She
found the situation amusing, and casting
down her laughing eyes. she took out hel
purse, and counted the money into the
!aundress' hand.
"That's all right. and thank you kind.
w. the woman said, taking up her bas.
ket, 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. mis-,
sy."
A gay, musical laugh rang through thu
room when "missy" was alone again
Her majesty, the Queen of Holland. was
indeed. not accustomed to be addressed
by that unpretending title. How her sym.
pathetic mother must have smiled Will
pleasure when the tree was ready. an,>
the Queen of Is years ran away to tel,
her what had happened! :.