St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-07-08
THE GOOD KAIsERIN.
How the German Empress Honered
and Eenented the Neither Of
Trlplets In Berlin.

In the month of January last the
stork, as the Germans say, paid visit
to the wife of Herr Stumkowska, car
penter in the Wienerstrasse. This bird,
which in the fatherland is credited with
being responsible for the increase in
families, was. says the Berlin Lokal-
.Anzeiger, no unfamiliar visitor in the
family of the carpenter, as in the II
years of his married life his wife had
brought into the world no less than
seven children, all girls, four of whom
are still alive.
This one-sided-distributi was prob
ably displeasing to Master Longiegs,
for he seems to have made IN effort to
reestablish the balance at one fell
swoop. In the first month Of the year
the family of Herr Stumkowska was In
creased by three boys. The first of these
future defenders of the fatherland aP-
peared on the 10Th of the month, and
his brothers followed on the 3Oth.
The fathers satisfaction at this dis
pensatiOn of Providence can only be
described as mediocre. In spite Of his
SutiSldCtlOn Nudl nC h0NA @t AuSe &AAAANAA -
of the male sex. he could not but re-
member that the family budget was of
the most modest proportions, and it be-
gan to weaken in such fashion that q
serious deficit became question of the
immediate future.
At this critical moment mysterious
Providence seemed to have taken the
solution in hand. Packets full Of baby
clothes and other useful articles began
to arrive. The sender, Count Keller,
was unknown to the happy recipients
A sister of charity who attended Frau
Stumkowska suggested an explanation
of the mystery. Count Keller, she de-
clared, was the chamberlain of the em-
press. The happy father thereupon put
on paper, in sincere il not too formal
a style, his gratitude for the Kindness
shown to the family.
One morning thereafter there was
excitement in the Weinerstrasse. A
royal equipage had stopped atthe cor
ner of the street. In it were two ladies
and gentleman, who got out and be-
took themselves to No. 10. Before they
entered the house one of the ladies
bought some cakes and ordered some
loaves to be sent to the fifth floor. Then
they mounted to the fifth floor. Good
day, liebe frau" said one of the ladies';
1--WE should like to see the triplets." The
proud mother pointed to the three ba-
bies lying side by side in the family bed,
and who regarded the visitors with six
big, blue eyes. "Your house is clean
and neat" continued the visitor. do
you look after everything yourself?'
Frau Stumkowska replied that she
looked after the house herself, but that
it meant a good deal of work. THAT /
can believe" was the answer. i've got
children of my own. though have not
got SO far as triplets."
The lady then asked if the husband
had work. and how Frau Stumkowska
got on with her three boys. The first
question was answered in the affirma-
tive. As to the second, she said If she
had a perambulator she would regard
the future with more equanimity. The
triplets had SO far had no
proper resting place. The lady who had
the conversation then rose
to go. and said: II hope with all my
heart that yonr children may be blessed
with health and strength, and that they
may become honest and upright citi-
zens- She Mt the same time handed the
mother a sum of money.
As the lady left the room the other
lady accompanying her asked the hap
py mother: DO you know who the lady
is?' "Mein Gott, / really believe it is
The empress!"
The empress nodded and smiled, and,
by Count and Countess
Keller, returned to where her carriage |
was waiting and drove to the palace
chicago Times-Herald. -