The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1899-01-06
ouEEN COUNTED lie WISE.
An Experience Of Queen Wiibelmina
of Holland with Washerworna-.

An Experience of Queen Wifbe1mina
of Holland with Washerwories.
Annie G. Kniper has an article in the
St Nicholas on ''Wihelmina, Queen Of
Holland" The author says:
The young Queen Unnecessarily
more than other children-always had I
good many lessons to learn, a good
many tasks to perform, a good many \
duties to go through; but she has had /
her holidays as well as other children, I
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 prepare a Christmas tree for an
elderly court lady. Of whom she was
very fond.
The winter Of 1895 made no excep-
ton to the rule. Queen Wiihelmina's
old friend was, under some pretext or
other. induced to go ont. Her retreat
ing footsteps were eagerly listened for;
then the girl queen of 10 years gave
strict orders that no one should inter
rupt 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 fas-
ten bright bit of orange ribbon on
higher branch Of the tree, when there
was a knock at the door. With indig-
nant eyes the Queen looked up, or rath-
er looked down, from the tree to the
door. Who was 1t that dared trouble
her, contrary to her most positive com
mands? She knitted her brows, and
went on with her work, feigning not to
have heard the knock. Surely they
would not dare to repeat it? Harkl
there 1t was again. 1t was too badl
She quickly walked up to the door,
opened it a very little bit, and asked
impadendy, ''Why did you knock
Who IS til"
The answer was given without the
least hesitation 1T IS me, the washer
woman"
The washerwOmanl Queen Wilhel-
nina 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:
"Wen, come in and put down the
basket. 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 thingsT'
{ Put them? Has the basket to be
1 uDpacked?"
b 'Why, of course It has, missy. That
e IS always done"
r "Oh, indeedl Then put the things
$ somewhere, and make little haste
? please"
The woman nodded and obeyed
When the basket was empty, she hand
ed the Queen a bit of paper, and said:
e you will see that the things on this
s list are all there, won't you, Missy"
p missy" began to enjoy the joke. Sh'
consulted the list. and counted the
things to see that all was correct. Thei
she said kindly:
1T is all right You can go now"
But the washerwoman was not salts
fed.
"Go?" she repeated Indignantly. "No
indeed l shan't 90. I'll he paid first
The lady always pays me directly
Does she, really?" asked the Queen
Indeed she does. You can ask her
= If you like"
s. The Queen saw that she would hav
e to act her part of missy to the end
Is She found the situation amusing. am
u casting down her laughing eyes, sh
s. took out her purse. and counted tn
u money into the laundress' hand.
That's all right, and thank you kind
~" the woman said, taking up her has
ket, and going to the door. Then, wit
- r glance at the half-decorated Chris
10 mas Tee, she added good naturedly
's "And'I wish you much pleasure. Coco
Ia by missy"
. A gay, musical laugh rang throug
y the room when missy" was alou
4, again Her Majesty, the Queen of Ho
= land, was, indeed. not accustomed to L
49, addressed by that unpretendng it'll
- How her sympathetic mother mus
have smiled with pleasure when I'll
tree was ready, and the Queen of !
~ years ran away to tell her what ha
n. happened!
40 Sailors Explode Sharks.
The men in the feet blockading II
T 49,