The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-03

beriaIn, ..refu5es TO seil his roses, which
wish 70 decorate the throne room for
your maJesty's reception today"
Perhaps you have not offered him
enough for them" said the queen.
Il have offered him a thousand
forms"
THAT surely should be sumcient.
why win you not sell me your roses,
! my good man."
Because have brought them for
q birthday gift for your majesty"
"a birthday giftT' exclaimed the
queen. surprised.
81 have told him." put in the cham
berlain, that your majesty would not
accept a gift from such as he"
The queen looked down on the scene
below for few moments without
speaking. The fellow" she said to
herself, has some boon which he
wishes in return for his gift" Aloud
she said:
"I will accept your roses. Is there
anything 1 can do for you TO show my
appreciation for your o1eringT'
None. your majesty"
but since she had given her royal &C
ceptance Of the gift she could not take
1t back. So she thanked Hans, and
the lackeys carried in the roses, and
Hans drove away, the courtiers and
others who had collected laughing in
their sleeves at him.
Hans drove back to the farm, where
his father. seeing the cart empty. ask
ed him how much he had received for
the roses. -
Nothing" Hans replied. "I present
ed them to the queen for a birthday
gift"
Hans told his father what had oc-
CURED. The old man was much pleased
until his son told him that when the
| queen asked him what she could do for
him he had said nothing" Then the
| father abused him for a fool. But
Hans replied that II showing ones 10y
atty to ones sovereign were being a
fool then he was glad to be one.
Queen Wilhelmina waited a month
before taking any further action in the
matter of her gift OF roses, then mnde
inquiries as to whether Hans had sent
in any request for favor OF any kind.
When she was told that he had not she
thought a great deal about Hans and
what she should do In the matter. She
considered 1t beneath the dignity of
queen to accept a gift from a SUBJ
ject, certainly not one of lowly origin.
She sent for him, and when he appear
ed she said to him:
II have need for your services.
am going to try you In the diplomatic
Hnrvipa Thnro la a haundav-xy
between me and King Carl. whose do
minions adjoin mine On the east. My
prime minister will instruct you as to
the matter. after which 1 wish you to
proceed to King Carl and make as
good settlement as you can"
But, your majesty" Hans stammer-
ed, II am but a countryman, unskill-
ed in
Something tells me-" the queen in
terrupted, that what others have
. learned by study and experience you
know intuitively. This is not a re-
quest but command. Go and on
your return report to me what You
have done. Ny chamberlain will pro-
vide you with the necessary funds"
Hans after acquainting himself with
the case he was to handle, dressed In
proper apparel, went at the head Of an
embassy to King Carl. and, being clos
! eted with him. the king steeled him.
self against the ambassador as he had
against others. But Hans began at
once to gain his confidence. He learn
ed from the king on what he had set
his heart and relinquished all claim to
it. This enabled him to get what the
queen. wanted. The result was that
he made very satisfactory agree
ment. When he returned and reported!
what he had done the queen was very
much pleased. She created him a
noble and placed him at the head of all
her diplomats.
Hans, after acquainting himself with
sent his father n thousand forms, the
amount he had been offered for the
roses, and the old man, who had heard
or his sons preferment, about which
every one was talking, wondered how
such fool had been able to achieve
such honors so far beyind his station.
Hans grew continually in influence.
Those were warlike times. and ambns-
sailors had tried to gain their ends by
/ threatening war, and IL they did not
try threats they resorted to chicanery.
Hans plan was always the one he had
tried with King Carl. He sought to
discover what was for the best inter
ests of both parties and when he had
done so to convince the sovereign with
whom he dealt Of the fact In this way
he achieved reputation for statecraft
which was really nothing but common
| sense and iiberality which In the end
resulted in his sovereign's profit.
One day Queen Wilhelmina asked
Hans what she could do for him be-
yond what she had done to repay him
for the valuable services he had rem
! dered her in preventing war.
Permit me-" replied Hans "on vnnr