Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-02-24
THE QUEENS
BIRTHDAY GIFT
1t Was a Carload of
Roses.
; By F. A. Mitchell $
000C0 G 9 0o0ooo00os

LAS Ueen cudnS1nS ever since 1t was
part of ancient Gaul Centuries ago
there was a kingdom composed large
ly of what is now Flanders. The CAPT.
tai was probably Client. though the
time of my story is SO remote that one
cannot be sure about this. The coun-
try was then governed by a queen
who had the same name as the present
ruler Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
One day a farmer living OH the out
skirts Of the capital said to his son,
| strapping young man just come Of
age:
"Hans. 1 wish you to take into town
carload Of flowers. learn that to-
morrow is the queens birthday, and
there win be a great demand for tho
flowers ON the part Of courtiers to be-
stow upon her ajesty. I hear she Is
both young and beautiful and that she
own subjects. Therefore many gal
lants will wish to bestow gifts upon
her. and there L. no gift that will so
touch q woman's heart as f0wers."
Hans obeyed his father. Going out
to the barn. he harnessed q mule to a
cart and then drove it into the garden
| 1t was the month Of June. and there
were many roses In bud and in bloom
Hans loved the roses better than any
other flower and put so many in the
cart that there was no room for any
| other flowers. However, he knew that
roses brought the best price. so he
! concluded to leave the load as it was.
Then going to his room he put on the
clothes he usually wore to the city, a
doublet Of dark blue and hose to
match. Then girding on his sword
every one wore a sword in those days
he mounted his cart and drove the
mule toward the capital.
Hans had no sooner reached the
outskirts of the city than he met a
young man in a very brilliant costume
and with feathers in his hat and other
marks of being a noble. Seeing the
roses in the cart, his eyes lighted with
! pleasure.
How much for your roses?" he ask
ed Hans.
"They are not for sale at present"
replied the cOuntryman. IF they are
wanted here they will bring a better
price when l approach the palace, for
this is the queens birthday, and there
will be many gallants wanting flowers
| for gifts to her majesty"
The man abused Hans for country
| pumpkin, but Hans drove on. paying
no attention to him. Hans was stop
ped many times by cOurtiers, some
times men, sometimes women, and re-
ceived many offers for his load, but he
drove on. always saying, IF you are
l be offered when | reach the market
place in the center Of the city,"
Finally he stopped his mule at the
palace gates and was about to drive
into the courtyard when he was stop
ped by a sentry.
II have gift for her majesty Queen
Wilhelmina,' said Hans. Let me
pass"
The chamberlain happened to be
looking out of a window at the time
and. seeing a CARLOAD of roses below
bethought himself that there was 6
fine opportunity to buy flowers with
which to decorate the throne room. ir
which his royal mistress would that
day receive her birthday congratula
tons. Running down and out, he said
to Hans:
How much for your roses, my
manY'
''They are not for SALE"
But you must sell them. l wish tc
buy them for the queen. l will give
you thousand forms for them"
II intend them for a birthday gift
to her majesty"
The chamberlain looked at Hans as
if he thought him daft.
Come. come he said coaXingly
Don't be a fool. The queen will not
accept gift from such as you. But
she must have your roses. So many
are not to be had elsewhere. Drive
them into the courtyard. and ] will
pay you"
II will drive them into the courtyard
but only as a gift for her majesty
replied Hans.
I'VE will see about that cried the
chamberlain angrily. and, taking the
mule by the bride, he led him through
the gateway into the court and stop
ped before door of the palace. Then
he went inside to summon servants tC
carry in the roses while he obtained
, the money to pay for them. He return
, ed. leading half a dozen lackeys with
baskets. and he held in his hands q
, bag containing thousand forins. He
found Hans standing before his cart
with folded arms.
Get out of my way" said the cham
, berlain.
IF you touch one of the flowers
said Hans. drawing his sword. 81 vii
make a hole in you"
'"Treasonr' cried the chamberlain
Guards"
A dozen soldiers came running to the