The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-03
ooooooooo0oooooooS
TIE QUEENS +;
BIRTHDAY GIFT /;
1t Was q Carload of :
Roses. :
BY F. A. Mitchell !
q BY F. A. Mitchell
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

has been changing ever since It was
a part Of ancient GauL Centuries ago
there was kingdom composed large
~ Of what Is now Flanders. The capt.
tai was probably Client. though the
time OF my story is so remote that ORC
cannot be sure about this. The coun-
try was then governed by a queen
who had the same name as the present
ruler OF Observation-Disclosures
One day farmer living on the out
skirts OF the capital said to his son.
strapping young man just come OF
age:
Hans. wish you to take into town
a CARLOAD OF flowers. learn that to-
morrow Is the queens birthday, and
there will be great demand for the
flowers on the part OF coureiers to be-
stow upon her majesty. I hear she is
both young and beautiful and that she
will take a husband from one of her
own subjects. Therefore many gal
lants will wish to bestow gifts upon
her, and there is no gift that will SO
touch woman's heart as flowers"
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,
doublet of dark blue and hose to
match. Then glrding 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 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.
"Dhey are not for sale at present"
replied the countryman. "1f they are
wanted here they will bring a better
price when / 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
willing to give so much here what will
1 be offered when l 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 sentry.
81 have gift for her majesty Queen
Wilhelmina," said Hans. Let me
pass"
The chamberlain happened to be
looking out Of window at the time
and, seeing CARLOAD of roses below.
bethought himself that there was a
fine opportunity to buy flowers with
which to decorate the throne room, in
which his royal mistress would that
day receive her birthday congratula-,
lions. Running down and out, he said
to Hans:
How much for your roses, my
man?"
They are not for sale"
But you must sell them. I wish to
buy them for the queen. 1 will give
you n thousand forms for them"
It 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 fool. The queen will not
accept a 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 I will
pay YOU"
II will drive them into the courtyard,
but only as n gift for her majesty"
replied Hans.
I'VE will see about that" cried the
chamberlain angrily, and, taking the
mule by the Birdie, he led him through
the gateway into the court and stop
ped before door OF the palace. Then
he went inside to summon servants to
carry in the roses while he obtained
the money to pay for them. He return
ed. leading half dozen lackeys with
baskets. and he held in his hands
bag containing thousand forms. He
found Hans standing before his cart
with folded arms.
Get out Of my way" said the cham
berlnin. a
"If you touch one OF the fowers,"
said Hans. drawing his sword. ST will
make hole in you"
''TreasenT cried the chamberlain.
"GuardsI"
A dozen soldiers came running to the
scene. Tho queen. bearing the words
Treason" and "Guards!" ana fearing
plot or a revolution. put her head out