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- THE GIRLS’
COMPANION.
JUNE 12, 1001).
looking at Ilelen. And now she drew forth
:1 little purse. "Ilcre‘s fifteen dollars for
the roses. Mr. Saunders telephoned me
that they were worth ten dollars, but they
are worth fiiteenflollars to me. No pr
test! It‘s all right. It‘s Rose Sunday.
They are worth fifteen dollars." -
Ilut Ilelcn took from the bills given her
a five-dollar bill and laid it back among
the roses.
“I'll take just what'liIr. Saunders says
is right. And I am glad, just as glad as
I can be." Her face was alight, and she
added in a sweet. girlish way, “ me-
times you drive by. you and your father,
and my father has pointed you out to me.
If you come again, stop and see the roses.”
One day in late September, Alice Cum-
berland and Helen stood together in grand-
mother's garden; the wealth of roses was
gone. only an occasional late flower nodded
in the afternoon sunlight, and the green
foliage was taking on the dinginess of the
coming season. '
“It has been a glorious summer to
father and me here on the farm!" said
Alice Cumberland.
“It has been a wonderful summer to
us!” said-Ilclen, drawing a long breath.
"You don't know how wonderful! You
see father was discouraged, and the bills
0
i
came in and he felt as though, mother
being gone, there was no one to keep his
courage up. And that first ten dollars
brightened him so, and then your coming
here and boarding with us has been such
a help." ‘
“ And so we help one another as we jog
along," said Alice Cumberland, laughing-
y.
“That: makes me think of what Mehala
said when I lirst thought of finding a pur-
chaser for the roses,“ answered Helen.
“‘Folks in this world," she said, ‘don’t
poke around enough to find the things that
go together.’ But we seem to belong to-
gether, don’t we?” ‘
Alice bent quickly and kissed the happy
face of the girl beside her. “Yes, you
found the folks that go together. and we're
never going to let go of you. Father says
so. Every summer you must look for us
here. dear."
And Mahala, hearing the words, nodded
over the potatoes she was paring,‘ and
said, emphatically:
“ It all comes from loving and doing the
thing next to you, and getting the right
sort of people alongside of you. And it's
the child that did it. less her.’ But
the good Lord helps when we are willing to
let him."
By DIARY 7 DANIELS
a norm or Lovzu xxuomr.
(On every anniversary they bring fresh flowers.)
in a great art gallery in the city of
Cologne hangs the famous painting ofwhich
I photograph is given here. We love it ‘for
its beauty. you and I. But I wish you could,
see how a German maiucn‘s eyes will light
with enthusiasm at sight of the lovely fare
thus portrayed, and could hear her tell in
simple. girlish fashion of the still more lovely
character, which is still. after a hundred
years, held in fragrant remembrance by all
Prussians. >
A more winsome baby girl never came to
earth than tha Princess Louise of .iieeklen-
burg-Strelitz. who was uorn in Hanover on
March 10. 1776. Even in early childhood
she was distinguished by ‘
sweetness and beauty, and by a singularly
sunny graclou.-vnesa > ' - -
Sweden. The king appealed to Napoleon for
recognition of his state's right of neutrality;
but Napoleon refused to listen and replied
only with fresh hostilities.
lnrtbese troubles, though she had now
several little children, Queen Louise stood by
her husband with womanly and royal sym-
puthy, devoting her whole noble nature to the
best Interests of her family and people. But
after the disastrous battle of Jean, in October
of 1806, when Berlin, the beloved capital,
was occupied by the enemy and all Prussia
thrown into panic. the queen was obliged to
her with her household to the rollsh frontier.
Several stories are told of her beautiful
tact and patience at this time. Once, during
their flight. the carriage in which she and
her children were riding broke down on in
extraordinary country road. several miles from the nearest
town. -in their hasty departure no onckhad
thought of food,
and now, as the
0 ut
when the little prin-
cess was but six
years old her mother
dird. and,the child
was taken from her
father’: home, which
her presence bad so
briithtcned, a n d '
placed in the cure
of her grandmother,
the Landgravlne of
ilesse - I)al'mstadi.
llere she was
brought up to young
'omanhood. and,
under the wise
grandmothers direc-
tion. received an ex-
cellent education. de-
veloping at the same
time those exquisite
womanly qualities
which, more even
than her beauty.
won her the love of
knew her.
and gained for her
in her girlhood the
affectionate title of
“a princess among
prlneessns.‘
In 1793, when
the Priilcess Louise
was still but seven-
teen years old, she
was married to the
Crown I'rince of
Prussia. who four
years later ascended
the Prussian throne as Frederick William
Ill The young prince had also been
carefully educated by a good mother. and’
when he became king it was with a love
of good order and discipline. a spirit of ear-
nesiness and economy, which contributed
much to the prosperity of the nation. With
his love for his people and his highest aspira-
tions for them. the girl-queen was in full
QUEEN Louisa or Pit ssu. ‘
hapless party sat
helpless by the road-
9.
children
cry with
At sight of her little
ones‘ distress-1. the
queen herself could
not keep back the
tears. Butprescntly,
observ-ln;: some blue
corn-flowers waving
against the grain in
a wheat-tield close
by. she sent her sec-
nn son, “'llliam,
then ten years old,
to gather some.
“'ith these, twining
wreaths for the lit-
until they could pro-
ceed on their Jour-
ney. The little lad,
who afterward be-
came the tzreat Ger-
man Emperor Wil-
liam 1., never for-
incident.
The blue Cornflower
always remained his
favorite.
especially cultivated
in his royal con
servatory at Pots-
dam, and it is said
t vase of corn-
tinwers always stood upon his study-table, in.
at
u
[spirlng him, as he claimed. by their beauty
and the gentle memories they recalled.
some oLyou know about the famous Treaty
of Tilsir. in 12:07. when Napoleon and Alex-
lander of itussla met on a raft in the Illver
Meme]. or Nlemen, to settle the fate or
Europe. At this time Queen Louise went In
person to visit Napoleon at Tiisit, hoping to
sympathy. Together they undertook the great secure from him by her pleadings some favor-
task of purifying the court and cleansing the
administration of the abuses which had cor-
ruptrrl. giving their youthful energies un-
stintedly to this work. .
But the reign of the young pair fell in evil
times. Troubles beset them from without,
able conditions for Prussia. But though Na-
poleon paid a certain idle gallantry to her
personal beauty. he showed no generosity to-
ward her or her stricken country. Dlsheart-
enrrl and humiliated, she rejoined hcr hus-
band at Meme]. where she was very ill. and
and the kingdom became involved in dlii‘i- l where, it is said, the was so poorly sheltered
culties with France. i-ln:land. Austria and that the snow sifted through the miserable
roof upon her bed. Prussia was deprived-of
half her domains, and it was not until 180!)
that the enemy left Berlin and the king and
queen were able to return to their own capi-
tai.
in the beautiful Thiergarten of Berlin
stands a richly-sculptured vase, with the in-
scrlption, " To the iteturning Queen," placed
there by the people to welcome back their
idolized royal lady. That they loved her was
no wonder. When, by the Treaty of Tllsit,
Frederick William was required not only to
give up half his kingdom, but to pay in addi-
tion a war indemnity of over a hundred mil-
lion dollars. ‘the king and queen sacrificed
their own money and jewels. and made their
living of the simplest, in order that the
burden of debt might: not fall wholly on the
nation. Of her personal ornaments Louise
retained only a single pearl necklace. “
permit myself to keep these," she said. “to
in Germany pearls mean tears, and they can
well serve me as ornaments." ,
Q ecu Louise died the year after her re-
turn to Ilerlin. while on a Visit to her father
at Strelitz. ller whole life was less than
thirty-five years. It was passed in exception-
ally troubious limes. c ;..nd yet, notwithstand-
ing the disasters that marked the period, it
was one of the most successful. along some
important: lines, of the reign. Serfdom was
abolished, liberty of the press and of re-
ligious belief restored, public instruction or-
ganized, order and econom in the govern-
ment were instituted, and the University of
Berlin was founded.
But with all her practical interest in these
national matters, Queen Louise had time to
impress her character and influence upon her
children. Of her four sons, the eldest suc-
ceeded hls father as Frederick William IV.
of Prussia. and the second, as already men-
tloned, became the Emperor William 1. One
of her daughters became the wife of the
Czar Nicholas of Russia. Of the reverent
affection of the emperor for his mother,
many proofs are given. it is said that he
used often to stand gazing long and silently
upon her beautiful sculptured form on the
little green island called by her name in the
ihiergarten. When entering upon his glori-
ous war with France. he visited her tomb.
and here he came again on his return, to lay
his vlctor‘s laurels at her feet.
One of the most beautiful and fitting of
royal resting-places is this mausoleum ‘at
Charlottenburg. a suburb of,Berlin at the
end of the Thiergarten. it is built in the
simple and tasteful Doric style. with walls
and floor of fine polished marble. In its cen-
ter, upon exquisitely sculptured couches, lie
the beautiful recumbent figures of the king
and queen, in a sweet semblance of quiet
sleep. Upon them, from the lovely colored
windows overhead, fails a delicately-tinted
radiance of softened sunlight. At the sides
are beautifulicandelabra of earvcn marble,
and on the wa is a fresco representing
Christ blessing the kneeling pair.
To the imperial family this tomb has be-
come a kind of shrine, hallowed by holy
and beautiful associations. Fiver year, on
the anniversary of Queen liouisds death, the
16th of July, they bring fresh tiowers to place
upon her grave, And to the whole Prussian
people her memory is scarcely less dear.
I.
r
The Testimony of Gretchen
'3'
2?! Harriet Lummin Smith.
(llclpful to Next Sunday's Lesson.)
5‘ TS nothing to laugh about, Ralph
Tenney! To ave 21 girl in the
housc who can't understand 11 word
you say, and can’: say a word you will
understand, isn’t st laughing matter."
“ Oh, it isn't as bad as all that! I know
considerable German myself. ‘ Donner und
bliizen’ and ‘wie gehts,’ and ‘ynh’ and
‘nein.’ Iiow would it do to fire them nil
at Gretchen, one after another, the first
thin,'.'. to make her feel at home?"
“ on’t be ridiculous, Ralph!" Bess
scolded. but she laughed in spite of her.
self, which was exactly what Ralph
w ntcd. Item had a way of taking things
seriously, of which her brother disap-
proved. And though the advent of'this
little foreigner into the household had its
inconvenient side, it was not, us far as
Ralph could see, an occasion for solem-
nity.
He thought so still less when Gretchen
came downstnirs, tanned and rosy from the cl
sea voyage. and smiling in’spite of her
shyncss. She was fair-skinned and fair-
haired, with round, blue eyes, and her
knowledge of English was about equal to
the German of which Ralph boasted. Un-
doubtedly her position was a hard one,
dropped down in the midst of this Eng-
lish-speaking family, who. with the kindest
intentions in the world, could not include
her in the table talk. > .
“It's a good deal likerlearning to swim
by being taken out beyond your depth, and
dropped overboard," was Ralph's verdict,
after the first meal.
There was no doubt that Gretchen's
natural shyness was an obstacle in the way
of her learning the language. “'hen site at-
tempted to say an English word she invar-
iably blushed scarlet. . But she listened atten-
tively to all the talk that went on about her,
and probably understood considerably more
than they gave her credit for. At least
that was Ralph's opinion, confirmed by
something which happened about two weeks
after her arrival. A drive to the Springs
was under discussion, and Bess had spoken
of inviting a friend -who was visiting in
town. Iier mother shook her head.
“There won't be room,‘denr. Father
and Italph on the front seat, you and
Gretchen on the second, and the children
and I on the back seat, will be 8. full load.
Louise wouldn't be comfortable if you tried
to crowd her in.” .
“ Ilow tiresome !" said Bess crossly. and
they all knew that she was wishing that
Gretchen would stay at home. And oddly
enough, that was just what Gretchen did.
‘Vhen they explained the plan to her, as
best they could, she shook her head, and
went through the pantomime of sewing,
looking up with a laugh when she had suc-
cccded in making her intention clear.
Bess was greatly relieved, and rushed
around at once to invite Louise.
The drive was a delightful one, and the
party returned in the best of spirits. “ So
lucky‘ Gretchen didn't care to go,” Bess
said to her brother, on the way home; but
Ralph answered only by a shrug of his
shoulders. Ilis suspicions were aroused.
In the month that followed, every mem-
ber of the Tenney family was impressed by
the fact that the new member of the house-
hold was singularly unobtrusive, never by
any chance interfering with the comfort
of the.other.people. Gretchen seemed to
have a preference for the least comfortable
chairs. and the corner of the room where
t : ht-was poorest. She never went to
thewvriting-desk to write her letters when
there was any possibility that someone else
might wish to use it. Though shesmust
have felt many a homesick pang, she never
let her forlornneyss appearlin her face to
trouble her entertainers: In time they all
came to feel t‘liul: there was something rest-
ful and agreeable in having Gretchen
around, even though her conversational
ability was limited by her very meager
knowledge of English. ' '
Gretchen had been in the family nearly
three months when Bess celebrated her
tcentli birthday, by inviting the girls ii 10
were her particular friends to supper.
mother would have discouraged them. In-
stead of a “party," with hours fashion-
ably late and refreshments served when
all of the company slioultl have, been in
bed, Bess asked herfriends for the after-
noon, and they sat down to 51 delicious Sllll‘
Der at six o'clock. '0-retchen was one of
the twelve who helped to make the pretty
picture, and though she contributed little
to the gay chatter which went on about
the round table, ‘her radiant: face added
sweetness to the festivities.
It was while Macy Stanley was telling
a funny story that riveted all eyes UB0"
her, that something: unexpected happened-
All at once Gretchen was on her feet.
Macy stopped in the middle of her story-
with a gasp, Bess turned impatiently.
Then everybody stared.
Gretchen was standing with her left
arm extended "over the table. Her hand
was clinched tightly, and from the ciosrd
fingers ascended a faint bluish cloud. As
they gazed in uncomprehcnding silence, her
hand relaxed a littl and some blackened
specks fluttered down on the white table-
th.
““'hy, it was the candle shade!" CI'iPd
one of the girls, with it little scream. “I
must have got on fire and she put it out!
Wasn't that it,.Gretchen?" '
Gretchen stepped back. opening lie!‘
hand, and showing the charred remnants
