The Empress Frederick's Flowers

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XXIII, 7 December 1901, Page 1107

The Empress Frederick's Flowers

I’he late Empress Frederick of Germany, the beloved eldest sister of our King-, was always a great lover of Howers, and even in times of worry, anxiety and sorrow she seemed to find solaee and peace among the flowers of her garden and courage and strength to grapple afresh with the many difficulties and trials that lay about her path. The Empress’ love of flowers dated from the long ago, when she was a very impulsive little girl, whose natural quickness of temper was, perhaps, somewhat accentuated by the rarely forgotten fact that she was the Princess Royal of England. On one occasion she so far lost control of her tem|>er that she spoke angrily to her wise and indulgent father because he saw fit to deny her some little pleasure. Queen Victoria, who was as wise as she was loving in her treatment of her children, took her little girl aside and instead of punishing her gave her some good advice. It was, that w 'believer she felt her temper getting the better of her to go out and work in the little garden which the Queen then gave her. The plan acted like magic, and a few minutes among her plants always brought l»ack the little Princess “quite good,” and anxious to make amends for her former naught iness.