A QUEEN'S QRACIOUSNESS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 39, 26 September 1907, Page 38

A QUEEN'S QRACIOUSNESS

The following beautiful story is told of the former Queen Regent of Holland, the mother of Wilhelmina :— The King had bought a fine service of Sevres porcelain for the use of the royal family, and he 'gave orders , that • immediate dismissal would be the punishment for any servant who should break one of the costly pieces. A man who had' been in the royal household for .many years came to the young queen one day, and , confessed that he had broken one of the delicate cups.' Queen Emma spoke words of comfort to him, and proposed that he should mend the cup with cement. The man sorrowfully answered that the king's sharp <• eye would ' detect the cracks. Nevertheless, the queen insisted that he should mend the cup as n,eatly as he could, and should be sure to give it " to her that afternoon at tea-time, when the king would be present. This was done, and the queen, after drinking her tea from the mended cup, rose suddenly, and let the cup fall to. the floor, breaking it into' fragments. ' Think of me as one of the most awkward of your Majesty's ' servants,' she said, with humility. 'I have^broken one of your precious Sevres, cups. You must discharge me at once. I don't deserve to remain in your service.' The arbitrary old king was amused at her demure manner* and considered the accident a good* joke. The poor servant, standing behind the tray, cast a grateful look in the direction of the queen. The king never learned the truth about the broken cup.