Frederick the Great and His Family [33]
as that little bird would be. We are as free as the birds of the air. Come! come! let us fly, for see, the little sparrow has flown--let us follow it."
And with a beaming smile illuminating his countenance, like a ray of the morning sun, the king took the arm of his friend, and followed by his servant and cabinet-hussar, Deesen, left the pavilion.
As they stood at the little gate of the garden, the king said to Deesen,
"You must be for us the angel with the flaming sword, and open the gates of paradise, but not to cast us out."
Deesen opened the gate, and our adventurers entered "the wide, wide world."
"Let us stand here a few moments," said the king, as his glance rested upon the green fields spread far and wide around him. "How great and beautiful the world appears to-day! Observe Nature's grand silence, yet the air is full of a thousand voices, and the white clouds wandering dreamily in the blue heavens above, are they not the misty veils with which the gods of Olympus conceal their charms?"
"Ah! sire," said Balby, with a loving glance at the king's hand some face--"ah, sire, my eyes have no time to gaze at Nature's charms, they are occupied with yourself. When I look upon you, I feel that man is indeed made in the image of God."
"Were I a god, I should not be content to resemble this worn, faded face. Come, now, let us be off! Give me your instrument, Deesen, I will carry it. Now I look like a travelling apprentice seeking his fortune. The world is all before him where to choose his place of rest, and Providence his guide. I envy him. He is a free man!"
"Truly, these poor apprentices would not believe that a king was envying them their fate," said Balby, laughing.
"Still they are to be envied," said the king, "for they are free. No, no, at present I envy no one, the world and its sunshine belong to me. We will go to Amsterdam, and enjoy the galleries and museums."
"I thank your majesty," said Balby, laughing, "you have saved my life. I should have died of curiosity if you had not spoken. Now, I feel powerful and strong, and can keep pace with your majesty's wandering steps."
Silently they walked on until they reached a sign-post.
"We are now on the border--let us bid farewell to the Prussian colors, we see them for the last time. Sire, we will greet them with reverence."
He took off his hat and bowed lowly before the black and white colors of Prussia, a greeting that Deesen imitated with the fervor of a patriot.
The king did not unite in their enthusiasm; he was writing with his stick upon the ground.
"Come here, Balby, and read this," he said, pointing to the lines he had traced. "Can you read them?"
"Certainly," said Balby, "the words are, 'majesty' and 'sire.'"
"So they are, friend. I leave these two words on the borders of Prussia; perhaps on our return we may find and resume them. But as long as we are on the soil of Holland there must be no majesty, no sire."
"What, then, must I call my king?"
" You must call him friend, voila tout."
"And I?" asked Deesen, respectfully. "Will your majesty be so gracious as to tell me your name?"
"I am Mr. Zoller, travelling musician, and should any one ask you what I want in Amsterdam, tell them I intend giving a concert. En avant, mes amis. There lies the first small village of Holland, in an hour we shall be there, and then we will take the stage and go a little into the interior. En avant, en avant!"
CHAPTER XII.
TRAVELLING ADVENTURES.
The stage stood before the tavern at Grave, and awaited its passengers. The departure of the stage was an important occurrence to the inhabitants of the little town--an occurrence that disturbed the monotony of their lives for a few moments, and showed them at least now and then a new face, that gave them something to think of, and made them dream of the far-off city where the envied travellers were going.
Today all Grave was in commotion and excitement. The strangers had arrived at the post-house, and after partaking of an excellent dinner, engaged three seats
And with a beaming smile illuminating his countenance, like a ray of the morning sun, the king took the arm of his friend, and followed by his servant and cabinet-hussar, Deesen, left the pavilion.
As they stood at the little gate of the garden, the king said to Deesen,
"You must be for us the angel with the flaming sword, and open the gates of paradise, but not to cast us out."
Deesen opened the gate, and our adventurers entered "the wide, wide world."
"Let us stand here a few moments," said the king, as his glance rested upon the green fields spread far and wide around him. "How great and beautiful the world appears to-day! Observe Nature's grand silence, yet the air is full of a thousand voices, and the white clouds wandering dreamily in the blue heavens above, are they not the misty veils with which the gods of Olympus conceal their charms?"
"Ah! sire," said Balby, with a loving glance at the king's hand some face--"ah, sire, my eyes have no time to gaze at Nature's charms, they are occupied with yourself. When I look upon you, I feel that man is indeed made in the image of God."
"Were I a god, I should not be content to resemble this worn, faded face. Come, now, let us be off! Give me your instrument, Deesen, I will carry it. Now I look like a travelling apprentice seeking his fortune. The world is all before him where to choose his place of rest, and Providence his guide. I envy him. He is a free man!"
"Truly, these poor apprentices would not believe that a king was envying them their fate," said Balby, laughing.
"Still they are to be envied," said the king, "for they are free. No, no, at present I envy no one, the world and its sunshine belong to me. We will go to Amsterdam, and enjoy the galleries and museums."
"I thank your majesty," said Balby, laughing, "you have saved my life. I should have died of curiosity if you had not spoken. Now, I feel powerful and strong, and can keep pace with your majesty's wandering steps."
Silently they walked on until they reached a sign-post.
"We are now on the border--let us bid farewell to the Prussian colors, we see them for the last time. Sire, we will greet them with reverence."
He took off his hat and bowed lowly before the black and white colors of Prussia, a greeting that Deesen imitated with the fervor of a patriot.
The king did not unite in their enthusiasm; he was writing with his stick upon the ground.
"Come here, Balby, and read this," he said, pointing to the lines he had traced. "Can you read them?"
"Certainly," said Balby, "the words are, 'majesty' and 'sire.'"
"So they are, friend. I leave these two words on the borders of Prussia; perhaps on our return we may find and resume them. But as long as we are on the soil of Holland there must be no majesty, no sire."
"What, then, must I call my king?"
" You must call him friend, voila tout."
"And I?" asked Deesen, respectfully. "Will your majesty be so gracious as to tell me your name?"
"I am Mr. Zoller, travelling musician, and should any one ask you what I want in Amsterdam, tell them I intend giving a concert. En avant, mes amis. There lies the first small village of Holland, in an hour we shall be there, and then we will take the stage and go a little into the interior. En avant, en avant!"
CHAPTER XII.
TRAVELLING ADVENTURES.
The stage stood before the tavern at Grave, and awaited its passengers. The departure of the stage was an important occurrence to the inhabitants of the little town--an occurrence that disturbed the monotony of their lives for a few moments, and showed them at least now and then a new face, that gave them something to think of, and made them dream of the far-off city where the envied travellers were going.
Today all Grave was in commotion and excitement. The strangers had arrived at the post-house, and after partaking of an excellent dinner, engaged three seats