[434] could give with her, one tear, one thought, to that grave under the Scottish daisies. Every morning, before breakfast,--which the elder children took with their father and mother, in the pleasant crimson parlor looking out on the terrace at Windsor,--her pupils came to the school-room, for a brief religious exercise. This morning the voice of the governess trembled in reading the Scripture for the day; some words of divine tenderness were too much for her poor, lonely, grieving heart; her strength gave way, and, laying her head on the desk before her, she burst into tears, murmuring,-- “ mother! mother!” One after another the children stole out of the room, and went to their mother, to tell her how sadly their governess was feeling; and that soft-hearted monarch exclaiming,-- “O poor girl! it is the anniversary of her mother's death,” hurried to the school-room, where she found Miss struggling to regain her composure. “My poor child!” she said. “I am sorry the children disturbed you this morning. I meant to have given orders that you should have this day entirely to yourself; take it as a sad and sacred holiday. I will hear the lessons of the children.” And then she added, “To show you that I have not forgotten this mournful anniversary, I bring you this gift,” clasping on her arm a beautiful mourning bracelet, attached to which was a locket for her mother's hair, marked with the date of that mother's death. What wonder that the orphan kissed, with tears, this gift, and the more than royal hand that bestowed it! This was Victoria, fifteen years ago; and I don't believe she has morally “ advanced backward” since then. Another anecdote illustrating Victoria's admirable good sense and strict domestic discipline, came to me directly from one who witnessed the occurrence.
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S. M. Betts and Company. Hartford, Conn. 1871.
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