Oh, Father in heaven, I implore Thee to quicken my mind, that my thoughts may become words, and my lips utter that which is burning in my soul! In all these years of my poor, despised, obscure life, how often have I longed for this hour when I might stand before my king, when I might penitently clasp his knees and implore mercy for myself and my children--those poor, nameless beings, whose existence is my accusation, and yet who are the pride and joy of my life! Oh, sire, I will not accuse, to excuse myself; I will not cast the stone at others which they have cast at me.

But it is scarcely charitable to judge and condemn a young girl fourteen years of age, who did but obey the command of her parents, and followed the man who was the first and only one that ever whispered the word of love in her ear." "I have heard that your parents sold their child to shame.

Is it true ?" cried the king.
"Sire, my father was poor; the scanty income of a chapel musician scarcely sufficed to educate and support four children.

The prince promised my father to educate me." "Bah! The promises of a young man of twenty-five are made without reflection, and rarely ever fulfilled." "Sire, to the Prince of Prussia I owe all that I know, and all that I am; his promise to my dying father was fully redeemed." "Indeed, by whom were you taught, and what have you learned ?" "Your majesty, the prince wished, before all, that I should learn to speak French.

Madame Girard was my French instructress, and taught me to play the guitar and spinet also." "Oh, I presume you have learned to jabber a little French and drum a little music," said the king, shrugging his shoulders.
"I beg pardon, sire; I have a tolerable knowledge of history and of geography.