James Parton, Horace Greeley, T. W. Higginson, J. S. C. Abbott, E. M. Hoppin, William Winter, Theodore Tilton, Fanny Fern, Grace Greenwood, Mrs. E. C. Stanton, Women of the age; being natives of the lives and deeds of the most prominent women of the present gentlemen

[436] put down new carpets in the state apartments of the palace. And so it chanced that the temptation came to my friend. to put on a workman's blouse, and thus enter the royal precincts, while the flag indicating the presence of the august family floated defiantly over the roof.

So he effected an entrance; and, when once within the royal halls, dropped his assumed character, and devoted himself to the pictures. It happened that he remained in one of the apartments after the workmen had left, and while quite alone, the queen came tripping in, wearing a plain white morning dress, and followed by two or three of her younger children, dressed with like simplicity. She approached the supposed workman, and said,--

“Pray, can you tell me when the new carpet will be put down in the Privy Council Chamber?”

And he, thinking he had no right to recognize the queen under the circumstances, replied,--

“Really, madam, I cannot tell, but I will inquire.”

“Stay,” she said, abruptly, but not unkindly; “who are you? I perceive that you are not one of the workmen.”

Mr. W-- , blushing and stammering somewhat, yet made a clean breast of it and told the simple truth. The queen seemed much amused with his ruse, and for the sake of his love for the art forgave it; then added, smiling,--

“I knew for all your dress that you were a gentleman, because you did not Your Majesty me. Pray look at the pictures as long as you will. Good-morning! Come chicks, we must go.”

These are but trifles; but they serve to show the queen's simple and kindly character. Her Highland Diary, recently published, abounds in similar trifles, and exhibits to us the picture of a happy family, always delighted to escape from the trammelling etiquette and absurd splendors of their rank,