He Helped the Donkey
One day, while Frederick William IV was taking a walk at an early morning hour, he noticed from a distance, a woman, who was beating the donkey drawing her milkcart. He went near and asked the cause of her violence. With tears in her eyes the woman said:
“Oh, dear, I am in a great hurry, and this stupid donkey won’t go. If I don’t get to Potsdam at the usual time, I’ll lose all my customers. I know his tricks. If I only had somebody who would take him by the ears, while I beat him from behind—he would go all right.”
The King soberly grabbed the donkey by his ears, the woman did her part, and the donkey began to trot, while his owner thanked her unknown helper heartily.
At home the King told his wife of the service he had rendered. The Queen did not approve of the proceeding, and said:
“As Crown Prince, my dear Fritz, you might have done that, but as King——”
“My dear child,” interrupted the smiling monarch, “my sainted father helped many a donkey along.”