THE CHILD AND THE EMPEROR.
It is related of the late Emperor of Germany that, when passing through a pretty country village once, he stopped to visit the village school. Taking up an orange, he said to the children—
"To what kingdom does this belong?"
"To the vegetable kingdom," answered a little girl.
"And this?" continued the Emperor, holding out a gold coin, which he had taken from his pocket.
"To the mineral kingdom," was the answer.
"And to what kingdom do I belong?" he said, expecting the little girl would answer with her former promptitude, "To the animal kingdom." But after a pause and many blushes, she replied—
"To God's kingdom, sire."
Thereupon the Emperor, greatly moved, and with a tear in his eye and much solemnity in his tone, replied—
"God grant, my child, that I may be counted worthy of that kingdom."