Somewhat doubtful of the truth of these words, the King looked sternly at him and asked to see it.
“Certainly, Your Majesty,” replied the soldier, and quickly picking up the letter he handed it to his chief. The King read it through, glanced kindly at the fusileer, and told his adjutant to take the man’s name, then rode on. The letter was from the man’s mother, telling of his sister’s approaching marriage and the sorrow of all there that he could not be present.
The next day the fusileer was ordered to appear before his captain, and he obeyed the summons with an anxious heart, thinking to himself, “Now I am undone! This means at least eight days’ arrest for neglect of duty.” Great was his surprise, therefore, when the captain informed him that by the King’s orders he had been granted fourteen days’ leave to attend his sister’s wedding, and that free transportation there and back would be furnished him. The overjoyed soldier was soon on the train bound for his distant home, where a joyous welcome waited his unexpected arrival. When the wedding guests heard the story of the letter, they all clinked glasses joyfully and drank to the King’s health with a rousing cheer.
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A grenadier of the First Regiment of Guards was also one of the gardeners at Babelsberg. The Emperor arriving there unexpectedly one day, this man was sent to accompany him about the park to point out the various improvements. The Emperor was much pleased with his intelligent conversation, but presently noticed that he began to be very uneasy and even looked at the time, which was not considered proper in the presence of the sovereign.
“What is the matter, young man?” he asked.
“Well, Your Majesty,” replied the other, “this is my first year of volunteer service, in the First Regiment of Guards, and my captain is very strict. I am due at the barracks in three-quarters of an hour, and it is impossible for me to get there now except with the utmost haste. I shall be late unless Your Majesty will be so gracious as to release me.”
Much pleased with his gardener’s punctuality, the Emperor sent him to don his uniform with all speed and ordered his carriage to be brought around immediately. Then motioning to the grenadier to take the seat beside him, they set off for the town with a gallop. The company was already in line as the carriage drew up at the barracks, but the Emperor spoke to the captain in person, explaining that it was his fault that the man was late and asking that he should not be punished.
* * * * * * * *
Still another instance of King William’s unfailing kindness and consideration to all classes is shown in the following incident. At a grand review held on the field of Tempelhof, the Emperor’s sharp eyes suddenly discovered a sergeant-major who could scarcely stand upright and whose deathly pallor betrayed either serious illness or some violent emotion. He rode up at once to the man and asked what ailed him.