She touched it with careful finger, for gold was a metal rare,
And then—“The mineral kingdom!” she answered with confident air.
“Well done for the little mädchen!” And good King Ludwig smiled
At Fräulein and her sister, the teacher and the child.
“Now answer me one more question,”—with a twinkle of fun in his eye:
“What kingdom do I belong to?” For he thought she would make reply,
“The animal;” and he meant to ask with a frown if that was the thing
For a little child like her to say to her lord and master, the king?
He knew not the artless wisdom that would set his wit at naught,
And the little Christel guessed nothing at all of what was in his thought.