It wuz a remarkable coincidence that royalty so soon after havin’ the advantage of a interview and advice from Josiah Allen’s wife should agin have the privilege of listenin’ to her invaluable precepts. But not so remarkable when you come to study on it philosophically. For it seems to be a law of nater that if one thing happens, another similar thing follers on and happens too, such as breakin’ dishes, onexpected company, meetin’ royalty, etc., etc.
I wuz settin’ alone in the Sprudel Corridor one day, for my pardner had gone with Tommy to see a little donkey that had took the child’s fancy and we meant to let him have a ride up the mountain on it and the rest of our party had driv out to Mentoni’s Spring, about two milds from Carlsbad.
I see a real sweet pretty girl coming along carrying her little mug just like the rest of the folks. She wuz attended by a good-lookin’ lady, who seemed to be looking out for her, and I hearn a bystander say:
“That’s the Queen of Holland.”
When I wuz told that the Queen of Holland wuz approachin’ I sez, “You don’t say so! you don’t say that that is Willieminy?”
“Yes,” sez the bystander standin’ by.
And I tell you I looked at her with all the eyes I had, and if I had had a dozen more I should have used them all, for I liked her looks first-rate, fair complected, blue eyes, light wavy hair, and a air of demure innocence and wisdom that wuz good to see. She wuz pretty and she wuz good, I could see that as plain as I could tell a buff cochin hen from a banty. And I wuz glad enough, when havin’ discovered sunthin’ she had left behind, her companion left her and went back to the tarven and she come and sot down right by my side to wait for her.
And as my rule is, I immegiately lived up to my privileges and told her how highly tickled I wuz to have the chance to see her and tell her how much store I sot by her. Sez I: “My dear, I have always wanted to see you and tell you how much I have liked almost every move you’ve made since you got to be a sovereign and before. Your crown hain’t seemed to be top heavy, drawin’ your fore top and your common sense down with it as some crowns do. You’ve wore it sensible and you’ve carried your septer stiddy, and for a young girl like you to do them things has seemed a great thing to me. A good many young girls would be carried away if they wuz in a place like yours; I am most afraid Tirzah Ann would at your age.”
“Tirzah Ann?” sez she inquirin’ly.