“Please greet your five thousand citizens for me,” the King interrupted him now, “but each one separately!” and drove on.
Through Thick and Thin
King Frederick William IV was always a most gay and amiable host. Once at a ball he stood in the ball-room talking to a very tall and very slender gentleman. Suddenly, an officer of the hussars, in the whirl of the dance, chased with his partner right between the two. The officer frightened to death, stops at once and excuses himself.
“Never mind,” said the King, laughing; “don’t excuse yourself; a hussar must necessarily go through thick and thin.”
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——”