From
here he sent letters full of tender thoughts to his daughter in the
Netherlands.
He loved the place well, and christened it "Care-Free."
As Emperor Maximilian walked proudly, but with heavy tread, along the
parapet of the Cathedral Square, his eye rested upon the gay scene at
his feet. To-day the invisible world of care pressed heavily upon his
shoulders. Suddenly he stood still, and turning to his private
secretary, he said, "I wonder who those children are who are so
industriously planting a rose-bush in the niche of the wall?"
The children, a girl and a boy (the former about eight, and the latter
twelve years of age), were so engrossed in their work that they had not
noticed the approach of the Emperor, until his presence was so near that
it startled them. They turned full face upon him. Then the boy touched
the girl and said, "It's the Emperor!"
"What are you doing there?" he asked, and his artistic eye feasted on
the beauty of this charming pair.
"We are planting a rose-bush," said the boy, undaunted.
The Emperor smiled, and said, "What is your name?"
"Hans Le Fevre, sir."
"And the little one, is she your sister?"
"No, she is Marie, our neighbor's child."
"Ah!--you like each other very much?"
"Yes, when I'm old enough, and when I own a knife, I'm going to marry
her."
The Emperor opened his eyes wide, and said, "Why do you need a knife?"
"Surely," answered the boy, earnestly, "if I have no knife I cannot cut,
and if I cannot cut I can earn no money.
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