d loudly cheering her. She reached her destination! There is
Neustrelitz, there is the palace! At the gate stood the old grandmother
who had charge of Louisa in her childhood, the old landgravine, now
eighty years of age. She stretched out her arms toward the queen; she
called with tender words for her foster-child, her Louisa! And Louisa
rushed into the arms of her grandmother. They remained locked in a long
embrace, weeping. The duke himself wiped tears from his eyes. Happiness
also has tears, and sometimes sadness.

"Grandmother," whispered the queen, "I have wept a great deal in grief
and anguish. Now I am weeping in delight, and my tears are praising
God!" The queen was at home with her father, and under the roof of her
ancestors. The storms of adversity had spent their fury. Gladness beamed
from her face as she welcomed the friends and acquaintances of former
times.

A brilliant party was given at court on the second day. A ball took
place in the evening. Numerous guests were assembled in the festive
halls; all were waiting for the arrival of the queen. Suddenly the
folding doors opened; she entered the ball-room leaning on her father's
arm, and greeted the assembled guests. How beautiful she was! Her whole
bearing had an indescribable mildness and majesty. She had adorned
herself, for the first time since her adversity, as it became a queen.
Her noble figure was wrapped in a white satin dress, and her bare arms
and neck were magnificently adorned.

"Oh, queen, how charming you are to-day!" exclaimed one of her early
friends, transported with admiration. "And how splendid these pearls
are!"

"Yes!" said the queen, "they are. I value them very highly, and retained
them when I was obliged to part with my other jewelry. Pearls are more
suitable to me, for they denote tears, and I have shed many." And as the
queen uttered these words, she started and pressed her hand against her
heart. Was the death-worm there again? Was it penetrating her heart? Was
it, after all, stronger than the queen? No! Louisa triumphed over it!
Joy was in her face; merry words dropped from her lips, and she glided
in the mazes of the dance.

And this day was followed by another of still greater happiness. The
king came to see again his longed-for consort and take her back to her
second home, his house, and heart. She was again united with her most
faithful friend. She gazed with delight at his fine, manly countenance;
she was proud of hi