might never have known, certainly I never should have felt, its meaning
had I trusted to these young gentlemen, whom I now dismiss from my service
for one year, advising them to occupy their time in learning to read."

11. "As for you, my young lady," continued the King, "I know you will ask
no better reward for your trouble than the pleasure of carrying to this
poor widow my order for her son's immediate discharge. Let me see whether
you can write as well as you can read. Take this pen, and write as I
dictate." He then dictated an order, which Ernestine wrote, and he signed.
Calling one of his guards, he bade him go with the girl and see that the
order was obeyed.

12. How much happiness was Ernestine the means of bestowing through her
good elocution, united to the happy circumstance that brought it to the
knowledge of the King! First, there were her poor neighbors, to whom she
could give instruction and entertainment. Then, there was the poor widow
who sent the petition, and who not only regained her son, but received
through Ernestine an order for him to paint the King's likeness; so that
the poor boy soon rose to great distinction, and had more orders than he
could attend to. Words could not express his gratitude, and that of his
mother, to the little girl.

13. And Ernestine had, moreover, the satisfaction of aiding her father to
rise in the world, so that he became the King's chief gardener. The King
did not forget her, but had her well educated at his own expense. As for
the two pages, she was indirectly the means of doing them good, also; for,
ashamed of their bad reading, they commenced studying in earnest, till
they overcame the faults that had offended the King. Both finally rose to
distinction, one as a lawyer, and the other as a statesman; and they owed
their advancement in life chiefly to their good elocution.