buried hopes and vanished dreams. These diamonds her exalted father
had given when she was betrothed to Frederick William. This diadem
had adorned her brow when she married. The necklace her brother had
sent at the birth of her first child; the bracelet her husband had
clasped upon her arm when at last, after long waiting, and many
prayers, Prince Frederick was born. Each of these jewels was a proud
memento of the past, a star of her youth. Alas, the diamonds had
retained their brilliancy; they were still stars, but all else was
vanished or dead--her youth and her dreams, her hopes and her love!
Sophia had so often trembled before her husband, that she no longer
loved him. With her, "perfect love had not cast out fear." Fear had
extinguished love. How could she love a man who had been only a
tyrant and a despot to her and to her children? who had broken their
wills, cut off their hopes, and trodden under foot, not only the
queen, but the mother? As Sophia looked at the superb bracelet, the
same age of her darling, she thought how unlike the glitter and
splendor of these gems his life had been; how dark and sad his
youth; how colorless and full of tears. She kissed the bracelet, and
wafted her greeting to her absent son. Suddenly the door opened, and
the Princesses Ulrica and Amelia entered.

The queen turned to them, and the sad expression vanished from her
features as her eyes rested upon the lovely and loving faces of her
daughters.

"Oh, how splendid you look, gracious mamma!" exclaimed the Princess
Amelia, as she danced gayly around her mother. "Heaven with all its
stars has fallen around you, but your sweet face shines out amongst
them like the sun in his glory."