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Page 106
"Well, well, my boy," said the gentleman, "do not feel so unhappy; I
will see what can be done to help you. Is there a physician to be found
near you?"
"There are two, sir, only a little way from where we live."
"That is well. Now you go at once and have one of them visit your
mother. Here is money, not only for the physician, but for other things
to feed you and make you comfortable."
"O sir," said the boy, as he looked upon the gentleman in amazement,
"how can I thank you enough? This money will save my mother's life, and
keep my brothers from want."
"Never mind, my child; go and get the physician."
The boy obeyed, and the good emperor having learned the situation of the
house where the boy's mother lived, bent his steps in that direction,
and soon arrived there.
The room in which he found the poor woman gave evidence of great misery.
She was lying on a low bedstead, and though still young, her face was
pale and thin from sickness and want. Very little furniture of any kind
was to be seen, for the mother had disposed of nearly all she possessed
to obtain bread for her children.
When the emperor entered the room, the widow and her children looked at
him in astonishment. They did not know he was their emperor.
"I am a physician, madam," said he, bowing respectfully; "your neighbors
have informed me of your illness, and I am come to offer what service
may be in my power."
"Alas! sir," she answered with some hesitation, "I have no means of
paying you for your attention."
"Do not distress yourself on that account; I shall be fully repaid if I
have the happiness of restoring you to health."
With these words, the emperor approached the bed and inquired all about
her illness, after which he wrote a few lines and placed them on the
chimney-piece.
"I will leave you this prescription, madam; and on my next visit, I hope
to find you much better." He then withdrew. Almost immediately after
this, the eldest son of the widow came in with a medical man.
"O mother!" cried the boy, "a kind, good gentleman has given me all
this!" and he placed in his mother's hand, the money which the emperor
had given him. "There now, don't cry, mother; this money will pay the
doctor and buy every thing till you are well and strong again."
"A physician has already been here, my child, and has left his
prescription. See, there it is." and she pointed to the paper on the
chimney-piece. The boy took the paper, and no sooner had he glanced at
its contents, than he uttered an exclamation of joyful surprise.
"O mother! It's the best prescription a physician ever wrote; it's an
order for a pension, mother--a pension for you--signed by the emperor
himself; listen, mother; hear what he says:--
"'_Madam:_--Your son was fortunate enough to meet me in the city,
and informed me of the fact that the widow of one of my bravest
officers was suffering from poverty and sickness, without any means
of assistance. I had no knowledge of this, therefore I can not be
accused of injustice.
"'It is difficult for me to know every thing that takes place in my
empire. Now that I do know of your distress, I should indeed be
ungrateful, did I not render you all the help in my power. I shall
immediately place your name on the pension list for the yearly sum
of two thousand florins, and trust that you may live many years to
enjoy it.
"'_Joseph II_.'"
The widow and her children were taken under the especial care of the
emperor, and a brilliant career was opened up for the boys, who had
inherited all their father's bravery as well as their mother's gentle
nature.
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