“In grateful remembrance of that never-to-be-forgotten day in Gorze when you, desperately wounded, sent me a rose from your couch of pain as I, unknowing, was passing by. May the accompanying picture serve as a lasting token of your devotion to your sovereign and his gratitude to you. Christmas, 1871. “William I. R. “December 22, 1871.” * * * * * * * * After the battle of Sedan the King’s headquarters were at Clermont, with a regiment of Bavarian cavalry in guard. The men had had a long, hard march in the rain that day, and their commanding officer, feeling ill, despatched his orderly in search of some wine. It was forbidden to ask for supplies at headquarters, so the colonel gave him a thaler and charged him to buy it somewhere. On reaching the marketplace the trooper discovered a large tavern, before the door of which stood two Prussian staff orderlies who, as he approached, motioned him to pass on. With the thaler in his hand, however, the Bavarian felt himself as good as any one, so he marched boldly up to the door of the inn and knocked loudly. For some time there was no response, but at length it was opened by an elderly officer, who asked him what he wanted. “My colonel is sick and must have a flask of wine,” replied the orderly. “In just a moment, my son!” said the old man with a kindly smile, and disappeared within the house, but soon returned with a flask which he handed to the other, saying, “Here is what your colonel needs. I hope it will do him good.” The Bavarian took the wine in his left hand, still grasping the thaler in his right. What should he do? He was not allowed to accept anything without paying for it, neither could he offer money to an officer. At length the old man, perceiving his embarrassment, inquired whether his colonel had given him any other commission. Whereupon the honest fellow explained his difficulty, at the same time attempting to thrust the thaler into the old man’s hand. But the latter only waved him away, saying: “Never mind that, my good man, but hurry back to your colonel with the wine, and say the King of Prussia sends it to him with wishes for a speedy recovery.” “The King of Prussia!” repeated the Bavarian in bewilderment. “Where is the King of Prussia, then?” “I am he,” replied the old man, and shut the door. The colonel was anxiously waiting his orderly’s return, but looked very grave when he laid the thaler on the table beside the flask. “You fool!” he cried angrily, “did I not tell you not to make any requisition?” “But I did not, sir,” replied the fellow with a grin. “There was an old man at the tavern who said he was the King of Prussia; he gave me the flask and wished you a quick recovery.”