The royal pair were often seen, as of old, walking arm in arm “under the Lindens” and in the zoölogical gardens, without any attendants and mingling with citizens in the market-place. In the Winter of 1797, Louise went with her royal consort to the Christmas street-fair in Berlin. They had made purchases at several booths and approached another, where a woman was bargaining for some wares. She broke off immediately and was going to step aside as she saw the royal pair approaching. “Do not go, my dear woman,” said the Queen. “What will the merchants say if we drive away their customers?” Then she inquired about her family and on learning that the woman had a son about the same age as the Crown-prince, she bought several toys and gave them to her with the words: “Take these trifles, my dear, and give them to your crown-prince from mine.” When out walking she often took up children who were playing by the roadside, and embraced them in motherly fashion. Even the old dame cowering by the wayside was not unnoticed, and if she did not need an alms, received at least a friendly word. One day a little boy playing horse in the castle garden ran into the Queen. Her lady-in-waiting was about to scold him roundly, but Louise interfered with: “A boy must be wild.” Tapping the little fellow on his red cheek, she said in sweetest tones: “Run and play, my son, but take care not to fall; and you may give your parents greetings from me.” A great many little episodes of this kind made her day by day more beloved among the people. Once while she was Crown-princess, when a Count and a court shoemaker were announced at the same moment, she caused the craftsman, whose time no doubt was the more valuable, to be admitted first, with the words: “Let the shoemaker come; the Count can wait.” To an elderly man, who was invited for an evening, she wrote on the invitation card sent out by the Mistress of Ceremonies the words: “I beg that you will come in boots. Silk stockings are dangerous for your health, and as I am fond of my friends, I must take care of them,” Old General Köckeritz, who was a daily guest at table during their country sojourn, had a habit of disappearing after the meal, no one knew whither. When Louise learned that he hurried away to his room to smoke his indispensable pipe, she appeared beside him the next day as soon as dinner was over, with a filled pipe, a lighted taper, and a spill in her hand, and said to him: “To-day, my dear Köckeritz, you shall not desert us; you shall smoke your customary pipe in our company.” After she became Queen, she and the King were once invited by one of their ministers to a ball. On their arrival there were several carriages already before the door yard. The gate was about to be opened that the royal carriage might pass through, when the King forbade it and waited until his turn came to alight. The Queen remarked to the minister’s wife who was waiting to receive them: “You must forgive us for being late,