"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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