Queen Story

There was a queen once who reigned in troubled days. And every time the country was on the brink of war and the people were ready to fly into a panic, she would put on her showiest dress and most cheerful manner and move graciously among them. When the people saw the queen riding by, they were convinced that all was well -- and thus she tided over many a danger.

A young couple, John and Jennie Mungrave, who eagerly fell in love, married, and bought a farm, but found joy slipping away from them as the years passed by. John worked late into the night, and Jennie took more and more of the backbreaking physical tasks upon her own shoulders, desperately attempting to help her husband, but in the process losing herself.

One hot afternoon, Jennie was lifting heavy baskets of tomatoes when a beautiful, stylishly dressed stranger stopped to purchase some apples. Obviously a woman of quality, the stranger was no longer young, but Jennie envied the aura of youth and hope that clung to her. In turn, the stranger saw a woman, who was still young but haggard and weary, eyes hard and listless, her calico dress shapeless and begrimed. The woman's attitude invited sharing, and before she could stop herself, Jennie poured out her troubles, describing how difficult life was and how on this very day Henry Davis was coming to foreclose on their mortgage.

When Jennie had finished talking, the woman gently told her about the queen. "And I've tried to be like her," she said. Whenever a crisis comes in my husband's business, or when he's discouraged, I put on my prettiest dress and prepare the best dinner I can make. And somehow it works.

As Jennie watched the erect figure disappear down the lane, she wondered to herself, "Suppose. . . suppose. . . suppose. . . suppose. . ." So Jennie brushed her hair, changed her shoes, and put on her one good dress. Then, with something of the burning zeal of a fanatic, she attached the confusion of the kitchen. When everything was in order, she began planning for supper. She decided to prepare fried ham, browned potatoes, applesauce, and hot biscuits. And pie. With a spirit of daring recklessness, she spread her only white cloth on the table.

Cold fear struck Jennie's heart when Mr. Davis' car came up the drive, but again she heard the stranger's calming words: "There was a queen once. . ."

She welcomed Mr. Davis warmly and invited him in. When he hesitated, Jennie smiled warmly, in spite of the pounding of her heart, and said, "You've never tasted my hot biscuits with butter and honey, or you wouldn't take so much coaxin'!"

When John opened the kitchen door, he stared at the scene before him. Judging by the extra plate, Mr. Davis was staying for supper. Their guest grew more congenial as he ate, and so did John. Finally, Mr. Davis, convinced that the lives of the Mungraves had taken a turn for the better and that his investment was secure, extended their mortgage for the next two years.

A wave of color swept up in Jennie's sallow cheeks. John looked more grateful tonight than he had for some time. Maybe he needed something else from her, even more urgently than he needed her backbreaking work.
"There was a queen once. . ."