Queen Victoria had not long been married when her husband, Prince Albert, died. In her grief she retreated to Balmoral Castle.
While there, by chance she heard that the husband of a poor lady in a small cottage nearby had also died. Ordering a coach to be brought the Queen quietly left the castle and soon was at the door of the cottage of the bereaved neighbor woman. She lifted the latch and went in.
News of her arrival soon got around the little village. When the Queen left, neighbors crowded into the little house.
“What did she say?” they all wanted to know.
“She didn’t say anything,” was the calm reply. “She cam’ in. She sat doon beside me. She took my hand, and we both wept togaither.”
Those two whose lives and ways were poles apart were one in their sorrow.
ML-01/07/1979