Britain, London.
In Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria was playing with the children in the Royal Garden. In her arms was Princess Louise, born just that March. She was the sixth child Victoria and Prince Albert had had in their eight years of marriage.
Queen Victoria looked down at the little princess and smiled contentedly, occasionally humming a nursery rhyme she had heard as a child.
"Our mother river is the Rhine, the longest river of all. Then come the Weser, the Elbe, the Danube, and the Main.
Where do the Weser, Elbe, and Rhine flow? Their only destination is the North Sea."
It was more or less the original version of the nursery rhyme Best of German Rivers, familiar to later generations.
Queen Victoria paid no attention to the expressions of the ladies-in-waiting and maids nearby. She was simply immersed in the world she shared with her children.
Although the Queen's ladies-in-waiting and maids were all British, it was perfectly normal for those close to the royal family to speak several foreign languages.
The lyrics were just a few simple nouns and repeated phrases, but British ears heard a deeper meaning in them—especially coming from the Queen of Britain.
Setting aside the complicated thoughts of some of those present, Buckingham Palace was bathed in sunshine. The grass was lush, a gentle breeze stirred the air, and the faint fragrance of blossoms drifted through the garden.
Children's laughter rang out now and then, mingling with the ladies-in-waiting's gentle reminders. It was enough to make anyone relax and long for a brief nap, savoring the peace and harmony.
It stood in stark contrast to the Irish who would risk their lives for a mouthful of food, even crossing oceans; the textile workers who had to endure the searing heat of steam engines