Mourning Princess

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. 

Full Name: Alice Maud Mary

The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's breath.

Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, "Momma, kiss me!"

Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord.

Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn't count the cost.

The Bible says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."

Alice (right) and her sister Victoria. 1850s

          Alice and Louis with their children: Victoria, May, Ernie, Irene, Ella and Alix