oom. There were several servants who
brought out the toys and put them away again, and who had nothing else
to do but wait upon these children. The children had a fine large yard
to play in, too. It was so large that people called it a park. The
king had his gardener build a seat up in one of the big oak trees, and
there the children could play all kinds of games.

It was great fun to climb up into this seat, where they were just as
high up as the birds. On windy days the big tree would rock back and
forth just like a swing. One day they were having a good time in the
park when they were told their mother wanted them. They were to be
dressed to go and have their pictures painted.

There were no cameras in those days, so there was no photograph
gallery to go to. But instead, there was a great artist whose name was
Sir Anthony Van Dyck. He painted beautiful pictures with oil paints.
Prince Charles had already had his picture painted so many times he
probably would not have cared to go if it had not been for the boat
ride he knew he would have. You see, the king's palace and Sir Anthony
Van Dyck's house both stood near the banks of the same river. Sir
Anthony had a private boat landing made just for the king and queen
and their children. The king liked so much to watch Sir Anthony Van
Dyck paint that he used to visit him nearly every day. He had several
fine boats to take him there.

It must have taken a long time before the children were dressed and
ready to go. "Baby Stuart," as people loved to call little Prince James,
wore blue silk, trimmed with lace. His brother wore rose-colored silk,
with a large lace collar and cuffs. I don't see how he could run or even
walk in such a long, heavy dress; do you? It looks as if it were his
very best dress. Probably he had a shorter one to play in.

How strange it seems that both the boys wear bonnets tied under their
chins, while the little girl does not. Perhaps they did not want to
spoil her pretty curls. Princess Mary's dress is white satin, trimmed
with lace. She looks like a grown-up lady in that dress. People said
she looked just like her lovely queen mother. No doubt her mother
curled her hair and put the string of pearl beads around her neck.
Probably the queen mother also gave Baby Stuart the big red apple he
holds in his hands. He was only two years old, and she thought he
might get hungry or need something to play with.

[Illustration: _Children of Charles I_]

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