, 1862-05-22
frederick the Great.

I
the weather was, the more the old sinner enjoyed
1t. While the icy snow was cutting their hces,
and they stood shivering with cold, he would
wrap himself up more closely in bis blankets,
and turn deaf ear to their complaints and ex-
ecrations. In those days q gate-keeper was an
| important parsonage; he had not only to open
and close the gate, but also, the control Of the
octroi duties, so that be could do pretty well as
he pleased. Hence, the poor peasants did not
dare say word, and even accepted . dose Of
stick with passive resignation. II they wished
10 live in peace, thev found It best TO pay sepa
rate tax, which went into Master Gregory's
pocket. Many lump Of butter, and many
young fowl, found their way into his larder, 90
| that no wonder the Rate-keeper considered him
self the greatest parsonage in Prussia His
daughter, Marie, q charming young girl, would
often take compassion on tho poor people, and
offer to let them 10 but her father never con-
sented, and such o proposition was usually
greeted by Q shower Of oaths from the old bear.
Marie had her reasons for keeping in with her
father, for she was in love with soldier in the
Guards, one Wilhelm Dorm, the handsomest
young fellow In the garrison. But she had never
breathed a word Of this to the old man, for he
would have been Mortified at the thought Of his
daughter marrying q private. The mere idea
would have given him a stroke Of apoplexy. AT
that time there was a universal prejudice against
the troops, perhaps not unjustiv, for they were
recruited from the vagabonJs Of all countries.
Such set could only be kept in order by the
severest discipline and iron severity. Order
could only be maintained by the most frightful
punishment, and II is almost impossible to form
= notion Of the barbarity Of the articles Of war
in those days. Running the gauhtlet ten times
was the lightest punishment, and any one who
dared to complain was hogged to deaths door.
A deserter had his nose and ears cut of, or else
he was hanged the same fate befell every one
who helped deserter to 6y: he was strung up
without mercy. Hence, the Prussian army con.
tained very few volunteers, and Wilhelm Dorm
was not one Of them-he was cergyman's son,
carried of by the royal erinps In consequence
Of bis height, and yielding to the inevitable, he
had done his duty properly, and was in daily
expectation Of his promotion. Under these cir
cumstances he decided on waiting upon old Gre.
CORY, and asting his daughtefshand. The gate.
keeper was furious At the insult and repulsed
him most harshly. The poor fellow went of in
. very despondng mood, which was heightened
by letter he received from Marie, in which she
told him that her father meant to marry her next
i day to their neighbor, the fat baker. This was
too much for Wilhelm, and he determined on
committing suicide. For this purpose he loaded
his trusty Arelock and walked down to the banks
Of the Hayel, after leaving q farewell note for
Marie. Suddenly he heard voices 10 his vicinity,
which he fancied he recognized, and, on drawing
nearer, he saw several men belonging to the
Guards, whom he overheard plotting the kings
death. II was agreed that the monarch should
be shot the next morning at parade with silver
bullet, after which the town would be fired and
plundered. Tho conspiratOrs then separated,
leaving Wilhelm TO hurry at full speed to the
barracks and denounce the plot. But, to his
horror. no sooner had he arrived than he was
arrested on o charge cf attempted desertion by
suicide; his letter 70 Marie bad been opened on
his being found to be absent without leave. In
vain did he ask TO be allowed an interview with
the officer Of the guard he was thrust into the
dungeon, and leA 10 brood over the punishment
that awaited him next day.
When the jailOr visited Wilhelm. the latter
prayed 30 earnestly to see an officer, that the
man ancied that he must have gone out Of his
senses, and fortunately sent for the surgeon, 10
whom Wilhelm impaired the secret. The sur
geou hurried to the palace and begged TO speak
with the king, who was in . terrible state Of
alarm at the message, for he thought that Fu-
gleman Jonas, the tallest man In the regiment,
must have been taken dangerously III. When
he found himself mistaken, he raised his stick to
thrash the surgeon, after his pleasant manner,
but the latter managed to get out Of arms length
in time, stating that no had come about non.
commissioned officer Dorm.
| ~ KOOu boiuleE, NoO, tuo Altlb IOmuIeeu ~
renthetically "and nearly six feet high !" for be
knew every man in the regiment.
On hearing that he had me iitated suicide, the
king broke out in 4 furious passion, and ordered
him Eve hundred lashes on the spot. Bot when
the surgeon told the king Of the conspiracy he
had detected, the old gentleman grew serious,
aud vent straight to the prison to oeroes'exam'ne
Wilhelm IN person. The king had only recently
been deceived by the notorious Baron Clement,
l 4 l. \ H. kaU h. ~
rOn's flesh tweaked with red.hot pincers, and
his hand cut off, But Wilhelm was steadfast,
and the king proceeded to make inquiries into
the truth Of his story. The conspiratOrs were
convicted, and the grateful monarch asked e
non-eommissioncd officer what reward he ex.
pectsd An he wished was for his majesty TO
speak to gate.keeper Gregory about Marie on
his BEHALF and to this the king consented, Il she
were only tall enough. He could not spoil his
breed Of soldiers from any nonsenseal love con.
siderations Having received q satisfactory re-
ply on this point, the king promised to see what
could bs done, aud leit Wilhelm in high spirits.
The next morning, while the gatekeeper was
still smuggling in his bed, according to his Gus.
tom, the king made his appearance Of the gate,
with bis heaviest walking stick in his hand, for
| he thought some gentle argument Of that sort
might be required. He found there . crowd
waiting 70 enter the town, and inquired the rea-
son. On hearing 1t, the king made such ham.
mering at the gate that il would have wakened
the dead. But tt.was Of no avail with old Greg
ory; so Frederick William had to in up his leon.
Inc voice, which made his whole court tremble.
Still Gregory. happily unconscious Of his visitor,
bided his time, thinking what thrasbing be
would give the peasants when he let them In for
making such row. At tlength be threw back
| the gates
"GoOd morning, master gatekespeFw the
king said. as he walked in, and gave him TIRE.
menllOus thrasiing, while the delighted peasants
1 t...sn.tl. IL h. t. w.ia Ail