Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-19
kings kind Intentions could be carried

One morning the corners of every street
in Berlin were found stuck over with pla-
cards, breathing the most venomous abuse
of the king, and SURPRISING in malignity
all that had hitherto been written against
his majesty, which to say the truth, had
not been little. And though, over former
lamp oons cold Fritz" had been known t,
laugh, and even give orders to let the ell
thy rags" hang on, in order to show his
people how secure he felt in their good OPP
inion, he was PCT out of ali patience by this
new attack, and, in transport of rage,
ordered reward Of fifty thalers to be
offered to whoever should discover the I'M
lucky offender. s. E..E y
1t has already been stated that the con-
temptuous disregard shown to his repeat
ed petitions had reduced Lieutenant Col
onel Kraft to dispair. His excellent and
most beloved wife had ,ickeaed from grief
and want; his children were famiy h ng;
and the siglto f their helpless, hopeless,
misery, drove thei'igh-spiri'ed s.mewhat
eholeric mar, to distra ction. Under the
infuerce of tlat wrath f man which
bringeth a snare," Lieut. nant-Colonel
Kraft hal renned this ubus We placard,
and himself stick it up on the walls under
the cloud of MI hit. He did this in the full
persuasion that the daring insolence OF it's
style would insure The offer OF large re-
ward for the discovery of it's author, re-
solving firmly at the same time to be bis
own denur ciator, should il even st him
his head, and, by thus occurring he offered
reward, rescue his family from impending
famine, and confident y relying on he pub
lie pity being etfectualIy interposed for the
relief O. wife and children, when he
should have paid the penalty ofhis crime
if they could be saved, his sole remaining
object in life would be attained-for him
Sc f, i no longer had any value.
1t was fearful resolve, which nothing
but dispair could have suggested, and no.
thing but the frant C conviction of hopeless
ruin preying upon on5 who could no. g,
! and won d n beg" could have carried
through No sooner, th+lefore, did the
desperate libe'er learn thtt fifty dollars
were wi hi:l his reach, than, DOMINIC his
lat threadbare uniform, lie FASTENED to the
palace, and anr ounced IS errand t. lie the
revel ltion-but only to the king himself
of the name Of the ruthless plac I'd.
eThe eager desire of the monarch to
| d scover his defamer was we'll known, and
the asserted bearer of such intelligence
was irstantly admitted to an audience.
"Who are your" cried cut Frederick,
startled by the poverty stricken appear
anc1 of the Lieutenant Colonel land
how came you to know the scoundrel who
wro that shameful calumny p
And as he spoke, the king drew closer
to his strange visitant.
The officer replied by naming his noble
patronymic, aud in a moment ali the cir
cumstances connected with tue owner of
that name, bis own long cherished preiu>
dice against him, and the better opinons
to which it had recently given place,
rush,d at once upon his memory, and he
bent his age, keen, sparkling eyes on the
poor crushed man, vino, paid with want
and trembling with inward excitement,
now stood speechless before the monarch
for whom he had shed bis blood in many
had plunged him into such an abyss of
misery. At length, as the king still stood
awaiting an answer, the culprit began, in
a scarcely audible voice:
Your majesty has been pleased to
promise fifty dollars to whoever will reveal
the writer of the placard. implore you,
sire, to send the money by an adjutant to
my poor family, which is now perishing
with hunger, having neither bread to eat
nor money to- buy it, and | pledge my
honor TO name the WIRE tched calumniator."
"What can you mean z" exclaimed the
king, and cold horror ran through his
veins, as a closer examination told plainly
that personitication of want, wretched-
ness aud despair stood before him what
do you mean, man q
"It is even SO, your majesty" repeated
the Lieutenant-CUlone', whose self COM
mand gave way, and large tears rolled
over his wan aud deeply furrowed cheeks
" but quick, quick, fore they all die of
hunger.'
Unable to utter a word, tue king hur-
ried to his escritoire, pulled out drawer,
took from it a rouleau of money, and then
rang the bell violently. AID attendant Of
hcer burst into the room in an alarmed
haste.
Here" cried tie excited monarch,
"take this money - he wife OF Lieuteu-
ant Colouel KRAFT, here, and report to me
instantly on your letur0 how you find the
family" . 81
"Oh, sir" interposed the Lieutenant
Colonel, addressing the afjutant, wholly
torgetiul, in his extremity, Of the kings
presence; Oh, sir! be tnerciful and
make all possible haste. Tell my poor
children to buy bread with this money,
and to send for doctor for their mother"
The officer gave mute sign of assent,
and hurried from the presence.
Great and all-mercitul God ! | thank
thee" exclaimed Lieutenant Colonel Kraft,
transported beyond himself. Now that
| know them rescued from present death,
| let come what may on NE Even if my
head must fall thou wilt take care of those
guiltless ones, for whom hitherto no ore
| hath cared"
"N hat is all this2" cried the king, in
| much excitement; "have you lost your
senses, man2 WHO wants our head and
why should it fall p
On this the wretched man, out of whose
veins the last drop of blood seemed to
have Withdrawn, pressing his hand on his
heart, as if to still its convulsive throb
/ bing. said:
"Your majesty has right to demand
nv head. for II wrote the abusive pla-
card +" and as be uttered the last words
the unhappy man fell on the floor in a
swoon.
Astonished by this unlocked for reve,a-
tion, the asitattd monarch was unable to
assist the tainting man, but, pulling the
bell with hssty violence, two of the off,
GERS il waiting rushed in from the ante
chamber.
"Qaick, quick!" cried the king, with
unconcealed emotion LAY the officer on
the sofa; l1ing wine, and call my ply
sician."