, 1863-06-11


placard. implore you, sire, to send the monet
by an adjutant to my poor family, which is now
perishing with hunger, having neither bread to ea
nor money to buy It, and l pledge my honor Ia
name the wretched calumniator."
"What can you mean 7" exclaimed the king
and cold tremor ran through his veins as a closer
examination told plainly that personifcatiOn oI
want, wretChedness and despair stood before him
" what do you mean, mani"
at Is often so, your majesty" repeated the
leutenant-colonel, whose selE-command gave way
and large tears rolled over bis wan and deeply
furroNed checks " but quick, quick, before they
oil die Of hunger"
Unable to utter word the king hurried to bis
escrtoire, pulled out drawer, took out from II q
rouleau Of money, and then rang the bell violently
An attendant officer burst into the room in alarmed
haste "Here," cried the excitsd d monarch, " take
this money to the wife Of Lieutenant Colonel Kraft
here, and report to me instantly on your return
how you find the family"
"0h sir !" interposed the lieutenant colonel, ad-
dressing the adjutant wholly iorgetful, in his ex-
tremity, Of the kings presence, "Oh; sif be mer-
ciful, and make all possible haste. Tell my poor
children 20 buy bread with this money, and to send
for doctor for their mother"
The officer gave mute sighi Of assent, and hur-
ried from their presence.
"Great and alLmerciful God thank thee p
exclaimed KRAFT, transported beyond himself.
Nov that know them rescued from present
death, let come what will on me. Even II my head
must fall, Thou wilt take care Of those .guiltess
ones, for whom hitherto no one hath caredp
"What is all this ?" cried the king, in much ex.
citement "have you lost your senses, MANI Who
wants your head why should Il iallT
On this the wretched man, from whose veins the
last drop Of blood seemed to have withdrawn,
pressing his hand on his heart, as IL to still its
eonvulsive throbbiDg, said "YOur majesty has Q
right to demand my head, for IL wrote the abu-
sive placard" and as be uttered the last word, the
unhappy man fell on the floor IN a swoon.
Astonished by this unlooked-ior revelation the
agitated monarch was unable to assist the fainting
man. but, pulling the bell with hasty violence, two
Of the officers in waiting rushed in from the ante
chamber.
"QuicI, quick!" cried the king, with uncon.
cealed emotion, "ay the officer on the sofa; bring
wine, and call my physician"
These rapidly-uttered orders were promptly
obeyed. Pale, motioness, and insensate a. corpse,
lay the unhappy c1lprit. oHtstretched before the
king and feelings such as Frederick the Great had
probably never known were at work in the mon
arch's breast, while, with bis eyes resting ihmova-
bly, on the insensble body, he murHured to him
self Ay! ay! despair can drive even brave
man to madness-a virtuOus man to crime. Why
did I not learn his circumstances s0Oneri Whyl
because l would not Yes, 1 have much--very
much to make up for" ylas. s.l. .a.f.
These selEreproaches we're Interrupted by the
arrival Of the physician and one Of the foyal at.
tendants the one armed with O lancet to bleed
the patient, the other bearing wine, etc. to recall
abeyant life.
"A truce with your bleeding, DOCTOR" called
out the king "the man has too little blood left in
him already; pour wine into him; 1t will be more
to the purpose"
The physician laid finger on the patients pulse,
and then exclaimed, Your majesty Is in the right ;
he Is weak, deadly weak !" and, 50 saying, he
poured very few drops Of wine within the blood
less lips, and bathed hs temples with the cordial
till at length the swooned man reOpened his eyes,
and cast deeply-implOring lCCk on his much
injured sovereign.
ado not annoy yourself with anything at pres
ent," said the softening monarch, in condescend-
ing tone, " but just drink glass Of tokay It is
the best thing in the world to set you on your feet
again."
q Bread" breathed rather than spoke the untor-
tunate sufferer and again cold shudder ran
through the royal veins, while he signed to an
equerry to bring the desired food. In few min
utes il was presented to the iamished man, who
then having drank small glass Of the rich and
strengthening wine, raised himself from the couch
and gazed dreamiIy around, as one awakiug from
q trance
"YOu can go nov, doctor" said the king; " and
you, likewise" Addressing The equerry, "may re-
turn to the ante-chamber Until ring; wish to
speak with Lieutenant Colonel KRAFT" And
within few minutes they were alone in the aa-
dience chamber.
The officer rose to his feet, but staggered from
weakness. I" Be seated" said the monarch, in a
low, firm voice and as KRAFT hesitated, alt Is
my command, SIR" was added in tone OF imper-
ative determination which necessitated obedience
and after the pause Of q few minutes, the king be
gan: "Tell me, now, how is il possible that a man
Of honor could demean himself TO the perpetFation
Of SO disgracefnl an act?" M
Please your majesty" replied the lieutenant
colonel, in the measured tones OF hopeless submis-
sion, any situation was one to make man des-
perate. To see your wife dying before your eyes
TO hear crowd Of little children crying out for
bread, without the power TO satisfy their want I;
and when you have In order to leave the last NOR
sci for them, had nothing within your lips for two
long, weary days, the brain whirls, and the demon
Of despair makes man ready for anything. Dur
ing two whole years had l been petitionng for an
increase Of pay, but none OF my petitions were
even SO much as noticed. And throughout these
same two weary years had presented myself reg
ularly in your majestys ante-chamber, and solicited
an audience; but your majesty would neither see
nor hear me. Hopeless misery cannot be borne
long il either breaks the heart or fires the BRAIN
Beg could nOt--dare not; and TO see my family
die Of hunger OH that was an insuherable thought
and, driven to the verge Of madness, ] grasped at
the accursed despairsuggested means Of rescue for
my family, though at the cost Of selfdestructiOn,
said to myself write an Infamous lampoon
against the king, and post it up in the most con.
spicuous parts Of the city; reward will be Of
Iered-peFhaps price set on the head Of the in.
famous writer; then you can inform against your.
SELF and Of course receive the reward. Your
family s then saved, for the reward will relieve