Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-02-18


world to set you on your feet again"
BREAD" breathed rather than spoke
the unfortunate sufferer; and again cold
shudder ran through the royal veins,
while he signed to an equerry to bring the
desired food. In few minutes it was
presented to the famished man, who de.
voured the dry morsel with trembling
eagerness; then having drank small
glass of the rich and Strengthening wine,
raised himself from the couch and gazed
dreamily around, as one awaking from a
trance
You esn go now, DOCTOR" said the
king; " and you likewise" addressing
the eqnerry) "may return to the ante
chamber until ring l wish to speak
with Lieutenant Colonel Kraft And
within = few minutes they were alone in
the audience chamber.
The officer rose TO his feet, but stagger-
ed from weakness. BE seated" said the
monarch, in low. firm voice; aud as
Lieutenant Colonel Kraft hesitated, - It is
my command, sir" was added in tone of
imperative determination, which neces.
STATED obedience and after th- pause of
few minutes the king began: s. Tell me
now, how is it possible that man of
honor could demean himself TO the per-
petration of so disgracetul an act?'
Please your majesty" replied the
lieutenant colonel, in the measured tones
of hopeless submission, - my situation was
one to make man desperate. To see
ycur wife dying before your eyes; to hear
crowd of Eltle children crying out for
bread, without the power to satisfy their
want; and when you have, in order to
leave the last morsel for them, had moth
ipr
days; the brain wbirls, and the demon of
despair makes man ready tor anything
Daring two whole years had | been petit
tioning for an increase OF pay, but none OF
my petitions were ever SO much as noticed
And throughout these same two weary
years had presented myself regularly in
your Majesty's antechamber, and solicited
! audience bnt your Maj would
neither see nor hear of me. Hopeless mis-
cry cannot be borne long it either breaks
the heart or fires the brain. Beg | could
not-dare net; and to see my family die
of hunger-oh. that was an iusutfersble
thought; and, driven to the verge of mad
| ness, l gra ped at the accursed, despair
suggested means of rescue for my family,
though at the cost Of selt-iestruction.
said to myself, 'Write en- Infamous lam
poem against the king, ard post is up in
the most conspicuous parts of the city;
reward will be offered perhaps even
price set on the head of the infamous
writer; then you can inform against your
self, and OF course receive the reward.
Your family is then saved, for the reward
will relieve them from immediate want,
anc pu lic compassion, when your crime
has been expiated in your blood, will do
the rest Such sire, | assure you, is the
Il Ne history OF the case and l humbly lay
my poor, confused, but never till now. dis
loyal head, at your majesty's feet. l am
ready ard willing to bear he merited pun
lslinent OF my now confessed crime but
my former undeserved disgrace | could not
bear, BECAUSE my Innocent wife and Guild
ren suffered along with he"
What passed through the mind of Fred
erick while listening 10 this confession no
human tongue Gu tell, rot no human eye
can 10 * into the secret heart of man but
the kings atter-conduct warrants the as
sumption that it was with fegneI stern
ness the Prussian monarch spoke the
words" Your head | will not have, al
though it is justly forfeited; but your OF
fence is a heavy one, and heavily shall it
be punished"
As be uttered this omlnous sentence,
Frederick the Great rang the bell, and adj
dressed the adlutant who answered the
summons, with the words "rake that
officer and consider him as your prisoner;
wait with him in the ante chamber for
my further orders, bat let meat and drink
be set before him" The monarch waved
his hand in token of dierHissiou, and Lieu
5eDapt Colonel Kraft, unbuckllng his
sword, handed it to The attendant officer,
then, Wi b 8 low obesance 20 the kiug,
followed him from the chamber of a di-
ence.
Whit the prisoner was satisfying the
cravings OF nature with all the eagerness
OF a furnishing man, aud the king, with
folded arms, paced up and down his cabi
net with agitated steps, the al g. de camp
returned from his mission to the colonei's
house, and 10 be hurried across the ante
chamber towards the kings apartment,
contIived to whisper in the prisoners ear,
" AL Is cared for, the doctor is with your
wife, and food OF all sorts is provided tor
the others keep good heart, ali is well
at home, and God VIII help you likewise"
Tears started INTO the poor mans eyes,
as Il warm grasp OF the hand, and whl5-
pered 9 God reward YOU" spoke his
thanks to his compassionate companion o
arms, WHO with rapid strides soun reached
tie royal apartment, lii which be renamed
tor considerable time. At length be
again issued from it, bearing in his hand
written order, which he handed TO tha Of
ticer in charge OF the prisoner, saying
aloud, "To Spandau, with speed" The
recipient Of this order instantly left the
room, and the compassionate brluger OF It
took the opportunity OF saying III q low
voice, :" don't think your arrest will be
long, and in the meanwhile your family
will be seen to"
The poor lan, who had just stiiled
three days hunger, clasred bis hands, and
threw upward glance o. indescrloable
Thankful ness, but spoke not word. Ia
few minutes y carriage was heard TO drive
up, and the officer 10 whose charge the prs
oner had been Entrusted entered TIE apart
uent, saying, IL have orders, Colone!
Kraft, to conduot you to Spandau; the
carriage awaits Us, will you please to FOL
low mes" a couple cf minutes after
wards the carriage might ne seen rolling
off In Tie direction Of The fortress, and
the king gGz rg after II from a widow OF
his cabinet, while wondroU-ly soft AID
kindly expression lay OF his usually stern
features.