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

in Berlin were found stuck over with la
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
lampoons "Old Fritz" had been known to
laugh, and even give orders to let the Gill
thy rags" hang on. in order to show his
people how secure he felt In their good OPP
inion. he was put 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 un-
lucky offender.
1t has already been stated that the con-
temptuous disregard shown to his repeat
/ ed petitions had reduced Lieutenant Col
most beloved wife had sickeaed from grief
and want; his children were famis b 'ng;
and the sight # their helpless, hopeless,
miss ~, drove the high-spirit ed, somewhat
eholeric man, to distro ction. Under the
infuerce of that stwTath IF man which
bringeth a SNARE" Lieut. nant-C olonel
Kraft hal Ienned this abus We placard,
and himself stock it up on the walls under
the cloud of night. He did this in the full
persuasion that the daring insolence of its
| style would insure the offer of large re-
ward for thu discovery of its author, re-
solving firmly at the same time to be bis
own denunciator, should it even cost him
his head, and, by hus occurring the offered
reward, rescue his family from impending
famine, and confident relying on he pub
lie pity being effectually interposed for the
relief o. b S wife and children, when he
should have paid the penalty of his crime;
if hey could be saved, his sole remaining
object in life would be attained-for him
Sc f, il no longer had any value.
1t was fearful resolvt, which nothing
but dispair could have suggested, and no.
thing but the frant C conviction of hopeless
uin preying upon one who "could no. e,
and would n beg" could have carried
through. No sooner, there'o-e, did the
desperate libe'er lie I'm tn fifty dollars
were wi hii bis reach than, donning his
! lat ihreadbare uniform, lie FASTENED to the
| palace, and anr ounced rs errand to be the
revela tion-but only to the king himself
of the name of the ruthless plac I'd.
The eager desire of the monarch to
d seover his defamer was well known, and
the asserted bearer of such intelligence
was il stantly admitted to an audience.
"Who are your" cried out Frederick,
startled by the poverty stricken appear
ancs of the Lieutenant-Colonel; "and
how came you to know the scoundrel who
] wroe that shameful calumny ?'
| And as he spoke, the king drew closer
| to bis strange vlsltant-
The officer replied by naming his noble
patronymic, and IN moment all the cir
cumstances connected with the owner OF
that name, his own long cherished preju-
dice against him, aud the better opinions
to which it had recently given place,
rushe d & once upon his memory, and lie
bent his age, keen, sparkling eyes on the
poor crushed man, who, paid with want
and trembling with inward excitement,
now stood speechless before the monarch
for whom he had shed his blood in many
battle, and whose unInerlted disfavor
had plunged him into such an abyss OF
misery. AT length, as the king still stood
awaiting an answer, the culprit began, in
scarcely audible voice:
Your majesty has been pleased to
promise fifty dollars to whoever will reveal
the writer of the placard. mplore 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 IT, buy it, and L pledge my
honor TO name the wretched calumniator."
"What can you mean9' exclaimed the
king, and cold horror ran through his
veins, as a closer examination tod plainly
that personitcatlon OF want, wretched
ness and DC spair stood before him "what
do you mean, man q
alt is even so, your maiesty," repeated
the Lieutenant-Colone, whose self com
mand gave way, and large tears rolled
over his wan and deeply furrowed cheeks ;
" but quick, quick, b fore they all die of
hunger"
Unable to utter wo;d, tie king hur-
ried to his es crituiTe pulled out q drawer,
took from it rouleau of money, and then
rang the bell violently. An attendant Of
icer burst into the room in an alarmed
haste.
Here" cried tie excited monarch,
- take this money tt Tie wife OF Lieuteu-
ant Colonel Kraft, here, aud report to ME
Instantly on your retur1 bow you find the
family"
"Oh, Sill I" interposed the Lieutenant
Colonel, addressing the ajjDtant, wholly
iorgetfuI, il his extremity, of the kings
presence; Oh, sir be merciful and
make all possible haste. Tel my poor
children TO buy bread with this money,
and to senC for a doctor for their mother"
Tie officer gave mute sligo OF assent,
and hurried from the presence.
Great and all-merciiul God | thank
thee" exclaimed Lieutenant Colonel Kraft,
transported beyond himself. Now that
| know them rescued from present DEATH
let come what may on me Even il my
head must fall thou wilt take care of those
guiltless ones, for whom hitherto no one
hath cared
{" " hat Is all this 2" cried the king, in
much excitement; have You lost your
senses, mapl VITO wants J our head aud
why should it fall?'
On this the wretched man, ont OF whose
veins the last drop OF blood seemed to
have Withdrawn, pressing his hand on his
heart, a. if To still its couvulsive throb-
bling. said
"Your majesty has a right to demand
my head. for IL wrote the abusive pla-
card y and as he uttered the last words
the unhappy man tell on the floor in a
swoon.
Astonished by this unlocked tor reve'a-
tior. the aetaled monarch was unable TO
assist the faintng man, but pulling the
bell with hssty violence, two of the Off
GERS Ia waiting rushed in from the ante
chamber.