, 1863-06-11
True Story of Frederick the Great


or, to speak more correctly,-as the man had
large family-sustained q bare existence in the
EXTREMIST penury. Though brave man and an
able officer Lieutenant Colonel Kraft understood
not the art Of putting himself forward, and equally
little did he possess the talent Of eking out his
slender income by any remunerative occupation.
When, therefore, morning after morning, bread,
bread" was chimed out in various cadence by
seven Young voices, the brave soldier felt in his
inmost soul how much easier it was to face the
enemy than his hungry children, when cupboard
and purse were alike empty.
An application to the king was the most natural
mode through which 10 seek assistance but "old
Fritz" as the Prussian monarch was commonly
STYLED in the army, was unhappily well known for
two pecuarities first temper Of such iron un-
forgiveness that, il be had taken offence at any
one, that mans career was closed-he was never
employed again; and second memory Of such
tenacity that not hope existed Of entrapping him
into fcrgetfnlness. No sooner did the offender
come before him, either personally or by name,
] than every circumstance which had excited the
nouarchs displeasure stood revealed, in all the
freshness Of their first cOlorng, on the tablet Of
bis memory. Now, unfortunately OOr Lieutenant
Colonel KRAFT had on one occasion been guilty Of
some strategical error, which drew upon him the
kings dspleasure at the time, and still weighed
heavily In the scale against him.
|
allowance Of Kraft was the very lowest his rank
would permit II did not and could not suffice to
feed and clOthe his family, and yet he was not him.
self conscious Of having committed any breach OF
duty his OfEnce amounted, at the utmost, to an
error of Judgment. The poor, depressed man sent
in petition after petition IN which his state Of alb
ect misery was placed in the strongest light. but
all remained unanswered. Day after day did he
place himself il tie royal ante-chamber, and So
licit an audience; the king would not hear OF him
nay, he one day got into towering passion when
the officer in waiting ventured to utter the Peti'
toners nlme in I, e royal presence.
Embittered I'M spirit by repeated disappointment
and keen sense Of injustice the unfortunate lieu
tenant-colonel became desperate, and feeling OF
deep hostility to his sovereign took possession Of
his heart. But, stubbOrnly obstinate as "Old
Fritz" unquestionably was, in holding fast any
opinion he had once taken up, he was yet not in
accessible to reason, when time, place and person
happily conspired to obtain his ear; and, once con-
WINGED, he was ready to confess bis convictions.
Now Il 50 happened that KRAFT could still boast,
even IN his fallen fortunes that rarest Of blessings
courageous friend in the kings court who. one
dav seiZing favorable moment, stated to the
king, frankly and freely as became soldier, Zone
such as "Oh Fritz" in his heart dearly loved) the
position Of Lieutenant Colonel KRAFT; allowing,
to be sure, that he was impetuous, hot-bloOded.
and Il might be- rashy incOnsderate, but asserting
at the same time that he was, notwithstanding
righthearted fellow good husband, q fond father.
and an able officer TO boot, Of which he brought
forward many incontrovertible proofs. The king
listened; the adduced facts brought conviction,
and he royalty resolved to make amends to the old
officer for the iniustice he had suffered. Bot before
the kings kind intentions could be carried out, an
event occurred which drove the intended eparatiOn
clean out Of his head.
One morning the corners Of every street in Berlin
were found stuck over with placards, breathing
the most venomous abuse Of the king, and sur
passing in malignity all that had hitherto been
written against his majesty, which, to say the truth
had not been little. And though, over former
and even give orders to let the filthy rags" hang
on IN order to show his people how secure he felt
10 their good opinion, he was put out Of all pa-
tience BY this new attack, and, in o transport Of
rage ordered reward Of fifty thalers to be offered
to whoever should discover the offender.
1t has already been stated that the contemptu..
Gus disregard shown to his repeated petitions bad
reduced KRAFT to despair. His excellent and most
beloved wife had sickened from grief and want
his children were famshing and the sight Of their
helpless hopeless misery drove the highSpirited,
somewhat choleric man to distraction. Under the
influence Of that "wrath Of man which bringeth
q snare" Krait had penned this abusive placard
and himself stuck It on the walls under the cloud
Of night He did this in the full persuasion that
the daring iusolence Of its style would insure the
offer Of large reward for the discovery Of its
author; resolving firmly at the same time to be
his own denuncator, should II even cost him his
head and by thus securing the offered reward,
rescue his family from impending death by famine
and confidently relying on the public pity being
efectuay nterposed for the relief Of his wife aud
children, when he should have paid the penalty Of
his crime. Il they could only be saved, his sole
remaining object in life would be attained for
himself, II had no longer any value.
II was a fearful resolve, which nothing but des-
pair could have suggested. and nothing but the
frantic conviction Of hopeless ruin preying upon
one who could not dig, and would not beg"
could have carried through. NOsOOner, therefore,
did the desperate libeler learn that fifty dollars
were within his reach, than, donnng his last re-
naming patched, faded, and threadbare uniform,
he hstcned to the palace and announced his errand
to be the reveatiOn-but only to the king himself
of the name Of the writer Of the ruthless pacard.
The eager desire Of the monarch to discover his
delamer was well known, and the asserted bearer
Of such intelligence was instantly admitted to an
/ audience.
"who are your" cried out Frederick, startled
by the poverty stricken appearance Of Che leuten-
ant colonel /" and how come you to know the
seOundrel who wrote that shameful calumnyT
and as he spoke the king drew closer TO his strange
/ visitant.
The officer replied by naming his noble patro-
nymic, and in o moment all the circumstances
connected with the owner Of that name, bis own
long-cherishcd prejudice against him, and the bet
ter opinions to which Il had recently given place,
rushed at once upon the kings memory. and he
bent his large. keen. sparkling eyes on the poor
crushed man, who, palid with want, and trembling
a. h.
fore tlIe monarch for whom he bad shed his blood
"a ,,ane n hattie and vfhosa un,npfited dislavuf