Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-19

glass of tokay; it is the best thing in the
world to set you on your feet again"
Bread" breathed rather than spoke
the unfortunate sufferer and again cold
shudder ran through tue royal veins.
| while be signed 10 an eqaerry to bring the
desired food. 10 few minutes it was
presented to the tamished 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 can go now, dcctor," said the
king; land You likewiss," addressing
the eqQerry) may return to the ante
chamber until [ ring; wish to speak
with Lieutenant Colonel Kraft" Ard
within a few minutes they were alone in
! the audience chamber.
The officer rose to bis feet, but stagger-
ed from weakness. :" Be seated.n said the
monarch, jn q low. firm voice; and as
Lieutenant Colonel Kraft hesitated, st is
my command. SIR" was added in q tone of
imperative determination, which neces.
STATED obedience and after tn pause Of
a few Dlnaies the king began: Tell me
now, how is it possible that man OF
honor could demean himself to the per-
petration of so disgraeetul 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
your wife dying before your eyes; to hear
a crowd of little children crying out for
! bread, without the power to satisfy their
want; and when yon have, in order to
leave the last mOrsel for them, had moth
Ing within your lips tor two long weary
days; the brain whirls, and the demon of
despair makes man ready for anything
| During 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
an audience; but your Majesty 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 insutferable
thought; and, driven TO the verge of mad.
ness, grasped at the accursed, despair
suggested means of rescue for my family,
though at the cost Of selt-destructiOn.
said to myself, Write an Infamous lam.
poon against the king, and post it up in
tile most conspicuous parts of the city
reward will be ,tftred, perhaps even a
! price set on the head Of the infamous
writer then you can inform against your
! self, and OF course receive the reward.
| ! our family is then saved, for the reward
will relieve them from Immediate want,
an9 puzzle compassion, when Your crime
has been expiattd in your blood, will do
the rest. Such sire, | assure you, is the
tue history OF the case; and | humbly lay
my poor, confused, but never till now, dis
loyal head, at your majesty's feet. | am
ready and willing to bear The merited pun
lshment OF my Dow confessed crime; but
my former undeserved disgrace | could not
bear, because my innocent wife and Guild
rem suffered along with me-"
What passed through the mind Of Fred
erlck while listening to this confession no
| human tongue en- tell, To-. no human eye
can 10 TX into the secret heart OF man ; but
the kings atter-conduct warrants the as
| sumption that it was with feigned stern
ness the Prussian monarch spoke the
words" Your head | will not have, al
though it is justly forfeited; but your Of
fence is heavy one, and heavily shall it
| be punished"
AS he uttered this ominous sentence,
Frederick the Great rang the bell, and adj
| dressed the adjulant vino answered the
summons, with the words Tske that
officer and consider him as your prisoner;
wait with him in the ante. chamber for
my further orders, but let meat and drink
be set before him" The monarch waved
| his hand 10 token of diornisslon, and Lieu
t=nant Colonel Kraft. unbucllling his
| sword, handed it 10 the attendant officer,
! hen, wi b low obeisance TO the kiDg,
! followed him from the chamber of audi
ence.
| Whilst the prisoner was satisfying the
cravings of nature with all the eagerness
OF a tanlehlDg man, and the king, with
! folded arms, paced up aud down his cabi
net with aeitated steps, the al de camp
returned from his mission to the colnnei's
house, and as be hurried across the ante
chamber towards the kings apartment,
contilved 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 we'll
at home, aud God Will help you likewise"
Tears started into the poor mans eyes,
as warm grasp OF the hand, aud whis-
rered God reward you" spoke his
thanks to his compassionate companion in
arms, WHO with rapid strides soun reached
the royal apartment, in which be remained
for a considerable time At length he
again issued from it, bearing in his hand
written order, which he handed to the CT
hcer in charge of the prisoner, saying
aloud, "To Spandau, with speed" The
recipient Of this order instantly left the
room, and the compassionate bringer of it
took the opportunity OF saying in e low
voice, :" don't think your arrest will be
long, and in the meanwhile your family
will be seen to-"
The poor Z an, who had Just stlled
three days burger, clasged bis hands, and
threw upward glance os indescribaba
Thankful ness, bat spoke not word. Ia u
few minutes carriSge was heard 10 drive
up, and the officer to whose charge the prs
oner had been intruSttd entered tie apart.
ment. saying. 81 have orders, Colonel!
Kraft, to conduct you 10 SpaDdau the
carriage awaits Us, will you please to fol
low me2n A couple If minutes after
ward. the carriage might be seen rolling
off IN the direction U the fortress, and
the king gaz rg after it FROM q widow OF
his cabinet, While wondrously soft and
| kindly expression lay 90 his usually stern
| features.
Oa reaching Spandau, the officer gave
his prisoner in charge to the captain OF the
guard, Willie he himself carried the king
sealed order and the prisoners sword 10