The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-12-04
SGlette0 9t0rp.
Translated from the German by J. c. Pickard
SOLDIER FRITZ.

Soldier Fritz was the son of a cor
poral in the Prussian army, and lived
in Brankenburg. He loved to play
soldier himself, and that was one
reason why he was called Soldier
Fritz.
His father, in war with the French,
was with his regiment on the Rhine,
where he sometimes got very hungry
and sighed for the good things at
home. Writing to his family once,
he told them how he sometimes suf-
fered. "If 1 only had a peck Of our
fine potatoes" he said, chow good
they would tastew
BY day and by night soldier Fritz
thought and dreamed of his poor
father, and at last without knowledge
of his mother, who had opposed his
going, he filed bag with the finest
| of the potatoes in the cellar, and
started off to find his father. At
noon of the first day Of his journey
| he came to a small village, went in
| to the first inn he saw, and sat down
on a bench at a table, and wiped tho
sweat from his face. There were
many guests in the large room, and
among them an old crippled soldier,
with a wooden leg. All gazed at the
ruddy little boy with the sack. The
landlord came and asked him who he
was, where he came from and where
he wished to go. Fritz told the
landlord his story.
"What do you wish boyp asked
the soldier, rising, striding towards
Fritz, and measuring him in aston
ishment from head to foot. 81 wish
to 90 to the Rhine" was the answer,
"AIy father has been promoted and
lis a sargeant, but he don't care fol
that so long as he has no potatoes
So I wish to carry him some, and
have picked ont the best. Here they
are in the sack"
"Why, you strange boy~ said The
soldier, stroking his mustache; "tel
that again, if you are in earnest, snt
so that you can be understoodp
IFntz did so and all listened atten
lively. When he had done, tear
stood in the eyes Of the veteran, anC
all the rest mad wet cheeks.
"Come and give me a kiss" crie(
the old soldier. "You are real sol
dier's child, and my heart is a-trem
bic with joy as 1 look at you. Come
l sayp So saying, the veteran
caught Fritz, and kissed him till hi
breath was nearly gone. Then thr
Others did the same, and even tht
big landlord was moved to his inmos
soul. Nor would they let him thinl
of going further that day. He ha
to stay at the inn, where he was ca
ressed as if he were a real prince. 1
the evening he told his story to the
new guests, and he was at last led tt
a chamber and put into O soft bee
where he slept a blessed sleep. An
while he was sleeping, the old so
disr told the guests it would be
shame to letso brave a boy go fal
ther without penny for his journey
All gladly opened their purses an
gave literally for the good boy. Th
landlord kept the money till morI
ing, when he had his wagon hitche
up, he walked the boy, gave him
good breakfast, sewed the money il
to the lining of his jacket, and bad
him good bye with hearty wishes fC
his welfare. Deeply moved by tn
good mans love and kindness, /
bade adieu to him and to the vetel
an, who remained by his side unit
the very last moment. Then he g
into the wagon and rolled pleasant
along to the next town, five mile
away. From this place he went o
foot, till evening, when he was agai
obliged to pass the night in a villag
+ Here he told his story as before, an
was tenderly cared for.
At length, after journeying man
q day, he saw in the distance Il
: first sentinel of the Prussian cam
i! and hastened toward him with fyiI
feet. ''Don't you know where L cs
d find my father?" he asked, out
breath.