The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-12-04
FREMONT 8AUDUSKY COUNTY OHIO: FRIDAY DECEMBER 1871

kings table. Your true filial love
has earned the honor"
The officers were all attention as
Fritz, holding his fathers hand, re-
lated his story. Their stern bearing
became more kindly, and their faces
brighter. They could but be pleas
ed with the boy who loved his faith
er so heartily as to come hundred
miles and more to bring him favor
ite dish. The old sergeant was Who'll
| ly lost in joyful emotions, and alter
nately laughed and wept. When the
story was ended, he forgot by whom
he was surrounded, and embraced
his brave son again and again, press
ed hundreds Of kisses upon his lips,
and asked him thousands and thous-
ands of questions, all of which Fritz
answered frankly. At a hint from
the General, all present left the tent,
and the enraptured father remained
with his dear boy. An hour after
the general came back, and gave the
old. brave sergeant great writing
in one hand, and a large purse full of
gold pieces in the other. "Here is
your discharge, friend, with a prom
ise Of your full pay as a lifelong
pension; and there is a small pres
ent for your worthy son, which we
officers have collected for him. Keep
it for him till he is grown and he
can make good use oft; and now go
home to wife and child, who will be
greatly rejoiced to see husband and
father once more"
ooh, my General, your grace is
too kind" stammered the delighted
sergeant, who did not know at what
to rejoice the most-the condescen-
sion of the officer, or the pension, or
the wealth Of his son Fritz. "HoW
have I earned such favor?"
-E'By your brave couduct during the
whole campaign; by the wound which
you received in the last affair, and
which disables you for your lifetime ;
and, finally, by your boy, Soldier
Fritz. In him I have seen that you
must be g good father, and such q
one our king can better use at home
than in the field. Go then in peace,
old comrade, and with Gods help
train all your boys like this one, who
is genuine, true soldier child. Fare
well! and do not forget to send Fritz
to my regiment when he is large
enough to bear arms for his king"
Deeply affected, the old sergeant,
kissed the hand of the kindly gener-
al, and thanked him from the bottom
of his heart for the favor which had
come to him. The distinguished Of
fcer kindly stroked the face of Sol
dier Fritz, and kissed his forehead.
"Continue to be good" he said,
sand you will surely become an up
right man. He who honors father
and mother is loved of God, who
makes all go well With him on earth.
Adieu, my boyp
/ Father and son were then dismiss
Gu SJsbI J6u AOAGWet al VI tuO ACAu AoJ
and gave themselves neither repose
nor rest till they had reached their
home.
But it was festival when Fritz
came back and his father with him
1t was a Jubilee which one cannot de-
scribe. The mother Wept for joy,
The children shouted and danced
The father had enough to do to mett
out to each his share of tenderness
and caresses; and Fritz was praised
| by all. He stood by with glistening
eyes, and it was easy to see that he
did not think he had deserved al
their words of praise.
| When Fritz grew up he brought
no shame upon his name. He gave
himself wholly to the soldiers life
and became brave officer. He was
engaged in several campaigns, and
by his courage rose step by step, and
is now, rightly, a highly esteemed
and greatly beloved colonel in the
service Of his Countrywide Nation
al Teachers Monthly.