American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-05-20
COUNT sTRUENSEE.

COUNT SCRUENSEE.
An Historical Romance.
"Give me a few pennies, madam, ii
said Gypsy woman to q handsome
matron who was leading a 1s-year-old
boy, of very prepossessing appearance,
by the hand, in the summer of 1749,
near Halle, in Prussia; "give me few
pennies and 1 will tell you your own and
your sons fortune.''
The matron was the wife of the Rev.
DIR. Struensee, an eminent clergyman Of
HAZE, and the boy was his second SON,
John Frederick Struensee.
Mime. Struensee was q God-fearing
woman, and at first blush Inc offer Of
the Gypsy woman to sell her her fortune
almost shocked her; but then womanly
curiosity got the better of her, and SO
she gave the woman groschen and told
her to reveal the future to her.
The Gypsy woman took her hand and,
after looking at the palm, said:
''Your life will be to the last an un-
rufied one. You will die blessed by a
loving husband and affectionate chill
dren.''
s'Goodi Good!" exclaimed the cler-
gyman's wife, '.And now tell me my
sons fortune.''
The soothsayer gazed several minutes
at the palm of the handsome, golden
haired boy. As she was doing SO her
face assumed a somber expression. At
last she shook her head gloomily, and
saids
"Poor mother, do not ask me to re-
veal to you what I read in your boys
handi"
Is it, then, so terriblea' exclaimed
Mme- Struensee, turning very pale.
For heavens sake, tell me what it is
Donot torment me by further delayI"
at is your WILL" said the Gypsy
woman, "and SO will tell you. Your
son, madam, will become great and
1lustr.ous. He will stand near royal
throne. A queens smile will brighten
his He-path: But then" She
stopped short.
"But thenp" asked Nine. Struensee,
in almost breathless suspense.
"Then, replied the soothsayer SOL
emnly, che will ascend a scaffold, and
his head will fall under the execution
er'a ax!"
The mother uttered sharp cry of
pain Then she turned savagely upon
the Gypsy woman and cried:
"Begone, vile impostorI 1 was fool
ish to listen to your nonsense. Begone,
I say, or shall call Landreiler and
have you locked up.,'
"Indeed you will not" said the
soothsayer calmly. "I have told you
the truth, and If you live you viii mourn
over his terrible fall" So saying, she
turned away.
Madame Struensee returned with
heavy heart to her husbands home.
A few years later DIR. Struensee re-
ccived q call to the principal Lutheran
Church at Altoona, then one of the lar
gest cities in the kingdom of Denmark.
His son had, meanwhile, displayed in
tellectual faculties of the highest order
After brilliant course in college, he
studied medicine at the Universities of
Goettingen, Kel and Paris, and in 1858,
when but little over twenty years Of age,
he became q practitioner of medicine.
In that capacity he was wonderfully
successful. His skill as physician be-
came proverbial, and his commanding
appearance and rare conversational
powers added greatly to his popularity
In 1866, King Christian the Seventh
of Denmark made his entry into Altoona
with his bride, the charming Queen
Caroline Matilda, an English princess.
The King, owing to youthful excuses,
was in feeble health. The Burgomaster
of Altoona, upon hearing his sovereign
complain about his ailments, said to
him:
:" Your Majesty, we have in our
midst an eminent physician, DIR. John
Frederick Struensee. Young as he still
is, he has already performed many al
most miraculous cures. II your Males
ty should place yourself under his treat
ment. there is every prospect of your
recovery, than which nothing could be
more agreeable to your loyal subjects. .
After . consultation with his wife, the
King of Denmark sent for DR.. Struen-
see. The latter put many questions to
the King concerning his health, and
then said:
"Your Majesty can be cured provided
you viii keep your mind at ease.''
''Alasi" exclaimed the King, with a
profound sigh, " that is easier said than
done. A king is often only miserable
creature. The royal castle at Copen.
hagen is not an abode of happiness
You have doubtless heard about the in.
'trigues of the warning cliques there. ]
have vainly tried to put an end to them
I tremble in thinking of my return
thither.n
"Sire," said DIR. Struensee, almos
solemnly, "you owe it to your peopl,
to save yourself from an early death
which see written in your face if yor
should continue worrying as you hav,
hitherto DONE"
The King then urged him to bocom,
his physician.
"Give me few weeks time to max,
up my mind" replied DIR. Struense,
"H I accept your offer 1 shall go t,
Copenhagen, and personally tell yol
sou
The King and Queen returned to Co
DeuhaOou Ruf fhoro az ho bod <.-~