Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1885-05-02
Frederick The Great.

!
lowing incident occurred.
After the death of his father, his
mother had many hard struggle
to support herself. This fact was
we'll known to her son, whose great
est ambition at tins time was to be
able to provide comforts Tor her by
his own exertions.
70 his sorrow, he soon found that
it was quite impossible to save any
money for that purpose out of his
small allowance. He did not de-
spair, however, but asslduously set
set himself to watch his oppcrtun-
ity.
| AT length an idea flashed through
his mind. 1t was recognized GUS
tom that one OF the pages should
SIT up all night, in a room adjoin-
ing the kings sleeping apartment,
to be ready at any moment to obey
q summons, should the king require
his services.
| Fritz discovered that some Of the
pages this duty was both burden
| some and disagreeable, and that to
provide substitute they would
give certain sum of money. Flitz
offered to take upon himself the
night watch for anyone who might
be willing to pay him rather than
accept the duty when their turn
came round.
The offer was acceeded to by sew
eral, and the money thus earned
was regularly sent 10y Fritz to his
mother. EH Il
One night, the king could not
sleep, and determined at last to
call the page in attendance to read
aloud to him. He called but
there was no response. AT length
he arose and walked into the ante
chamber, to look If there really was
no page on duty.
Here he found a page, indeed.
sitting at his post, but sound asleep.
Slipping quietly forward to the ta-
bie at which the boy was sitting,
the kings eyes fell upon letter
which Fritz has been writing to his
mother when overpowered by sleep:
The king read the following lines j
"My DEARLY BELOVED MOTHER 4
This is the third night that | have
taken watch-duty for u comrade. |
can scarcely hold cut any longer ;
but | rejoice greatly that |
have again earned ten thalers for
you, which l send you in this let
ter.
With heart deeply touched by
this proof OF tender fiiial affection,
the king went softly back to bis
loom, took out two rolls of ducats |
from a drawer, and returned to the |
sleeping page, into " hose side pock- |
cts he gently slid the rolls of mon
ey. Then betaking himself again
to bed, the king. CONSIDERABLY left
exhausted nature to restore itself.
Fritz at last awoke with a start,
to find that he must have slept for
several hours and, when finding
his pockets heavy. he thrust his
hands in and pulled out the precious
rolls of money, he conjectured at
once what had happened.
Fear made him tremble, for it
was henious offence to be caught
asleep at his post but in spite of
the fear and shame he experienced,
he could not but rejoice for now
he had ample means to assist his
mother for long time to come
and he hoped that the king, who, |
in the goodness of his heart, had
put the ducats into his pockets,
would pardon his grievous fault.
In the morning he seized the
very first opportunity to approach
the king, acknowledge the great
dereliction of duty of which he had
been guilty /; and humbly beg for
pardon.
One hurried glance at his mon-
arch's benevolent countenance was
enough, for there he read not only
forgiveness but approval the kind
eyes were bent upon him melted