Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-07-17

boston Herald.
Ii Is related of an ilustrious Russian
general, that when a boy he lived for
some time at the court of Frederick the
Great, when the following incident Oc-
Cured:
At the death of his father, his moth
er had many IA hard struggle to sup
port herself. This fact was well known
to her son, whose greatest ambition at
this time was TO be able TO provide
comforts for her by his own exertions.
To his sorrow. he soon found that il
was quite impossible to save any money
for that purpose out of his small allow
ance. He did not despair, however,
but assiduously set himself To watch
the opportunity.
At length an idea flashed through his
mind. 1t was recognized custom
that one Of the pages should sit up all
night, in n room adjoining the kings
sleeping apartment, to be ready ut any
moment To obey summons, should
the king require his services.
Fritz discovered that TO some of the
pages this duty was both burdensome
and disagreeable, and that to provide
n substitute they would gladly give a
certain sum of money. Fritz offered to
take upon himself the night-watch for
any one who might be willing to pay
him rather than accept the duty when
their turn came round.
The offer was acceded to by several;
and the money thus earned was regu-
larly sent by Fritz TO his mother.
One night, the king could not sleep.
ard determined at last TO call the page
in attendance to read aloud to him.
lie called; but there was no response.
AT length he rose and walked into the
inte-chamber, to look if there really
was no page on duty.
Here he found page, indeed, sitting
at his post, but sound asleep. Slipping
quietly forward to the table at which
the boy was sitting. the kings eyes fell
upon letter which Fritz had been
writing to his mother when overpow-
cred by sleep. The king read the fol
lowing lines:
my DEARLY BELOVED MOTHER:
This is the third night that | have
taken watch-duty for a comrade, can
scarcely hold out any longer; but re-
joice greatly that | have again earned
ten thalers for you, which / send in
this letter.
With heart deeply touched by this
proof of tender filial affection, the king
went softly back to his room, took out
two rolls of ducats from drawer, and
returned to the sleeping page. into
whose side pockets he gently slid the
rolls of money. Then betaking him
self again to bed. the king considerate-
ly left exhausted nature to restore it
self.
Fritz at last awoke with 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 hap
pened.
Fear made him tremble, for it was a
heinous 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 n 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 gricvous fault.
In the morning he seized the very
first opportunity to approach the king,
acknowledge the great dereicton of
duty of which he had been guilty, and
humbly beg for pardon.
One hurried glance at the monarch's
benevolent countenence was enough,
for there he read not only forgiveness
but approval; the kind eyes bent upon
him melted him to tenderness, and it
was with faltering voice he now gave
expression to his heartfelt gratitude
and thanks for the munificent gift his
majesty had bestowed upon him.
The king did not attempt to conceal
the high admiration he felt for the
filial love which had prompted Fritz TO
such noble, self-denying exertions. He
made few kindly inquiries regarding
his mothers circumstances, assured
him of his entire sympathy. and prom
ised that from that day it would be his
endeavor to promote the interests and
pave the way to advancement of such
a faithful. loving son.
And Frederick the Great was a
good as his word. Step by step, as
years rolled on, Fritz rose from one
position of honor to another, and as a
brave and skillful general he served
his beloved king faithfully and well