The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-06-13
Frederick the Great.

erlcK the GREAT, when the following
incident occurred:
After the death of his father, his
mother had many hard struggle to
support 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
it was quite impossible to save any
money for that purpose out of his
small allowance. He did not despair.
however, but assiduously set himself
to watch his opportunity.
At last an idea flashed through his
mind. 1t was recognized custom
that one of the pages should sit up all
night, in room adjoining the kings
sleeping apartment. to be ready at
any moment to obey a summons,
should the king require his SER
vices.
Fritz discovered that to some of
the pages this duty was both burden
some and Gisagreeable, and that to
provide substitute they would glad
ly give a certain sum of money.
Fritz offered to take upon himself the
night-watch for any one who might
be willing % pay him rather than
accept the duty when their turn
came around.
The offer was acceded to by sever
al, and the money thus earned was
regularly sent by Fritz to his moth
err.
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 rose and
walked into the chamber, to
look if there really was no page on
duty.
Here he found page, indeed. sit
ting at his post, but sound asleep.
Slipping quietly forward to the table
at which the boy was sitting, the
kings eyes fell upon a letter which
Fritz had neen writing 10 his mother
when overpowered by sleep. The
king read the following lines:
MY DEARLY BELo WE'D MOTHER,
This is the third night that | have
taken watrh-duty for cOmrade. |
can scarcely hold out any longer; but
rejoice greatly that | have again
earned ten thalers for you which l
send in this letter
With heart deeply touched by
this proof of tender tilial affection,
the king went softly back to his
room, took out two rolls of ducats
from a drawer. and returned to the
sleeping page, into whose side pock-
cts he gently slid the rolls of money.
Then betaking himself again to bed,
the king considerably lett exhausted
nature to restore itself,
Fritz at last aWoke with start, to
find that he must have slept several
hours; and, when finding his pockets
heavy. he thrust his hands in and
pulled out the precious rolls of mon
ey, he conjectured at once what had
happened.
Fear made him trembIe, for it was
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 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 de-
reelection of duty of which he had
been guilty, and humble beg for par
don.
One hurried glance at his mon
arch's benevolent countenance 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 falter-
ing 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 con-
ceal the high admiration he felt for
the filial love which had promoted
Fritz to such noble, self-denying ex-
ertions. He made few kindly in
quiries regarding his mothers cir
cumstances. assured him of his en-
tire sympathy, and promised that
from that day it would be his en-
deavor to promote the interests and
pave the way to advancement of such
a faithful, loving son.
And Frederick the Great was as
good as his word. Step by step, as
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