Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-07-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
Frederick the Great.

1t is related of an illustrious Rus
sian general, that when a boy he
lived for some time at the court of
Frederick the Great, where the fol-
lowing incident occurred:
After the death of his father, his
mother had had many hard struggle
to support herself. The fact was
well known to her son, whose greatest
ambition at the time was to be able to
provide comforts for her by his own
excrtions.
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 length an idea flashed through
his mind. 1t was a recognized Gus
tom 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 the
summons, should the king require his
services.
Fritz discovered that to some of
the pages this duty was both burden
some and disagreeable, and that to
provide substitute they would glad
ly give certain some of money
Fritz offered to take upon himself the
night-watch for another 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 reg
uIarly sent by Fritz to his mother.
One night the king could not sleep,
and determined 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
ante-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 letter which
Fritz had been writing to his mother
when overpowered by sleep. The
king read the following lines:
My Dearly Beloved Mother: This ia the
third night that have taken watch duty for a
comrado. can scarcely hold ont any longer,
but ] rejoice greatly that have again earned
ten thaers for you, which send In this letter" !"
With heart deeply touched by this
proof of tender fiilial 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 pockets he
gently slid the rolls of money. Then
betaking himself again to bed, the
king considerably left exhausted ma
turc to restore itself.
Fritz at last awoke with start, to
find that he must have slept for sew
eral 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
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 a 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 derelic-
ton of duty of which he had been
guilty., and humbly beg for pardon.
One hurried glance his monarch's 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 a faltering voice he
now gave expression to his heartfelt
gratitude and thanks for the magnif-
tcent gift his majesty had bestowed
upon him.
The king did not attempt to conceal
the high admiration he felt for the
tilial love which had prompted Fritz
to such noble, seIf-denying exertions.
He made few kind inquiries regard
ing his mothers circumstances; as
sured him of his entire sympathy, and
promised that from that day it would
be his endeayor to promote the in
terests and pave the way to advance
ment of such a loving son.
And Frederick the Great was as
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 skiIlfuI general served his
beloved king faithfully and well even
to old age.