The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-29
Frederick the Great.

Boston Herald.
1t is related of an illustrious 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 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 it
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 a recognized custom
that one of the pages should sit up all
night, in room adjoining the king
sleeping apartment, to be readt at 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
a substitute they would gladly give
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,
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
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
she boy was sitting. the kings eyes fell
upon letter which Fritz had been
writing to his mother when overpow-
red by sleep. The king read the fol-
owing lines:
my DEARLY BELOVED MOTHER:
This is the third night that l have
AIKEN watch-dIty for comrade, / can
carcely hold out any longer; but re-
dice greatly that l have again earned
EN- thalers for you. which | send in
his letter.
With heart deeply touched by this
roof of tender filial affection. the king
vent softly back to his room, took out
wo rolls of ducats from drawer, and .
eturned to the sleeping page, into
hose side pockets he gently slid the !.
olls of money. Then betaking him
IF again to bed. the king considerable
r left exhausted nature to restore it. :
If !,
Fritz at last awoke with a start, to .
nd that he must have slept for several e
ours; and, when finding his pockets :
savy, be thrust his hands in and
llled out the precious rolls of money, :,
: conjectured at once what had hap :.
sned. -
Fear made him tremble, for it was a fl
,inous offence to be caught asleep at
S post; but in spite of the fear and h,
anne he experienced, he could not but 4,
joice, for now he had ample means d,
assist his mother for a long time to SC
me; and he hoped that the king. al
no, in the goodness of his heart, had a
1t the ducats into his pockets, would
rdon his grievous fault.
In the morning he seized the very
st opportunity to approach the king, r.,
the great dereliction of 70
ty of which he had been guilty, and tic
mbly beg for pardon. RAJ
One hurried glance at the monarch's ale
nevolent countenence was enough, wa
: there he read not only forgiveness we
t approval; the kind eyes bent upon arr
n melted him to tenderness, and it ed
5 with faltering voice he now gave AS
preston to his heartfelt gratitude jul
d thanks for the munificent gift his Z
jesty had bestowed upon him. thu
The king did not attempt to conceal the
high admiration he felt for the Cal
al love which had prompted Fritz to dis
h noble, self-denying eNertions. He bee
de few kindly inquiries regarding sal
mothers circumstances, assured SUI
1 of his entire sympathy. and prom COZ
| that from that day it would be his A
leavor to promote the interests and of
e the way to advancement of such Par
aithful, loving son. Bel
nd Frederick the Great was as pai
d as his word. Step by step, as ing
RS rolled on, Fritz rose from one int
ition of honor to another, and as a sew
We and Skiliful general he served ms
beloved king faithfully and well T,
Id age. -
thrC