Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-05-08
SELECTIONS.
7--,-7---0-7---~---> -~-7-5'~i
A MISFIT MARRIAGE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.


A MISFIT MARRIAGE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN
Frederick the Great was a very
peculiar man. He was as full Of &c
centricities as herring is of bones
Some writer's who have studied his
character very closely maintain that
most of the time he was crazy. One
of his peculiarities was to stroll Out
with a demure sort of a look on his
face and rattan cane in his good
right hand. All at once he would
bend it, the cane, out of shape around
the persons of such of his loving sub
ing subjects as he found lettering or
loating. ALI such were positive that
he was little out of his mind, and
should be locked up in an asylum for
the feebled- minded.
Frederick's great hobby was his
regiment OF giants, of which he was
proud as if he was their parental
ancestor. 1t was the opinion Of his
majesty that marrying his giant sol
diers to women of similar stature a
race of his giants would be the re
suit. The wishes and feelings of the
parties thus mated were never taken
into consideration, consequently
many OF the marriages entered into
at the instigation of Frederick were
not satisfactory to anybody except
himself.
One day Frederick was taking IA
ride on horseback in the vicinity of
Potsdam. Not far from the road
was an object that attracted his at
tention. At first he thought it was
a haystack, but he was not quite
sure of it, as haystacks were not in
the habit of moving. The object
moved.
Frederick rode up to it, when to
his utter amazement, the object was
transformed into the biggest woman
he ever saw. She was bending over
digging potatoes. AS she stood up
she shut out from the view OF the
king, a vast quantity OF blue sky. In
fact, the king, who had d;smounted,
was almost frightened as he looked
at his giantess.
She seemed to be about seven or
eight feet tall but we'll proportioned.
She held her apron with one hand,
while she allowed the potatoes with
which it was filed, to drop into a
large basket by her side. With her
left hand she welded shovel with
as much ease asif it had been a toas-
ting fork. She had flaxen hair, and
a face as round as full moon, but
there was a merry twinkle in her
blue eyes that indicated much moth
er wit.
"What are you doing there ??
asked the king.
"Can't you see for yourself! Pm
digging potatoes. Did you think ]
was playing on the piano ~
"How old are you, sissy"
II was seventee n years old on my
last birthday, hubby"
"Only seventeen 1t hardly seems
possible that you should have grown
all that distance in such short
time.n
Well, did and | did most of il
by myself, too, although had good
start. You are a polite gentleman
you are, to ask lady her age. If
were to judge of your age by your
size I'd say that You hadn't beer
weaned yet, although your face
shows that you were not born last
week.
The king, who was not accustomed
to this sort of talk, was angered, bu
recollecting that this peasant cir
had no idea of his identity, he smiled
and regaining his good humor con
tinued the conversation.
You amuse me, little one. Yol
are not married, supposei"
"No, and 1 don't expect that I vii
have chance to get married for the
next hundred years, or, at least
until the king pegs out. The wa,
that old sinner holds out is scandal
GUS. He takes all the men of an,
size and puts them in his big over
grown regiment at Potsdam. You
lain't going to propose to me are you