Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-05-16
ANTONIO AND KING FREDERICK.

I not heard the name of Frederick the
| Great. He was born in Berlin more
than one hundred and fifty years ago
but, although he lived in a palace and
! was the son of q king, there are few
people in the word more miserably un-
happy than he was for the first twenty
tive years of his life.
From boyhood, he had the great mis-
fortune to be hated, instead of loved, by
his father, who was cruel, despotic and
violent Gf not of unsound min6, and
so this poor young Frederick was a
witness of many strange scenes within
the palace walls. In the middle of his
dinner, plates were sometimes hurled
at his head; occasionally he was kicked
and dragged round the room by the
hair. and once the old King. finding his
son practicing upon the flute, in a rage
snatched the instrument away and
snapped it in two across the astonished
boys shoulders.
l have not time to tell you all the
cruel things this unnatural father did
to his son, but, at last, matters became
so unpleasant at home that the young
prince resolved to run away. Being
prison; and, more cruel than all, he
was compelled to watch from awindow
in the prison the execution of the kind
young friend who helped him to make
his escape!
At the age of twenty-eight, the old
King having died. Frederick himself
became King of Prussia. Up to this
time he had never been allowed to
have any thing to do with the govern
ment of his country, but he had occu-
pied himself in studying the language
and literature of France and in writing
books.
Now his pen was laid aside for the
sword, and he busted himself in build
ing up the power of his kingdom. All
his energies were given to this end.
He was so Industrious that he worked
twenty hours out of the twenty-four.
He was so frugal-as far as he himself
was concerned-that he wore the same
old snuffy waistcoat year after year,
and when he died he was actually bur-
led in his Wallets shirt, because he did
not possess a presentable one Of his
own!
But, although he left no rich gar
ments behind him, he left something
better, l think-a name. He had be-
come Frederick the Great! He had in
creased his armies, his, territories, and
the number of his subjects He had
mil icl,
members OF the royal family of Prussia
are living at the present day. He
had encouraged the arts and sciences,
had approved freedom rather than
tyranny among his people, and had per-
mitted no persecution on account Of re-
Egion.
Our own Washington aroused his
heartiest admiration. In proof of this,
he sent a Prussian sword of honor to
Mount Vernon, with the inscription,
Ell rom the oldest General to the Great
est"
1t was this famous King, then, whose
life was once saved by the devotion OF
a little boy whom the King befricnded, |
and this is how it happened:
One winter, when the Prussian troops
were stationed in Dresden, during the
Seven Years. War. the King made it
his habit to walk out every morning on
the terrace along the river bank.
He was pacing back and forth one
lay, according to his usual custom,
when a notwithstanding little boy |
stopped before him. The child was a
ragged little fellow. and held in his |
arms a box almost as big Us himself.
''Oh, sir, wouldn't you like to see
NY marionettes, asked the boy in his
simple fashion.
The King. smiling, asked if they
we're in that box.
Yes. and they can perform very
we'll. They can dance; shall | show
hem to you, sir9" eagerly repeated
he boy.
The King gently shook his head. He
lad no wish to see the marionettes. but
he little boy interested him, and the
King asked his name.
Antonio SIR" was the answer. 81
I'm Savoyard. The marionettes are
rom Savoy, too We go through the
world together, and when we have
earned enough money to live on, we
lre going home again, and then l
nope that l can learn TO play ON the
lute!''
care you so anxious, then, to become
! musician" asked the King, more and
more drawn to the child.
Such look of longing came over the
title up-turned face, that it was pitiful
o see it.
II always practice ON my willow
said Antonio; ''but that's not
ike real instrument. you know. A
'eal flute costs too much for me-" he
ldded, with a sigh
Perhaps the King remembered how
much pleasure he himself had found in
lis flute when boy. At all events, he
aid:
well, Antonio, if you are indus
rious and will prove that you really
wish to learn. you shall be taught by
thoroughly good teacher, and by and
~ you shall have a flute of your own to
zeep. How will that do?'
You may imagine how happy the
title Savoyard was at that Selling
he Kings hand in his small brown
paws he kissed it again and again. and
hen an appointment was made for him
o come to the palace the next day, in
order that the whole matter might be
arranged. The next morning Antonio
walked into the courtyard of the palace
With pride and happiness in his heart.