The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-05-18
THE BOY AND THE KING.
How the Former Saved the Latter
Life,

or girl throughout our land who has
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 palace and
was the son of king, there are few
people in the word more miserably I'M
happy than he was for the first twenty
five 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 mind), 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.
| 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
Overtaken, however, he was thrust into
prison; and, more cruel than all, he
was compelled to watch from window
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 We're 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 snutfy waistcoat year after year.
and when he died he was actually bur-
led in his valet 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
built magnificent palaces. in which
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-
ligion.
Our own Washington aroused his
heartiest admiration. In proof of this,
he sent Prussian sword of honor to
Mount Vernon, with the inscription,
''From the oldest General to the Great
est"
II was this famous King, then. whose
life was once saved by the devotion OF
y little boy whom the King befriended,
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 FORTY one
day, according to his usual cua.uln,
when Il wretched-looking little boy
stopped before him. The child was
ragged little fellow, and held in his
arms box almost as big as himself.
''Oh, sir. wouldn't you like to see
my marionettes," asked the boy in his
simple fashion.
The King. smiling, asked if they
were in that box
Eyes. and they can perform very
well. They can dance; shall I show
them to you, sir?" eagerly repeated
the boy.
The King gently shook his head. He
had no wish to see the marionettes, but
the little boy interested him, and tho
King asked his name.
Antonio, SIR" was the answer. 81
am Savoyard. The marionettes are
from Savoy, too. We go through the
world together, and when we have
earned enough money to live on, We
are going home again, and then 1
hope that can learn to play on the
fute!"
''Are you so anxious, then, to become
a musician?" asked the King, more and
more drawn to the child.
Such look OF longing came over the
little up-turned face, that it was pitiful
to see it.
II always practice on my willow
whistle" said Antonio; ''but that's not
like real instrument, you know. A
real flute costs too much for me-" he
added. with sigh.
Perhaps the King remembered how
much pleasure he himself had found in
his flute when a boy. At all events, he
said: