The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1892-07-02
A. s,,rewd Sentinel.

This story of Frederick the Great was
told me by . young soldier in Berlin who
vouched for it's accuracy, and can find no
good reason for doubling his word, now
that l am in America-I know it would
have been positively dangerous to have
done so in his presence.
The kingdom was at length at peace, and
Frederick selected to guard the palace at
Potsdam lot of his oldest and most faith
full veterans. These men soon learned that
the same vigilance was not needed about
the palace that was required in the pres
ence of the enemy, so they gradually fell
into the comfortable habit of snoozing in
their, sentry boxes.
This. delinquency was, reported to the
king, hat instead Of showing anger he de-
termined to play q practical joke on the
sleeping veterans and at the same time
find an opportunity to read them lee
ture.
1t had been his custom TO present to each
OF the veterans at Christmas a purse con-
tanning twenty pieces of gold, so he set
Christmas eve for the night when he
| should visit the posts about the palace,
where there were always twelve men on
| guard.
He made the rounds at midnight and
! found every man asleep in his box, then
| he returned to the palace and came back
| with tile twelve purses Carefully he tied
| one TO each soldiers musket and then
went to bed to await developments.
Nav, it SO CHANGED that one of the sol
| diers, who had been asleep when Frederick
! made his first tour of inspection, woke up
| in the meantime, and recognizing the king
| by the light of a lamp, and seeing him fas-
/ teiing something, TO the arms of the SOM
| nolent guards, he determined to remain
| quiet.
he had the others, and as soon as he was
| gone the veteran felt the purse and count
ell the money. Then he reasoned after this
fashion,
My comrades are all asleep, and as they
can know nothing about the kings gift
! why, it stands TO reason that they will
never miss it. y
/ Acting on this hint the old soldier Wis
tied all his comrades, relieved them Of
their purses, then went back to his box
and slept in earnest till he was relieved.
The next morning the king summoned
i the twelve sleepeIs before him. told then
4 that lie had visited them ut their posts tn,
nipilt before and asked them to tell thei
dreams.
Wish confusion eleven OF them confessed
That they had been asleep, out nau uFeasllc'
nothing. The twelfth man then up
preached, mud With q profound bow 10 tn
king, said;
i sire, dreamed that u person, who yer.
much resembled your majesty, visited !,
. last night, and, finding us all asleep, With
drew, but soon came hack with y lot o
. nurses which he thoughtfully fastened I
/ | the mnsket Of each. Then dreamed tina
was IN dread lest some one not SO homes
/, rs myself might chance along and rob m
! comrades, wherein, still dreaming, wen
, | out and gathered In all the money. nor Eel
, oyetayeighted with the burden"
From this Frederick inferred that Oh
aid f,llow had not been asleep at all. s.
! after che manner Of kings, who have lots'
: nancy without work, he told the vetera
: TO keep all the purses and he deferred n
1 usual presents TO tho others TN the ieS
year,
: II Was evidently the purpose OF the hoi
: est sentinel To keep all the purses II fre'
! eriek had net asked for an explanation
: ail OF which goes toprove that dishonest
: Ia sometimes the most paying policy.