Morris tribune., 1892-03-23
A sl,rewd Sentinel.

This story of Frederick the Great was
told me by young soldier in Berlin, who
vouched for its accuracy, and can find no
good reason for doubling his word, now
that | am in America-I know it would
have been positively dangerous to have
doneso in his presence.
The kingdom was at length at peace, and
Frederick selected to guard the palace at
Possdam a 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 snoozng in
their sentry boxes
This delinquency was reported to the
king, but instead of showing anger he de-
termined to play practical joke on the
sleeping veterans and at the same time
find an opportunity to read them Il lee
ture.
1t had been his custom to present to each
of the veterans at Christmas 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 a.
He made the rounds at midnight and
found every man asleep in his box, then
he returned to the palace and came back
with the twelve purses. Carefully he tied
one to each soldiers musket and then
went to bed to await developments.
Now, it so chanced 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 lamp and seeing him fas-
tening something to the arms of the SOM
nolent guards, he determined to remain
quiet.
Without word the king treated him as
he had the others, and as soon as he was
gone the veteran felt the purse and count
ed 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,"
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
the twelve sleepers before him, told them
that he had visited them at their posts the
night before and asked them to tell their
dreams.
With confusion eleven of them confessed
that they had been asleep, but had dreamed
nothing. The twelfth man then ap-
preached, and with profound bow to the
king, said:
'Sire, dreamed that person, who very
much resembled your majesty, visited US
last night, and, finding us all asleep, with
GffE Gfgh h1Vt sapn game back u4fjtff let ct &
the musket of each. Then dreamed that
I was in dread lest some one not so honest
as myself might chance along and rob my
comrades, whereon still dreaming, went
out and gathered in all the money, nor felt
overweighted with the burden"
From this Frederick inferred that the
old fellow had not been asleep at all. So,
after the manner of kings, who have lots of
money without work, he told the veteran
to keep all the purses, and he deferred his
usual presents to the others till the next
year. ... ....
It was evidently the purpose of the hon
est sentinel to keep all the purses if Fred |
erick had not asked for an explanation;
all of which goes to prove that dishonesty |
is sometimes the most paying policy.