The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-04-12
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SOLDIER FRITZ.

SOLDIER FRITZ. \,
Once in far of Germany there liv-
led little boy whose name was
Fritz; he was always called Soldier
Fritz, perhaps because to be a soldier
was his chief ambition.
His father was serving in the Prus-
sian army when Fritz was ten, or
twelve, years old; it was about this
time that his mother received letter
from her husband, in which he stated
that, although he was getting along
very nicely and had recently been
promoted from corporal to sergeant,
yet he was not satisfied. The food
on which he lived was coarse and not
very nourishing. elbow much I
should relish,'' said he, "some of our
nice potatoes; it is impossible to pro-
cure any here" Fritz thought about
this good deal. and finally he re-
solved to carry some potatoes to his
father.
Accordingly he took sack and
went into the cellar, where he put in
to it about a peck of the incest,
soundest potatoes he could find.
Then he started off down the road
with the sack over his shoulder, al
though he must have known that the
army in which his father was enlisted
was about hundred miles away on
| the river Rhine. ~
At night he stopped at roadside
tavern, where he told his story to
some men who were delighted with
him and said that he was true SOL
| dier's son. Fritz was given good
supper by the kind landlord and
then put to bed. After this one of
the men who had heard his story
proposed taking up a collection for
him. This was readily done and
in the morning it was presented to
him. s
! Day after day Fritz trudg I'd on until
at last, still carrying his potatoes, he
reached the place where the army
was stationed. The sentry stopped
him and asked what his business
was and what his name. "My name
j is Fritz Ballerman," said he, land I
have come to see my father, Sergeant
Ballerman, and to carry these pota-
toes to him. The sentry let him
pass and so did the next, and at last
he reached an adjutant, or orderly,
who took him to the Generals tent.
The General asked him his name
what he wanted, and Fritz told him.
'sThen," said the great man, Il will
find your father for you, my little
man, ard you may go into the next
room and wait until I ask for you"
Fritz did as he was told and was
soon sound asleep in a big chair.
The General then invited some of
his highest officers and Sergeant
Ballerman to his tent for supper;
but the great officers were very much
amazed and disguised when they
found that poor sergeant was pres
ent and that the dish of honor was
potatoes. The General told them that
if they only knew how the potatoes
came into camp, they would be glad
of the honor of eating one. Of course
they asked him to tell them about it.
Il am not very good at story telling"
said he, "But I will call my story
teller" He called Fritz into the
room and babe him tell about coming
SO far from his. home to bring his
father a few potatoes. Fritz COM
piled, and they all had very merry
evening. ,....
After the officers were gone, the
General left the room moment; on
returning he brought large roll Of
paper and purse. 'Here is your
discharge" said he to the. old SER
geant, 'sand well you have deserved
it." Then giving the purse to Fritz's
father, he said, 'Give this to your son
when he becomes a man. And don't
forget to send him to my regiment
when he is old enough"
lima GALE, Seventh Grade.
ST. BERNARD DOGS.
Far away from this place, across
the Atlantic Ocean, is a country call