The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-15

the hero of Torgau, who, with three
wounds, chronic rheumatism and al
most as tile money as he had ten
years before, found it no easy matter
to make both ends meet"
One by one he had to part with all
the little knickknacks which he had
treasured up so long-the silver mount
ed pistols presented to him by junior
officers OF his regiment, the fieldglass
which he had used during his last cam
paign and the ivory handled hunting
knife which had been given to him by
an Austrian prisoner to whom he had
shown some kindness. Even his watch
had to be sold ut last. But, although
In this sore strait, he could not bring
himself to part with the chain which
had been a gift to him from his wife
not long before her death.
There was still, however, one hope
left for the poor old man. King Fred
erick was now back again in his palace
at Potsdam, near Berlin; and, having
by this time begun to get the affairs of
his kingdom into some sort of order
again, he was not so overwhelmingly
DuSy dS uc Uhd DeeH DclOIc.
some help might be got from him, and,
at all events, it was worth while to
try.
Tapfermann's first idea was to draw
up a memorial stating his case and
send it to Frederick himself; but he
then remembered that it would have to
pass through several hands before
reaching the king and might possibly
never reach him at all. In any case
he could not afford to wait long for an
| answer, being almost down to his last
penny as it was, so he finally determin-
| ed to present himself at the palace and
| see what would become of it.
The very next morning, accordingly
the major smartened up his worn and
| faded uniform as well as he could, and
| concealed the absence of his watch by
| fixing the chain in it's usual place and
keeping it there by attaching to one
end of it the memorable ''fattened bull
let" of Torgau, which he had preserved
| as a souvenir ever since. Then, tax
| ing his stick in his hand, he set out fol
Potsdam.
| He had to do the whole nine miles OF
foot, the hire of a horse being far be
yond his means, poor fellow, and wher
he reached the palace he was heated
and covered with dust and altogether
very strange figure to appear at 6
kings levee, as the scornful glances Of
the smart officials plainly told him.
Among these there was one meal
and malicious fellow, Hugo Won Wake
nitz by name, who held the post O
chamberlain of the palace, and, beini
mortally jealous Of every. one whom
the king seemed inclined to favor, ant
more especially Of Frederick's old off
GERS, always did his best to keep then
away from the royal presence. 1t hap
pened by i'll luck that just as Majo
Tafpermann opened his uniform to ad
just his chain (Which he had got out o
place in the course Of this long march,
the chamberlain, looking down from
one of the windows, saw what he wa
} about.
The courtier's quick eye detected a
glance that the chain had bullet IN
stead of a watch attached to it, and, fa
J from plying the old warriors poverty
| Us duy True I1dn WOuld nave oOhO, ILL
: spiteful rogue at once resolved to ge
J rid of him by putting him to ope
shame before the whole assemble
, company.
And it really seemed as If circun
stances themselves had conspired t
/ aid his cruel project, for when the kin
made his appearance his first remar
was:
, MY watch must surely be wrong, fo
: had no idea that it was anywher
, near my hour for receiving visitors
Wakenitz, what says your watch?'
r "Most unfortunately, your majest!
e mine has just stopped" answered th
3 chamberlain. But l see this worth
officer here (glancing at Major Tapfel
!. NANNY has brought his along with hin
4 and he will doubtless be able to tie
e your majesty the true hour"
] The spiteful tone and look of til
= speaker did not escape the shrew
] king; but, before he could make an
0 comment, the stout old major, drawin
j himself up proudly, answered Frede
o ick's inquiring glance by holding U
d the useless watch chain and the fla
+ tened musket ball which hung to it {
Y that every one could see them.
e At the sight of the fiattened bull
and the sound Of the old warrior
g voice the recollection Of his rescuer c
= the field of Torgau flashed back upc
the kings memory in a moment, al
r one glance at the brave old man
Y threadbare dress and at the malicio,
l. grin upon the face Of the chamberla
u sufficed to tell him the whole story.
Is "Here is a watch for you, my o
comrade, which will tell you the rig
t. time" said Frederick, taking off b
it town watch and handing it to the m
le jor, "and that you may have chan
Of using it in my service give you
If place in my household from this d;
K, forth, and as for you, you rascal"
It added, casting a terrible look at tt
discounted chamberlain, "since "
n are mean enough to insult an old m;
n who has fought bravely for his xii
k and country, get out of my sight, al
never show your face here again.
8 From the German.
n Very Sad.