The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-05-11
King Frederick and the Irish Giant.

King Frederick and the Irish Giant.
A queer and testy man was Frederick
William l., the second king of Prussia,
and the father of the renowned monarch,
Frederick the Great He assembled the
throne in 1913.
He assembled and drilled great army
in time OF peace. He was very proud OF
their numbers and discipline, and among
his queer ambitions was one which was
very odd indeed He desired to have
certain corps OF soldiers which should
consist wholly of giants.
So he sent his agents all over Europe
giant-hunting. A difficult task the agents
had, for giants were not so numerous in
Europe as they are supposed to have been
in very ancient times, before history was
written. But one of them met with good
fortune, as you shall be presently told
One day, as one of the Prussian re-
cruiting sergeant was visiting London in
search for tall men for Fredericks ser
vice. his attention was called to crowd
in the streets.
He entered the crowd curiously, and to
his amazement and delight he there found
the tallest man he had ever SEEN
The man was an Irish giant His head
was covered with thick yellow hair: his
shoulders were broad. He rose above
the crowd like tower among houses.
He had come to England to seek work.
He was now out OF money, but he was
still good-natured and merry. Fat people
usually are cheerful, whatever may be
their condition.
The recruiting sergeant elbowed his
way through the crowd, greatly excited
thus to find the very man he had been
SO diligently looking for
He laid his hand 2on the Irishmans
sleeve. ts
Come with me! Come with me! I'm
soldier myself and | am always ready
to help comrade in distress"
But Dim not a soldier"
'Aren't you? Why, you look like
every inch a soldier: any man would take
you for one. You ought to be soldier,
sure. But never mind that. Come and
dine with me-"
That I will said Pat. "and ye need
not be after axing me twice"
The Irishman't appetite was as great
as his body. and when he was we'll filled
with liberal meal, he was always credit
lous and jolly, and easy to be persuaded
You are a fine fellow" said the SER
geant: "a wonderful fine fellow. Did You
ever think of turning soldier?"
An what should l turn soldier for?"
For honour and glory"
"A cannon ball wouldn't be apt to miss
me. sure; and what good would honor
and glory do me when my head was
gone, clane gone intirely?"
For money!"
"How much?"
81 will offer you safe position in the
Prussian Life-guards. The king, l am
sure, would pay four hundred pounds
down for strapping fellow like YOU"
-Four hundred pounds! Four hundred
pounds! Do hear my own ears ? Faix,
| will not be long in choosing. Pat o.
Flanagan is the boy for yez.'.
Good Can you speak German?"
German is it? Dutch-like? Sorra a
word of German can spake, if it were
to save my life from the hangman.'
well, no matter. Three sentences are
all you need to know. l can teach you
them"
What be thez?"
when the king first sees you in the
ranks he will come to you and say, ''How
old are your"
An what shall l say?"
Then he will ask YOU how long you
have been in the service"
AN what will l say thin?"
Three weeks"
'Then he will say
Are you provided with clothes and ra-
tions?' and you will answer. Both
81 think my head will hold that much"
Il will try you. How old are your"
Iwenty-seven years.
Glow long have you been in the ser
vice?"
Three weeks
care you provided with clothes and ra-
tions?''
Both"
On the journey to Berlin the sergeant
asked the happy recruit these questions
daily. He answered promptly and cor
rectly.
About three weeks after his arrival he
appeared on parade1in the corps of giants
for the first time. There were Arabs and
Danes and Moors, and Swedes in the
brigade: giants from almost all the coun-
tries of Europe. Pat stood like a
Saul among themsaH @ =
The king saw him and his face shone. ;,
ole beckoned him to step forward
Pat stepped forward proudly, and pre-
scented arms Iea
Il haven't seen YOU before" said the
king. "How long have you been in the
service" sd
"Twenty-seven years"
The king stared.ssa -
Twenty-seven oytdfs! should have