Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-06-08
THE MAJORS REWARD.

height. The air thick with hot, Still
ing smoke, and the cannonade made
the very earth tremble as column after
column of blue coated Prussian soldiers
came sweeping forth from the wood
that sheltered them from the flaming
mouths OF 400 cannon which Numbered
necessarily against the wood held by
the Prussians and against every living
thing that issued from it.
Twice the assailants had forced their
way through the pelting shot. and
twice they had been driven back with
severe loss after a desperate conflict
In the mad hurly burly and confusion
of that terrible struggle the two armies
had got so completely mingled together
that not few Prussan and Austrian
regiments had fairly changed places
and when the third attack began it
was no easy matter for the Prussian
column Of assault TO make out where
the key of the enemy's position lay
or which way they must turn in order
to strike It.
But just then appeared out of the
thick of the smoke a small lean. sickly
looking old man, In a soiled and
threadbare uniform, at the sight OF
whom and at the sound of the few
short. clear orders that he uttered ev-
erything seemed TO arrange itself at
once as ii BY magic. And well might
IL be so; for this queer little fellow
was no other than the King of Prussia
himself, Frederick the Great, wao had
already sent his name throughout the
whole world as the greatest soldier of
his time.
Just then. however. a body OF Aus
trian grenadiers showed themselves
through the rolling smoke at a short
distance and began 10 pour heavy
fire Of musketry upon the Prussians
and their leader. Two men fell wound
ed beside the king. and his own sleeve
was torn by a bullet
Your majesty is in danger here"
said Prussian officer, salutins him
respectfully "Will YOU not be pleased
TO move farther back?"
Frederick was just about to refuse.
for he cared little what risk he ran
provided his presence could do anyth-
ing to turn the fortune OF the battle.
But before he had time TO speak the
officer (who had placed himself in front
of the king, apparently to shield him
from the flying bullets with his own
body fell to the ground as if struck
by lightning
Frederick stopped over him with
look of concern, FOR he saw that tie
breast of the fallen mans uniform had
been pierced by bullet and naturally
concluded that he must be either kill
oil 4 1oI Dttf D.. So
no small amazemeut the suppose
dead man uddenly ose from the earth,
to all appearances quite uninjured. and
took out of his clothes a fattened
musket ball. which had been stopped
by the metal cover OF a miniature that
he wore in his breast
Il shall keep this" said he, holding
out the shapeess piece Of lead. lin re-
membrance OF your majesty"
you shall have something better
than that TO remember me by. my
brave fellow" answered the king kind
ly. You have saved my life. and you
shall not find me ungrateful. What is
your name?"
The officer told It, Frederick re-
peated 1t twice TO himself, as II to fix It
more surely In his memory, and then
he said:
Very good; will not forget you. II
we both live through this nights work,
you shall be promoted. And now let
each Of US go TO his duty"
And on the following morning. when
the battle was won and he Austrian
army in full retreat, King Frederick
made good his promise.
But unhappily the brave officers
good fortune went no further than this
Two years later the war came TO an
end, and Frederick, with his treasury
empty and his whole kingdom lying
wasted and ruined around him, was
fain to devote every penny that he
could raise to putting Of matters to
rights again.
AS matter of course every branch
OF public expenditure had TO be cut
down to the very lowest point. Among
other economies the army was reduced
by a good many thousand men. and the
sudden disbanding of so many regi-
ments at once was a heavy blow to
hundreds Of officers who Unexpectedly
found themselves cast upon The world
in their old age with no occupation,
no money IN their pockets and no Wis
ible way of getting any.
Among the countless sufferers by this
measure was poor Major Tapfermann,
the hero Of Trogau, who, with three
wounds. chronic Rheumatism and al
most as little money as he had ten
years before. found II no easy matter
TO make both ends meet
One by one he had 10 part with all
the little knickknacks which he had
treasured up so long-the silver
mounted pistols presented to him by
junior officers OF his regiment. tire
fleldglass which he had used during his
last campaign and the ivory handled
hunting knife which had been given 10
him by an Austrian prisoner to whom
he had shown some kindness Even
his watch had to be sold at last. But
although In ihis sore strait, he could
not bring himself TO part with the