Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-08-18
j @IH1 ij:3z IS
LINsENBARTH's "P0TLIDs."
A Story From Prussian History.
ny Thomas Carlyle Hoadley.

may not that be the king"
In his hand he held q scholarly me.
mortal of the case that he had written
at the landlords suggestion. He had
spent half the night in copying it out.
Presently the officer whom he took
to be the king caught sight of him
and halted.
"Wcll, old man." said the officer,
coming up, "and what wilt thou
have"
"Are you his majesty the king?"
asked Linsenbarth. His voice took on
Il quaver and his knees became shame
fully weak.
Is yondcr where the bands are playing
1t is parade time. Can you see none
but the king ~
Briefly the schoOlmaStcr set forth his
Grand, prolfering his papers. The
officer, waggish little chap, made
rare sport of his cherished memorial,
but, after quizzing him minute, lie
pointed to a walk which led down
to the terrace.
go you down to that great tree and
stand-the king passes that way from
parade and will see you. Attentions!
Hat under left arm! Right foot fore
most! Papers in hand above head
higher-highcr! Sos tand thus.
March"
1t was long before the bands ceased
,,1n ,;,,fr t,,1 Ia, 7 inc nj I,
strictly following his madcap orders.
was wcll-nigh exhausted, when, quite
suddenly, brisk little man in shabby
uniform came striding along the path.
And now there could be no more doubt
at all-this was the king! The old
tutor wondered at his absurd error.
When the brisk little man cast eye
upon the queer figure he halted sharp-
ly. He seemed to understand th:. af-
fair at once, said nothing, did not even
smile, but reached up, graspcd the
papers with almost rude quickness and
disappeared up the terrace, leaving
Linsenbarth overcome with amaZement
and joy. His case had reached the
king! 1t seemed as though the very
trees must hear his eXultant, thump.
ing heart.
While lie was still rubbing his be-
numbed arm and fingers the king came
striding back with even greater brisk
ness. Linscnbarth came quickly to "at-
tention' again, but his majesty beck
Oned him to his side.
80 they have taken your money
from you, old grandsr" he said, kind
"
"Yes, your majesty"
you are not of Bcrlin?"
No. your majesty. l come from the
village of Hemmleben and have taught
school there all my life. am versed in
p0lemics, Heb"
Eyes, yes" interrupted the king.
But could you not finish your days
there-you, who have taught thus
long?"
"No, sire; l was turned adrift to
give place to a younger man."
5000! Well, it is hard world for
YOU old fellows. Yet Berlin pave
ments, too, are hard, and ere you get
teaching there your bit of money may
be quite gone. Still, you must have
bread, and we shall sc what can be
done. We will restore your batzen
money-you are stranger and did not
know the prohibition"
Linscnbarth would have thanked him,
but the king deity set him to talk
ing OF his native village and his life
here. TO and fro they walked, his
majesty putting questions so easily and
acting in so thoroughly human man
ner that the aged tutor quite forgot
that he was talking to the young king
of Prussia-the wise king who had so
recently conquered the Austrians anG
doubled his kingdom. Why. this little
man seemed no more kingly than the
fat innkeeper himself, and he certain
ly had not onc-tenth the unapproachn-
bility of his own minister.
Quite fifteen minutes they walked
on the terrace, the king listening close
ly to the old tutors chatter Of his days
at school, until the dinner hour was
announced to his majesty by an order
ly. AS the king departed up the ter
race the orderly took Linsenbarth in
charge and conducted him to room
at the rear Of the palace, where Il
plentiful rcpast was spread. After the
old tutors .5oltish appetite had been
satisfied carriage appeared and
the orderly accompanied him to Ber-
lin. 1t was late at night when they
arrived, but tile customs officer was
sent for and came post haste Mt the
alarming summons. A letter which the
orderly delivered to him by no means
allayed his fears and he fastened to
bring out the bag Of coin that he had
so imperiously seized. When the bag
was handed to Linscnbarth with dircc-
tons to 'sec if it was all correct" he
found that the despiscd bntzen had
been changed into new Prussian gold.
From the customs house the orderly
proceeded to the "White Swan" where
Linscnbarth's score was paid in full
"for interest" the orderly explained
rs he drove away.
mat night the ScnOOlmaStcr ana the
fat innkcepcr sat up very late, smok-
ing far more pipes than was good for
either of them. The innkecper took
an immense amount Of credit to him
self for the happy turn the affair had
taken.
"Ay, good little king, our Freder-
ick," he repeated again and again.
"Such king as Prussia has never had
before. And such just king-ay,
Herr Linsenbarth-it is fortunate that
l thought of sending you to him."
To all Of which the delighted old
tutor readily acquicsced.-Chicago Rec
ord.
Made Her Proud.