Year: 1861

| TO MS m0ther.


mother, give me sack and l will take
two pecks of potatoes to my father"


Are you pot dieaninga" replied his
mether, smiling, "just think of it. You
would have to carry sack Of potatoes four
hundred miles on your shouldersl Away
with such thoughtW


These words were much quicker said than
obeyed. Soldier Fritz tried very hard to for
get the potatoes, but be could not. Where
ever he. went they would come afresh into his
mind. Eyen when he lay on the bed at night
he could get no rest ). and. ofsen he would
start up in his sleep and cay to himself -
g Father, you shall and mast haze some Of the
potatoes in our CELLAR"


One bright morning everybody wondered
why Eritz was not down to breakfast. LIE
was always an early riser, and no one ever
thought of awaking him. By-and-by his
mother went up staizs and knocked at his
door. But she resolved no reply. So she
went in; but her boy was not there. She
concluded, however, that he had gone out in-
20 the meadow for q morning walk, and VOC
! be home again Some time during the morn
! ing. But time passed on and Fritz did not
come home. The clock struck twslve-one
two but he was still absent Finally
nigh came on; and the only neEs they had
concerning Fritz was that he had been seen
on the road about the middle of the afternoon
soitk large sack on his shoulders!
"Alas alas !" exclaimed his mether. " /
shall not zee my son again What madness
to think of taking potatoes to his fathefl


Then she went up into his room, and found
that his Sunday clo hes, his new boots and
a sack be had begged fr m her three days
bafore, were ell gone. g He is gouel May
the Lord protect him and bring him safe
home againi' After this abort prayer she
wept O. if har heart would break 1t was
the beginning Of many so7rogful dag to
| her.


Now must tell you how Fritz succeeded
in his travels with the sack on bis shoulders.
He did not know the way to the river R.hiae,
but made Inquiries. of everybody whom he
met. He had no money; in tact he had
started from home with only nine cents in
| his pocket and it did not take long to find
some use for that. But be thought to him
self, Wherever go the people will surely
give me a loaf Of bread. l need only tell
them what have in my bag, and to whom !
am carrying the potatoes. Everybody will
be glad to hslp me. And after while l
/ shall reach my father. What surprise it
will be to him Then will 7 say to him,:-
Father, have picked out the beat potatoes
in our cellar for you, and hers they are"


The hopes that Fritz had of being assisted
By other people were all realized, Though it
was not a safe plan for him to depend upon
them. lie found 5enefactors in the inn where
he stopped Oh the first night cf bis journey
/ fer when the morning came the guests made
him up purse OF eight dollars. By means
of this he was enabled to ride two. DAYS in
the mail coach. But when it was all gene. be
shouldered his sack of potatoes again, and
trudged On in the direction of the river Rhine
At another hotel where he halted to spend
the night the landlord asked him where he
was going. Fritz replied by telling hitn that
hia father was in the Prussian army, that he
had written about his having eaten no pota>
toes for six months, and also that he had
said: in his letter he would like SO much tc
have some of the good ones he had left al
home. Here's boy who loves his pa,
rentsl" said the landlord whereupon hi
sook paper and pencil, and raised from his
guests subscription of twenty-eight dollars
But Fritz would only take seven dollars, fol
he said he would not have cent more thar
would carry him to the Rhine where hi
(ather was.


Finally, after Fritz had journeyad many
long mile, he saw in the distance the frs
sentinel that kept guard around the Prussiar
army.


Will you be kind enough to tell m,
where my father is - was the question hi
asked of the soldier.


Foolish boy" answered the Iong-whis-
kered sentinel, how do you suppose know
who your father is, or with what regiment ht
is connected ?"


81 beg your pardon, ''replied Soldier Fritz
hurriedly. My fathers name is Martir
Bolierman, and he is sergeant in the Bran
denburg regiment.


IAN right, my young friend. you can pas
on"


Then Fritz walked as fast as be could. un
til he came to the second sentinel then t,
the third /; and finally to the adjutant, wbt
p took him by the hand, and, after placing him
self right in front of him, made strict ez-
animation of him. But the moro he .ques
toned the boy, the more friendly and pleas
ant he become.


Come along with me- he said, I" / thinl
we shall be able to find your father withcu
much trouble"


} So they walked on until they came to
} magnificent tent, from the top,o which ther,
,foated q beautiful flag. It was made of fin,
elk. and Fritz's heart bounded for joy as b,
saw it streaming in the wind. He went init
the tent. with the adiutant and onIv tonk hi