Section 192. ROYAL BENEVOLENCE.
Reading edition
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia[1], once rang the bell[2] of his cabinet; but as nobody answered[3], he opened the door of the ante-chamber, and there found his page fast asleep[4] upon a chair[5]. He went up to awake him, but, coming nearer, he observed a paper in his pocket, upon which something was written[6]. This excited his curiosity. He pulled it out, and found that it was a letter from the page’s mother, the contents of which were nearly as follows[7]: “She returned her son many thanks[8] for the money he had saved out of his salary and sent to her, which had proved a very timely assistance[9]. God would certainly reward him for it, and if he continued to serve God and his king faithfully and conscientiously, he could not fail of success[10] and prosperity in this world[11].” Upon reading (S. 55, N. 1) this, the king stepped softly into his closet, fetched a rouleau[12] of ducats, and put it with the letter into the page’s pocket (S. 43, N. 9, B). He then rang again till the page awoke and came into his closet. “You have[13] been asleep, I suppose?” said the king. The page could not deny it, stammered out an excuse[14], put, in his embarrassment, his hand into his pocket, and felt the rouleau of ducats. He immediately pulled it out, turned[15] pale, and looked at the king with tears in his eyes. “What is the matter with you?” said the king. “Oh!” replied the page, “somebody has contrived[16] my ruin: I know nothing of this money.” “What God bestows[17],” resumed the king, “He bestows in sleep. Send the money to your mother (App. § 5), give my respects to her[18], and inform her that I will take care[19] of both her and you.”—W. Buck.