Storyteller.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 7, 13 May 1893, Page 13

Storyteller.

THE “ PRUSSIAN TRICK.”

Like the Eastern Caliph Haroun Abrasschild, Fredrick the Great was fond of walking about his capital ■unattended. He usually wox-e a shabby uniform and the large military cloak of a private soldier, and often visited the taverns that he might see how his troops behaved when off duty. On one of these excursions his attention was attracted by a soldier of a line regiment who was spending his money freely, and who at last asked the King to join him in a friendly glass. After some pressing, Frederick consented, but hinted that his new friend was too liberal, and that the pay of a private could not support such indulgence. The linesman looked at him quietly for a moment, half emptied his glass, and said, mysteriously — “ Ah ! but I’ve learnt the Prussian trick.” “ What is that ?” asked the king. “ I’m surprised that an old soldiexlike you is so ignorant,” said the lineman ; “ but it will be safer- not to tell you.” This aroused Fiudexick’s curiosity, and he pressed for further information. At last his companion said, “ Well, if you must know I sell everything I can possibly do without. We are at peace ; what do I want with a steel sword blade! I have sold it and made myself a wooden one. And he gave the king ocular demonstx-ation of the fact by unsheathing his weapon. Fredexick concealed his astonishment, but soon quitted the tavexn. Before long the regiment to which the lixxesman belonged was ordered to parade befox-e the King. The tx-oops wei-e drawn up, and when Fredex-ick arrived he rode up and down the lines till he discovered his former companion, and then ordered him and the man next to him to come to the front.

“ Kow,” said the King to the man •whom he had met in the tavern, “ draw your sword and cut oh this fellow’s head !” “But your Majesty, he has done me no harm.” “ Draw !” shouted Frederick, “or I’ll order oh a file of men, and have you shot for disobedience to orders. The linesman was equal to the occasion. He g’raspecl the hilt of his sword, looked at his neighbour, and then upwards, and exclaimed : “Well, if X must, I must; but to save me from the guilt of murder, I pray that my sword blade may be turned into wood!” And as he drew his sword to the astonishment of everyone but the King and himself, sure enough the blade was wood. Frederick laughed grimly, and said, as he turned to ride awav :

“ I see you do understand the Prussian trick : take care you don t play it once too often.”