King Frederick of Prussia, when he was out riding one day, saw an old farmer, who was plowing a field and singing cheerfully over his work. “You must be well off, old man,” cried the king. “Does this acre belong to you on which you so industriously labor?” “No, Sir,” replied the old man, who of course had no idea that he was speaking to the king; “I am not so rich as that. I plow for wages.” “How much do you earn a day?” asked the king. “Eight groschen,” returned the man. That would be about twenty cents of our money. “That is very little,” said the king. “Can you get along with it?” “Get along! yes, indeed, and have something left.” “Well,” said the farmer, smiling, “I will tell you. Two groschen are for myself and my wife; with two I pay my old debts, two I lend, and two I give away for the Lord’s sake.” “This is a mystery which I cannot solve,” said the king. “Then I must solve it for you,” replied the farmer. “I have two old parents at home, who kept me and cared for me when I was young and weak and needed care. Now that they are old and weak, I am glad to keep and care for them. That is my debt, and it costs me two groschen a day to pay it. Two more I spend on my children’s schooling. If they are living when their mother and I are old, they will keep us, and pay back what I lend. Then with my last two groschen I support my two sick sisters, who can not work for themselves. Of course I am not compelled to give them the money; but I do it for the Lord’s sake.” “Well done, old man,” cried the king, as he finished. “Now I am going to give you something to guess. Have you ever seen me before?” “In less than five minutes you shall see me fifty times, and carry in your pocket fifty of my likenesses.” “This is indeed a riddle which I can not guess,” said the farmer. “Then I will solve it for you,” returned the king; and with that he put his hand into his pocket, and pulling out fifty gold pieces, placed them in the hands of the farmer. “The coin is genuine,” said the king, for it also comes from our Lord God, and I am his pay-master, I bid you good bye.” And he rode off, leaving the good old man overwhelmed with surprise and delight.