Old Fritz and the New Era

s. Then, raising up his head and shaking back his light-brown curls from his rosy cheeks, his bright-blue eyes sparkling, he looked him full in the face. "Your majesty, you s

ave let you come in at all

yself at your feet, and kissed your hand, saying, 'My king, my dear great-uncle, I must come in to thank you a thousand times for the fla

you think my courage could

he commission and the beautiful uniform which you so graciously sent to me! Tell me, your majesty, do I not look beautifully?"

look well-you must behave well. From a flag-bearer in my army I expect very different thin

bad marks when I wear the uniform. Your majesty can ask my tutor. He came with me, an

. "Now we will chat a little together. Tell me whether you are v

ehnisch leaves me no peace. I have scarcely time to play. I

eography and uni

re. My mother sent me last week a new battledore and shuttlecock, but I can never learn to play with it. I no sooner begin, than Herr Behnisch calls

ghtened, said: "Sire, I could not bring it any other way. I beg pardon, the uniform is so tight,

l forgive you the trick upon your tutor. But what wi

ajesty, it is so beautiful, and th

"If you deserve it, that shall be your reward. Te

'Bien' under my French exercise. Oh, I was so happy that I spent six groschen of the thaler my father gave me a little while since, a

hen you are good, you must always let your friends and r

, and I thank you for

to the officers who pay their respects to him on his father's account, and on my account, not on his own, for what do they care for such a little snip as he? They go to hon

deny it-I did behave badly

not from fear, I hope? I should be very angry a

tell you all about it. The officers came to see me at Easter, just as I had put the Easter eggs in the garden, for my little brother and some other boys whom I had invited to

ortunate," said the

, I was always wishing they would go. But they stayed and stayed-and when Major von Werder began to

, looking tenderly at the frank, glow

aking an abominable face. It is unfortunately true-I ran my tongue out at him-only just a little bit-and I drew it back in an instant

rude, my little flag-b

ntly, that he did not see the smile on Frederick's face, and th

mprisoned fourteen days, and live on

o the garden again, and I have never seen the eggs which I spent my last groschen for, nor the boys whom I had invited. I was made to stay in my room all Easter week, learn twenty Latin words ev

y no more about it," said the king. "But tell me, how did you get

e's own words.-See "Diary of Prince Frederick William," p. 18.] Herr Behnisch did not punish me; he only said, another time, that I should do better, and not be so taciturn, but gree

reward that you asked for-stay here and play a little while.

toward the door, but sudd

sked the king. "Why do

h will be very angry when you tell him about

e me, you must get the plaything

rather not play,

ou put it in. If you do it well, then I will say nothing about it; but, if your tutor discovers you, then you must su

stood near the door, and made the three prescribed bows;

looking the tutor full in the face. Herr Behnisch bore it calmly; not a feature moved in his angular, wooden

h!" said

ils of the flesh-colored satin coat with which the tutor had adorned himself for this extraordinary occasion. The prince smiled as he sa

rved the movement of the little prince, and who was amused

ng with outstretched hand. He menaced the king with a glance of his brig

ince you commenced teaching th

ce, your majes

have been faithful, and I am satisfied. The copybooks which you sent me according to my orders

very happy in the gracious satisfaction of your royal highness. I wished also to make known to you personally

he prince, who stood behind the tutor, h

lished. The battledoor was in the very depths of t

clamation of "very well" to himself-"your majesty, I am very happy

ll send you, monthly, for the prince, two Fredericks d'or, and, before you hand it over to him, change it into

stopped him, by saying, "I believe it is time to commence a regular course of instruction for the prince. At eight years of age the education of an hei

s to the letter," answered the tutor, who saw not the little prince,

wever, are in God's hands. Before we risk our lives, we should put every thing in order, and leave nothing undone which it is our duty to do. I will write my instructions to-day, and send

r. "I will, in all things, according to the best

he weal and woe of many millions are dependent. And when those millions of men one day bless the king whom you have educated, a part of the blessing will fall upon you; but when they curse him, so falls the curse likewise upon

wed, backing out

Staff to the tutor. "In order that you may ever remem

, with his initials set in brilliants upon the cover; handing it to Herr Behnisc

ed Herr Behnisch, with

you can count upon me. Adieu!-Now," said the king, a

prince, as he held up triumphantly the b

ou can stay with me and play with it here. Take ca

he frequent practice of dancing, fencing, and riding, to give suppleness, grace, and a good carriage-through severe training, to make him capable of enduring all hardships. The different branches of study next occupied the king. "It is not sufficient," he wrote, "that the prince should learn the dates of history, to repeat them like a parrot; but he must understand how to compare the events of ancient times with the modern, and discover the causes which produced revolutions, and show that, generally, in the worl

ich the king was writing. Frederick was too much occupied to

ation, that which concerns the morals. Neither you nor all the power in the world would be sufficient to alter the character of a child. Education can do nothing further than moderate the violence of the passions. Treat my

looked up censuringly at the prince, who stood speechless with frig

are in his education, above all things, that he is self-reliant, and not led by others; his follies, as well as his good qualities, should belong to himself. It is of very great importance to inspire him with a love for military life; and for this reason say to him, and let him hear others say it, that every man who is not a soldier is a miserab

ing. This time the king did not receive the interruption so calmly. He looked at the speechless boy as if v

prince shall tease and annoy him

y, "I beg pardon a thousand times for being so awkward.

his chief passion to uproot it, but to moderate it." [Footnote: This entire instruction is an exact trans

rince again, "I beg you will have th

pparent indifference commenced

n, his face grew red with anger, and his eyes flashed. With an irritated, determined manner, he stepped close up to the

over the king's face; he laid his hand lovingly upon the curly head of the prince, saying: "They will never take away Silesia from you.