Dohna's), but fonder of
fighting than of teaching grammar; whom Friedrich Wilhelm found doing
soldier's work in the trenches, and liked the ways of; he, as the
foundation-stone of tutorage, is to be first mentioned. And then Count
Fink von Finkenstein, a distinguished veteran, high in command (of whose
qualities as Head-Tutor, or occasional travelling guardian Friedrich
Wilhelm had experience in his own young days [_Biographisches Lexikon
aaler Helden und Militairpersonen, welche sich in Preussischen Diensten
berumht gemacht haben_ (4 vols. Berlin, 1788), i. 418, ? Finkenatein.--A
praiseworthy, modest, highly correct Book, of its kind; which we
shall, in future, call _Militair-Lexikon,_ when referring to it.]); and
Lieutenant-Colonel Kalkstein, a prisoner-of-war from the Swedish side,
whom Friedrich Wilhelm, judging well of him, adopts into his own service
with this view: these three come all from Stralsund Siege; and were
of vital moment to our little Fritz in the subsequent time. Colonel
Seckendorf, again, who had a command in the four thousand Saxons here,
and refreshed into intimacy a transient old acquaintance with Friedrich
Wilhelm,--is not he too of terrible importance to Fritz and him? As we
shall see in time!--

For the rest, here is another little incident. We said it had been a
disappointment to Papa that his little Fritz showed almost no appetite
for soldiering, but found other sights more interesting to him than the
drill-ground. Sympathize, then, with the earnest Papa, as he returns
home one afternoon,--date not given, but to all appearance of that
year 1715, when there was such war-rumoring, and marching towards
Stralsund;--and found the little Fritz, with Wilhelmina looking over
him, strutting about, and assiduously beating a little drum.

The paternal heart ran over with glad fondness, invoking Heaven to
confirm the omen. Mother was told of it; the phenomenon was talked
of,--beautifulest, hopefulest of little drummers. Painter Pesne, a
French Immigrant, or Importee, of the last reign, a man of great skill
with his brush, whom History yet thanks on several occasions, was
sent for; or he heard of the incident, and volunteered his services. A
Portrait of little Fritz drumming, with Wilhelmina looking on; to which,
probably for the sake of color and pictorial effect, a Blackamoor,
aside with parasol in hand, grinning approbation, has been added,--was
sketched, and dexterously worked out in oil, by Painter