to hunting at all, or find
the least of permanent satisfaction in shooting partridges and baiting
sows,--"with such an expenditure of industry and such damage to the
seedfields," he would sometimes allege in extenuation. In later years
he has been known to retire into some glade of the thickets, and hold a
little Flute-Hautbois Concert with his musical comrades, while the sows
were getting baited. Or he would converse with Mamma and her Ladies, if
her Majesty chanced to be there, in a day for open driving. Which things
by no means increased his favor with Papa, a sworn hater of "effeminate
practices."

He was "nourished on beer-soup," as we said before. Frugality, activity,
exactitude were lessons daily and hourly brought home to him, in
everything he did and saw. His very sleep was stingily meted out to
him: "Too much sleep stupefies a fellow!" Friedrich Wilhelm was wont
to say;--so that the very doctors had to interfere, in this matter, for
little Fritz. Frugal enough, hardy enough; urged in every way to look
with indifference on hardship, and take a Spartan view of life.

Money-allowance completely his own, he does not seem to have had till
he was seventeen. Exiguous pocket-money, counted in GROSCHEN (English
PENCE, or hardly more), only his Kalkstein and Finkenstein could grant
as they saw good;--about eighteenpence in the month, to start with, as
would appear. The other small incidental moneys, necessary for his use,
were likewise all laid out under sanction of his Tutors, and accurately
entered in Day-books by them, audited by Friedrich Wilhelm; of which
some specimens remain, and one whole month, September, 1719 (the Boy's
eighth year), has been published. Very singular to contemplate, in these
days of gold-nuggets and irrational man-mountains fattened by mankind at
such a price! The monthly amount appears to have been some 3 pounds
10 shillings:--and has gone, all but the eighteenpence of sovereign
pocket-money, for small furnishings and very minute necessary
luxuries;--as thus:--

"To putting his Highness's shoes on the last;" for stretching
them to the little feet,--and only one "last," as we perceive. "To
twelve yards of Hairtape,"--HAARBAND, for our little queue, which
becomes visible here. "For drink-money to the Postilions." "For the
Housemaids at Wusterhausen," Don't I pay them myself? objects the
auditing Papa, at that latter kind of items: No more of that. "For
mending the flute, four GROSCHEN [or