was his main diet in boyhood,--beer-soups,
dress-frocks, first attempts at walking; and then also his little bits
of intellectualities, moralities; his incipiencies of speech, demeanor,
and spiritual development; and did her function very honestly, there is
no doubt.

Wilhelmina mentions her, at a subsequent period; and we have a glimpse
of this same Roucoulles, gliding about among the royal young-folk, "with
only one tooth left" (figuratively speaking), and somewhat given to
tattle, in Princess Wilhelmina's opinion. Grown very old now, poor
lady; and the dreadfulest bore, when she gets upon Hanover and her
experiences, and Queen Sophie Charlotte's, in that stupendously
magnificent court under Gentleman Ernst. Shun that topic, if you love
your peace of mind! [_Memoires_ (above cited).]--She did certainly
superintend the Boy Fritzkin for his first seven years; that is a
glory that cannot be taken from her. And her pupil, too, we agreeably
perceive, was always grateful for her services in that capacity. Once
a week, if he were in Berlin, during his youthful time, he was sure
to appear at the Roucoulles Soiree, and say and look various pleasant
things to his "CHER MAMAN (dear Mamma)," as he used to call her, and
to the respectable small parts she had. Not to speak of other more
substantial services, which also were not wanting.

Roucoulles and the other female souls, mainly French, among whom the
incipient Fritz now was, appear to have done their part as well as could
be looked for. Respectable Edict-of-Nantes French ladies, with high
head-gear, wide hoops; a clear, correct, but somewhat barren and meagre
species, tight-laced and high-frizzled in mind and body. It is not a
very fertile element for a young soul: not very much of silent piety
in it; and perhaps of vocal piety more than enough in proportion. An
element founding on what they call "enlightened Protestantism," "freedom
of thought," and the like, which is apt to become loquacious, and too
conscious of itself; terming, on the whole, rather to contempt of the
false, than to deep or very effective recognition of the true.

But it is, in some important senses, a clear and pure element withal. At
lowest, there are no conscious semi-falsities, or volunteer hypocrisies,
taught the poor Boy; honor, clearness, truth of word at least; a
decorous dignified bearing; various thin good things, are honestly
inculcated and exemplified; nor is any bad, ungraceful or suspicious