sch. While he was thus occupied, the little prince tossed his
shuttlecock, springing lightly after it on tiptoe to catch it; sometimes
he missed it, and then he cast an imploring look at the king, as it fell
upon the furniture; but he observed it not. He was absorbed in writing
the instructions for the education of the future king, Frederick William
III. The physical education of the prince was his first care. He dwelt
upon the necessity of the 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 world, virtue is rewarded
and vice punished. Later, he can learn a short course of logic, free
from all pedantry; then study the orations of Cicero and Demosthenes,
and read the tragedies of Racine. When older, he should have some
knowledge of the opinions of philosophers, and the different religious
sects, without inspiring him with dislike for any one sect. Make it
clear to him that we all worship God--only in different ways. It is
not necessary that he should have too much respect for the priests who
instruct him."

The shuttlecock fell, at this instant, upon the paper upon which the
king was writing. Frederick was too much occupied to look up, but he
threw it upon the floor, continuing to write:

"The great object will be to awaken a love of learning in the prince,
to prevent any approach to pedantry, and not to make the course of
instruction too severe at the commencement. We now come to the chief
division of education, 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 nephew as the son of a citizen, who has to make
his own fortune. Say to him that, when he commits follies, and learns
nothing, the whole world will despise him. Let him assume no mannerisms,
but bring him up simply. The--"

It was the second time the shuttlecock fell upon the paper. The king
looked up censuringly at the prince, who stood speech