Well, if so,--and even if not quite so,--it is a comfort to
reflect that every true worker (who has blown away chaff &c.),
were his contribution no bigger than my own, may have brought the
good result NEARER by a hand-breadth or two. And so we will end
these preludings, and proceed upon our Problem, courteous reader.



Chapter II.

FRIEDRICH'S BIRTH.

Friedrich of Brandenburg-Hohenzollern, who came by course of
natural succession to be Friedrich II. of Prussia, and is known in
these ages as Frederick the Great, was born in the palace of
Berlin, about noon, on the 24th of January, 1712. A small infant,
but of great promise or possibility; and thrice and four times
welcome to all sovereign and other persons in the Prussian Court,
and Prussian realms, in those cold winter days. His Father,
they say, was like to have stifled him with his caresses,
so overjoyed was the man; or at least to have scorched him in the
blaze of the fire; when happily some much suitabler female nurse
snatched this little creature from the rough paternal paws,--and
saved it for the benefit of Prussia and mankind. If Heaven will
but please to grant it length of life! For there have already been
two little Princekins, who are both dead; this Friedrich is the
fourth child; and only one little girl, wise Wilhelmina, of almost
too sharp wits, and not too vivacious aspect, is otherwise yet
here of royal progeny. It is feared the Hohenzollern lineage,
which has flourished here with such beneficent effect for three