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I am a wall…frog； who has nothing to do but creep into my hole； and； when I have vitality enough； to spit my venom upon the passers…by。 As to my friends； I have nothing to relate； I have no friends！ I hate all mankind； and I am hated by all。 I am especially on my guard with those who pretend to love me； I know that they are deceitful and traitorous； that they are only actuated by selfish motives。〃
〃Poor sister；〃 said the king； sadly； 〃how unhappy must you be to speak thus！ Can I do nothing to alleviate your misfortune？〃
Amelia laughed loudly and scornfully。 〃Forgive me； your majesty； but your question reminds me of a merry fairy tale I have just read of a cannibal who is in the act of devouring a young girl。 The poor child pleaded piteously for her life； naturally in vain。 'I cannot； of course； give you your life；' said the cannibal； 'but I will gladly grant you any other wish of your heart。 Think； then； quickly； of what you most desire； and be assured I will fulfil your request。' The pretty maiden； trembling with horror and despair； could not collect her thoughts。 Then； after a short pause； the cannibal said； 'I cannot wait； I am hungry！ but in order to grant you a little longer time to determine upon the favor you will ask； I will not； as I am accustomed to do； devour the head first； I will commence with the feet。' So saying； he cut off the legs and ate them； and on cutting off each limb he graciously asked the poor shuddering； whimpering being； 'Well； why do you not think？ Is there； then； no favor I can show you？' Confess now； sire； that this was a most magnanimous cannibal。〃
Frederick laughed heartily； and appeared not to understand his sister's double meaning。
〃You are right；〃 said he； 〃that is a merry fairy tale； and brings the tears to my eyesI scarcely know whether from laughter or weeping。 Where did you read it； my sister？〃
〃The fire…spirits who spring up and down in the chimney so lustily； related it to me。 Oh； sire； these are merry sprites； and often in my solitude； when I am sitting in my arm…chair in the chimney…corner； they nod to me； and chat freely of by…gone times； and the days which are to come。〃
〃I fear they have not much that is cheerful or encouraging； certainly not much that is interesting to tell you；〃 said Frederick。
〃To those who； like us； have passed the meridian of life； and are going rapidly down…hill； the surroundings become ever duller and more drear； for us there are no more great and agreeable surprises； the farther they advance； the more lonely and desolate it appears； life has no more to offer； and they are glad at last to reach the valley and lie down in quiet graves。 But while we live and are still wanderers； Amelia； we must not fold our hands in idleness； we must work and achieve。 You also； my sister； must be active and energetic； an unusual opportunity is now offered you。 The Abbess of Quedlinberg is dead； and you can now enter upon her duties。〃
〃And your majesty thinks it is really a worthy vocation for me to go to Quedlinberg and become the shepherdess of that fearful flock of old maids who took refuge in a nunnery because no man desired them？ No； your majesty； do not send me to Quedlinberg； it is not my calling to build up the worthy nuns into saints of the Most High。 I am too unsanctifled myself to be an example to them； and； in fact； I feel no inclination to purify them from their sins。〃
〃Well； that might be found a difficult task；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃and it would not make you beloved。 Men love nothing so much as their vices； and they hate those who would free them from their cherished yoke。 You can； however； remain in Berlin and still accept this office； once so worthily rilled by the lovely Aurora of Konigsmark。 King Augustus gave her； at least； with this refuge； provided by his love； a rich widow's income； and you can now； Amelia； enjoy the fruit of that love which at one time filled all Europe with admiration。 The salary of the abbess amounts to seventeen thousand thalers； and I think this addition to your fortune will be welcome。 Your income will now be forty thousand thalers。〃
〃Lodging and fuel included；〃 said Amelia； with a sarcastic laugh。 〃Look you； sire； I see that I have nothing to complain of。 My hospital is splendidly endowed； and if I should ever become miserly； I may be able to lay aside a few thalers yearly。〃
〃I will gladly put it in your power to lay aside a larger sum； if you become covetous；〃 said the king； 〃and I beg you； therefore； to allow me the pleasure of raising your salary as princess； six thousand thalers。〃 ＇Footnote： History of Berlin and Court。＇
Amelia looked at him distrustfully。 〃You are very gracious to me to… day； my brother。 You grant favors before I ask them。 I confess to you this alarms and agitates me。 You have perhaps some bad news to disclose； and fearing I will be crushed by it； you desire； beforehand； to apply a balsam。〃
The king's glance was tender and sympathetic。 〃Poor Amelia！ you will； then； never believe in my affection；〃 said he； mildly。 〃You distrust even your brother！ Oh； Amelia！ life has hardened us both。 We entered upon the stage of life with great but fleeting illusions。 How gloriously grand and beautiful did the world appear to us； now we look around us soberly； almost hopelessly！ What remains of our ideals？ What has become of the dreams of our youth？〃
〃The storm…winds have shattered and scattered them；〃 cried Amelia； laughing。 〃The evil fiend has ploughed over the fair soil of your youth and turned it to stone and ashes。 I am content that this is so I would rather wander amongst ruins and dust and ashes than to walk gayly over a smooth surface with whose dark caves and pitfalls I was unacquainted； and which might any day ingulf me。 When both foundation and superstructure lie in ruins at your feet； you have nothing more to fear。 But I say this for myself； sire； not for you； the fame…crowned king； who has astonished the world by his victories； and now fills it with admiration by the wisdom with which he governs his subjects and advances the glory of his kingdom！〃
〃My child；〃 said the king； mildly； 〃fame has no longer any attraction for me。 Nero was also renowned； he burned cities and temples； and tortured Seneca to death。 Erostratus succeeded in making his name imperishable I am utterly indifferent as to the world's admiration of my wisdom and power to govern。 I try to do my duty as a king。 But I tell you； child； in one little corner of the king's heart there remains ever something human； and the poor creature man sometimes cries out for a little personal comfort and happiness。 One may be very rich as a king； but pooroh； how poor as a man！ Let us； however； dismiss these sad thoughts。 I was speaking to you of money； Amelia。 We will return to this theme。 I cannot prevent your heart from suffering； but I can secure to you every outward good。 Your income； until now； has been small； tell me what debts you have contracted； and I will pay them！〃
〃Your majesty falls into my room like a shower of gold；〃 cried Amelia； 〃you will find no Danae here； only an ugly old maid； who is； however； ready to receive the glittering treasure； but you give me credit for too good a memory when you think I kn