' 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 eyes--I 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.
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