"Yes, he was the King of Prussia. And he fought the Seven Years' War
with France and came out victorious. Hardly any one thought he could
succeed, for there was so much against him. But he was brave and
determined. Those two things were worth everything else."

"That wasn't the only war he won, either, Hans."

"No, but it must have been the greatest. Did you know, Bertha, that
he was unhappy when he was young? His father was so strict that he
tried to run away from Germany with two of his friends. The king
found out what they meant to do. One of the friends was put to
death, and the other managed to escape."

"What did his father do to Frederick?" Bertha's eyes were full of
pity for a prince who was so unhappy as to wish to run away.

"The king ordered his son to be put to death. But I suppose he was
angry at the time, for he changed his mind before the sentence was
carried out, and forgave him."

"I wonder how kings and emperors live," said Bertha, slowly. It
seemed as though everything must be different with them from what it
was with other people.

"I'll tell you about Frederick, if you wish to listen."

"Of course I do, Hans."

"In the first place, he didn't care anything about fine clothes, even