not only a personal ideal, but also taking
occasion to lead him, as they studied Franklin's course of education,
to perceive, acknowledge, and supply his own deficiencies.

"Do you know," exclaimed Knopf, springing up, "what can make one
happier than those great words of Archimedes,--I have found it! Still
more blessed are the words. _Thou_ hast found it! Yes, you have found
it!" he cried, drawing up his trousers; he would have liked to embrace
Eric, but he did not venture.

And when Eric told him that he had been drawn to this most simple
method by some notes of his father's, Knopf exclaimed, looking up into
the free air,--

"Blessings on thy father! Blessings on thee, eternal Spirit! O world,
how great and noble thou art! Now we know what one becomes, when one
walks in the open air; one grows into a free man, a Benjamin Franklin.
Here are two people on a hilltop by the Rhine, and they send a greeting
to thee in eternity. Ah, pardon me!" said he, "I am not generally, like
this, you may depend upon it. But, Herr Captain, if you ever, desire
anything great and difficult of me, remind me of this hour, and you
shall see what I can do."

Eric changed the subject by asking Knopf to tell him about his present
pupils.

"Yes," said Knopf, "there it is again. Her parents have sent the child
to Germany, because there was danger that yonder, in the land of
freedom, her spirit would be fettered, for Dr. Fritz and his wife hold
liberal opinions in religion, and are patterns of nobility of mind. The
child was in an English school, and after the first half year, she
began to wish to convert her parents, and constantly declared her
determination to become a Presbyterian. She wept and prayed, and said
she could find no repose because her parents were so godless. Is not
this a most noteworthy phenomenon? Now her parents have sent the child
to Germany, and certainly to the best home that could be found."

Knopf took a letter from his pocket; it was from Dr. Fritz, who, as a
representative of German manhood and philanthropy, was busily working
in the New World for the eradication of that shame which still rests on
the human race in the continuance of slavery. Dr. Fritz gave the
teacher an exact sketch of his little girl's character, which showed
great impartiality in a father. He also pointed out how the child ought
to be guided. In the letter there was a photograph of Dr. Fritz, a
substantial-looking man, with a full beard, and lig