“Well, I made one parson happy, for this world and the next,” Frederick the Great often said laughing heartily. “It was in Silesia. I had been quartered several times at the village parson’s without ever having seen him, so I sent for him.
“‘How do you do, parson?’
“‘Very badly.’
“‘Well, Well! Have patience; everything will be all right in the next world.’
“‘I doubt it very much; I am afraid it will be worse.’
“‘How so?’
“‘I have two daughters, three sons, a small parish and—debts. If I die, without having satisfied my creditors, your Majesty will understand that I should be damned without mercy.’”
He Did Not Understand
Frederick the Great made the personal acquaintance of every soldier of his regiment of guards. Whenever he saw a fresh one, he put the three following questions to him: “First, how old are you? Second, how long have you been in my service? Third, are you satisfied with your pay and treatment?”
It happened that a young Frenchman, who did not understand German, enlisted in the Prussian service, and Frederick, on seeing him, put the usual questions. The soldier had learned the answers by heart, but in the same order as the King generally interrogated.