Children ask such strange questions!
"Life is a gift from God that must be preserved as long as possible," returned Ludwig, evading the main question. "Through us the world exists—"
"What is the world?" interrupted Marie.
"The entire human race and their habitations—the earth."
"Then every person owns a plot of earth? Where is the plot which belongs to us? Answer me that!"
"By the way, that reminds me!" exclaimed Ludwig, relieved to find an opportunity to change the subject. "I have not yet told thee that I intend to buy a lovely plot of ground on the shore of the lake, which is to be made into a pretty flower-garden for thy use alone. Will not that be pleasant?"
"Thou art very kind; the garden will be lovely. That plot of ground, then, will be our home, will it not? What is one's home called?"
"It is called the fatherland."
"Then every country is not one's fatherland?"
"If our enemies live there, it is not."