TIIEIR SELFISHNESS.

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over arid protected them in their helplessness and weakness,but wlio sliared with them almost eveiy comfort and luxurythat industry or prudence was enabled to obtain.

But if English fathers behaved as selfishly as Germanones, assuredly English children, with the liberty of thoughtcurrent througliout the countiy, would soon get to questionthe paternal love f'or them; and seeing in the greediness of thefather but little affection on his side, would ultimately cometo regard him with but little affection in return.

In Prussia, however, all are of too phlegmatic a natureto be emotional upon any such matters; and as maritalindifference leads to perfect toleration between man and wife,and toleration begets domestic tranquillity, even so with Ger-man children, after many years' association with their parents,a vague feeling of regard naturally Springs iip in the mind forthe persons with whom they have passed almost all theirlives—such, indeed, as wo in England feel for the animalsthat frequent our hearths.

In illustration of the selfishness pervading every memberof a German family, we may cite the following curious littlehistory.

A young friend of ours, during the fair, purchased somecakes, and presented them to the father of a family, to whomhe was under some slight obligations, and whom he knew tohave rather a penchant for pastry. To his utter astonishment(for our young friend was an Englishman, and unprepared forthe act) the paterfamilias, on receiving the bag of confec-tionery, said he would " lock it up in his desk," urging thatthen he could eat it by himself "just as he wanted, unknownto anybody."

Now, our friend had naturally intended the present to beshared with the Deutscher's wifo and daughter, and was fairlytaken aback by the piggislmess. However, the youth was