PETERKIN'S PUDDING

Of Ambitions

S nature makes us always unhappy in every state, our desires picture to us a happy state; because they add to the state in which we are the pleasures of the state in which we are not. And if we attained to these pleasures, we should not be happy after all; because we should have other desires natural to this new state.

BLAISE PASCAL

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Peterkin's Pudding

I am

OU never heard of Peterkin's pudding, by the way; but there is a fine moral baked in it. Johannes came to his wife one day and said, 'Liebes Gretchen, could you not make me a pudding such as Peterkin is always boasting his wife makes him? dying of envy to taste it. Every time he talks of it my chops water.' It is not impossible I could make you one,' said Gretchen good-naturedly; I will go and ask Frau Peterkin how she makes it.' When Johannes returned that evening from the workshop, where Peterkin had been raving more than ever over his wife's pudding, Gretchen said gleefully, I have been to Frau Peterkin: she has a good heart, and she gave me the whole recipe for Peterkin's pudding.' Johannes rubbed his hands, and his mouth watered already in anticipation. It is made with raisins,' began Gretchen. Johannes' jaw fell.

We can

PETERKIN'S PUDDING

scarcely afford raisins,' he interrupted: couldn't you manage without raisins?' Oh, I dare say,' said Gretchen doubtfully. There is also candied lemonpeel.' Johannes whistled. Ach, we can't run to that,' he said. 6 'No, indeed,' assented Gretchen; but we must have suet and yeast.' 'I don't see the necessity,' quoth Johannes. A good cook like you'-here he gave her a sounding kiss-' can get along without such trifles as those.' Well, I will try,' said the good Gretchen, as cheerfully as she could; and so next morning Johannes went to work light-hearted and gay. When he returned home, lo! the long-desired dainty stood on the supper-table, beautifully brown. He ran to embrace his wife in gratitude and joy; then he tremblingly broke off a hunch of pudding and took a huge bite. His wife, anxiously watching his face, saw it assume a look of perplexity, followed by one of disgust. Johannes gave a great snort of contempt. "Lieber Gott!' he cried, and this is what Peterkin is always bragging about!'

I. ZANGWILL

WISDOM

I AM the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge and holy hope,

I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children which are named of him.

Ecclesiasticus

You see, my friend, there is nothing so ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher.

GOLDSMITH, Citizen of the World

THE Law of the Great Learning consists in spreading and confirming the luminous principle of reason which we have received from on high.

CONFUCIUS

WE cheat ourselves with words when we conclude out of our material splendour an advance of the race. One fruit only our mother earth offers with pride to her maker-her human children made noble by their life upon her.

FROUDE

The Praise of Wisdom

I

VISDOM exalteth her children,

WISDOM

And layeth hold of them that seek her.

He that loveth her loveth life;

And they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy. He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory;

And wherever she entereth, the Lord will bless. They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One; And them that love her the Lord doth love. Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations; And he that attendeth unto her shall dwell securely. man commit himself unto her, he shall inherit her;

If a

And his generations shall hold her in possession.
For at first she will walk with him by crooked ways,
And bring fear and dread upon him.

And torment him with her discipline,

Until she may trust his soul and try him by her laws.
Then will she return the straight way unto him,
And comfort him, and show him her secrets.

II

Wisdom shall praise herself,

And shall glory in the midst of her people.

In the congregation of the most High shall she open

her mouth,