the dark season of childhood。 Many the things； in truth； I with patience endured from my playmates； When the good…will that I bore them they often requited with malice。 Often I suffered their flings and their blows to pass unresented； But if they ventured to ridicule father； when he of a Sunday Home from Church would come； with his solemn and dignified bearing； If they made fun of his cap…string； or laughed at the flowers of the wrapper He with such stateliness wore； which was given away but this morning； Threateningly doubled my fist in an instant； with furious passion Fell I upon them； and struck out and hit； assailing them blindly； Seeing not where。 They howled as the blood gushed out from their noses： Scarcely they made their escape from my passionate kicking and beating。 Then； as I older grew； I had much to endure from my father； Violent words he oft vented on me； instead of on others； When； at the board's last session； the council had roused his displeasure； And I was made to atone for the quarrels and wiles of his colleagues。 Thou has pitied me often thyself； for much did I suffer； Ever remembering with cordial respect the kindness of parents； Solely intent on increasing for us their goods and possessions； Much denying themselves in order to save for their children。 But； alas！ saving alone； for the sake of a tardy enjoyment； That is not happiness： pile upon pile； and acre on acre； Make us not happy； no matter how fair our estates may be rounded。 For the father grows old； and with him will grow old the children； Losing the joy of the day； and bearing the care of tomorrow。 Look thou below； and see how before us in glory are lying； Fair and abundant； the corn…fields； beneath them； the vineyard and garden； Yonder the stables and barns； our beautiful line of possessions。 But when I look at the dwelling behind； where up in the gable We can distinguish the window that marks my room in the attic； When I look back； and remember how many a night from that window I for the moon have watched； for the sun； how many a morning！ When the healthful sleep of a few short hours sufficed me； Ah； so lonely they seem to me then； the chamber and courtyard； Garden and glorious field； away o'er the hill that is stretching； All so desert before me lie： 'tis the wife that is wanting。〃
Thereupon spoke the good mother； and thus with intelligence answered： 〃Son； not greater thy wish to bring thee a bride to thy chamber； That thou mayst find thy nights a beautiful part of existence； And that the work of the day may gain independence and freedom； Than is thy father's wish too； and thy mother's。 We always have counselled； Yea； we have even insisted；that thou shouldst select thee a maiden。 But I was ever aware； and now my heart gives me assurance； That till the hour appointed is come； and the maiden appointed Shall with the hour appear； the choice will be left for the future； While more strong than all else will be fear of grasping the wrong one。 If I may say it； my son； I believe thou already hast chosen； For thy heart has been touched； and been made more than wontedly tender。 Speak it out honestly； then； for my soul has told me beforehand： That same maiden it is； the exile； whom thou hast elected。〃
〃Thou has said； mother！〃 the son thereupon with eagerness answered。 〃Yes； it is she； and if I to…day as my bride do not bring her Home to our dwelling； she from me will go； perhaps vanish for ever； Lost in the war's confusion and sad movings hither and thither。 Mother； for ever in vain would then our abundant possessions Prosper before me； and seasons to come be in vain to me fruitful。 Yea； I should hold in aversion the wonted house and the garden： Even my mother's love； alas！ would not comfort my sorrow。 Every tie； so I feel in my heart； by love is unloosened Soon as she fastens her own； and not the maid is it only Leaves behind father and mother； to follow the man she has chosen。 He too； the youth； no longer knows aught of mother and father； When he the maiden； his only beloved； sees vanishing from him。 Suffer me； then； to go hence wherever despair shall impel me： Since by my father himself the decisive words have been spoken； Since his house can no longer be mine if he shut out the maiden； Her whom alone as my bride I desire to bring to our dwelling。〃
Thereupon quickly made answer the good and intelligent mother： 〃How like to rocks； forsooth； two men will stand facing each other！ Proud and not to be moved； will neither draw near to his fellow； Neither will stir his tongue to utter the first word of kindness。 Therefore I tell thee； my son； a hope yet lives in my bosom； So she be honest and good； thy father will let thee espouse her； Even though poor； and against a poor girl so decisive his sentence。 Many a thing he is wont to speak out in his violent fashion Which he yet never performs； and so what he denies will consent to。 Yet he requires a kindly word； and is right to require it： He is the father！ Besides we know that his wrath after dinner； When he most hastily speaks； and questions all others' opinions； Signifies naught； the full force of his violent will is excited Then by the wine； which lets him not heed the language of others； None but himself does he see and feel。 But now is come evening； Talk upon various subjects has passed between him and his neighbors。 Gentle； he is； I am sure now his little excitement is over； And he can feel how unjust his passion has made him to others。 Come； let us venture at once： success is alone to the valiant！ Further we need the friends； still sitting together there with him；； And in especial the worthy pastor will give us assistance。〃
Thus she hastily spoke； and up from the stone then arising； Drew from his seat her son； who willingly followed。 In silence Both descended the hill； their important purpose revolving。
POLYHYMNIA
THE CITIZEN OF THE WORLD
HERE the three men； however； still sat conversing together； With mine host of the Lion； the village doctor； and pastor； And their talk was still on the same unvarying subject； Turning it this way and that； and viewing from every direction。 But with his sober judgment the excellent pastor made answer： 〃Here will I not contradict you。 I know that man should be always Striving for that which is better； indeed； as we see； he is reaching Always after the higher； at least some novelty craving。 But be careful ye go not too far； for with this disposition Nature has given us pleasure in holding to what is familiar； Taught us in that to delight to which we have long been accustomed。 Every condition is good that is founded on reason and nature。 Many are man's desires； yet little it is that he needeth； Seeing the days are short and mortal destiny bounded。 Ne'er would I censure the man whom a restless activity urges； Bold and industrious； over all pathways of land and of ocean； Ever untiring to roam； who takes delight in the riches； Heaping in generous abundance about himself and his children。 Yet not unprized by me is the quiet citizen also； Making the noiseless round of his own inherited acres； Tilling the ground as the ever…returning seasons command him。 Not with every year is the soil transfigured about him； Not in haste does the tree stretch forth； as soon as 'tis planted； Full…grown arms towards heaven and decked with plenteous blossoms。 No： man has need of patience； and needful to him are also Calmness and clearness of mind； and a pure and right understanding。 Few are the seeds he intrusts to earth's all…nourishing bosom； Few are the creatures he knows how to raise and bring to perfection。 Centred are all his thoughts alone on that which is useful。 Happy to whom by nature a mind of such temper is given； For he supports us all！ And hail； to the man whose abode is Where in a town the country pursuits with the city are blended。 On him lies not the pressure that painfully hampers the farmer； Nor is he carried away by the greedy ambition of cities； Where they of scanty possessions too often are given to aping； Wives and daughters especially； those who are higher and richer。 Blessed be therefore thy son in his life of quiet employment； Blessed the wife； of like mind with himself； whom he one day shall choose him。〃
Thus he spoke； and scarce had he ended when entered the mother； Holding her son by the hand； and so led him up to her husband。 〃Father；〃 she said； 〃how oft when we two have been chatting together； Have we rejoiced in the thought of Hermann's future espousal； When he should bring his bride to be the light of our dwelling！ Over and over again the matter we pondered： this maiden Fixing upon for him first； and then that； with the gossip of parents。 But that day is now come； and Heaven at last has the maiden Brought to him hither； and shown him； and now his heart has decided。 Said we not always then he should have his own choice in the matter？ Was it not just now thy wish that he might with lively affection Feel himself drawn to some maiden？ The hour is come that we hoped for。 Yes； he has felt and has chosen and come to a manly decision。 That same maiden it is that met him this morning； the stranger： Say he may have her； or else； as he swears； his life shall be single。〃
〃Give her me； father；〃 so added the son： 〃my heart has elected Clear and sure； she will be to you both the noblest of daughters。〃
But the father was silent。 Then hastily rose the good pastor； Took up the word and said： 〃The moment alone is decisive； Fixes the life of man； and his future destiny settles。 After long taking of counsel； yet only the work of a moment Every decision must be； and the wise alone seizes the right one。 Dangerous always it is comparing the one with the other When we are making our choice； and so confusing our feelings。 Hermann is pure。 From childhood up I have known him； and never E'en as a boy was he wont to be reaching for this and the other： What he desired was best for him too； and he held to it firmly。 Be not surprised and alarmed that now has appeared of a sudden； What thou hast wished for so long。 It is true that the present appearance Bears not the form of the wish； exactly as thou hadst conceived it： For our wishes oft hide from ourselves the object we wish for； Gifts come down from above in the shapes appointed by Heaven。 Therefore misjudge not the maiden who n