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that it may be filled with the complete and perfect bliss of one
glorious emotion。 But alas！ when we have attained our object；
when the distant there becomes the present here； all is changed：
we are as poor and circumscribed as ever； and our souls still
languish for unattainable happiness。
So does the restless traveller pant for his native soil； and find
in his own cottage； in the arms of his wife； in the affections of
his children； and in the labour necessary for their support； that
happiness which he had sought in vain through the wide world。
When； in the morning at sunrise； I go out to Walheim； and with my
own hands gather in the garden the pease which are to serve for
my dinner； when I sit down to shell them； and read my Homer during
the intervals； and then； selecting a saucepan from the kitchen；
fetch my own butter； put my mess on the fire； cover it up； and sit
down to stir it as occasion requires； I figure to myself the
illustrious suitors of Penelope； killing； dressing； and preparing
their own oxen and swine。 Nothing fills me with a more pure and
genuine sense of happiness than those traits of patriarchal life
which； thank Heaven！ I can imitate without affectation。 Happy is
it； indeed； for me that my heart is capable of feeling the same
simple and innocent pleasure as the peasant whose table is covered
with food of his own rearing； and who not only enjoys his meal； but
remembers with delight the happy days and sunny mornings when he
planted it； the soft evenings when he watered it； and the pleasure
he experienced in watching its daily growth。
JUNE 29。
The day before yesterday； the physician came from the town to pay
a visit to the judge。 He found me on the floor playing with
Charlotte's children。 Some of them were scrambling over me； and
others romped with me； and； as I caught and tickled them； they
made a great noise。 The doctor is a formal sort of personage： he
adjusts the plaits of his ruffles； and continually settles his
frill whilst he is talking to you； and he thought my conduct beneath
the dignity of a sensible man。 I could perceive this by his
countenance。 But I did not suffer myself to be disturbed。 I
allowed him to continue his wise conversation； whilst I rebuilt
the children's card houses for them as fast as they threw them
down。 He went about the town afterward； complaining that the
judge's children were spoiled enough before； but that now Werther
was completely ruining them。
Yes； my dear Wilhelm； nothing on this earth affects my heart so
much as children。 When I look on at their doings； when I mark in
the little creatures the seeds of all those virtues and qualities
which they will one day find so indispensable； when I behold in
the obstinate all the future firmness and constancy of a noble
character； in the capricious； that levity and gaiety of temper
which will carry them lightly over the dangers and troubles of
life； their whole nature simple and unpolluted； then I call
to mind the golden words of the Great Teacher of mankind； 〃Unless
ye become like one of these！〃 And now； my friend； these children；
who are our equals； whom we ought to consider as our models； we
treat them as though they were our subjects。 They are allowed no
will of their own。 And have we； then； none ourselves？ Whence comes
our exclusive right？ Is it because we are older and more experienced？
Great God！ from the height of thy heaven thou beholdest great
children and little children； and no others； and thy Son has long
since declared which afford thee greatest pleasure。 But they
believe in him； and hear him not； that； too； is an old story；
and they train their children after their own image； etc。
Adieu； Wilhelm： I will not further bewilder myself with this subject。
JULY 1。
The consolation Charlotte can bring to an invalid I experience
from my own heart； which suffers more from her absence than many
a poor creature lingering on a bed of sickness。 She is gone to
spend a few days in the town with a very worthy woman； who is given
over by the physicians； and wishes to have Charlotte near her in
her last moments。 I accompanied her last week on a visit to the
Vicar of S； a small village in the mountains； about a league
hence。 We arrived about four o'clock： Charlotte had taken her
little sister with her。 When we entered the vicarage court； we
found the good old man sitting on a bench before the door； under
the shade of two large walnut…trees。 At the sight of Charlotte
he seemed to gain new life； rose； forgot his stick； and ventured
to walk toward her。 She ran to him； and made him sit down again；
then； placing herself by his side； she gave him a number of messages
from her father； and then caught up his youngest child； a dirty；
ugly little thing； the joy of his old age； and kissed it。 I wish
you could have witnessed her attention to this old man； how she
raised her voice on account of his deafness； how she told him of
healthy young people； who had been carried off when it was least
expected； praised the virtues of Carlsbad； and commended his
determination to spend the ensuing summer there； and assured him
that he looked better and stronger than he did when she saw him
last。 I； in the meantime； paid attention to his good lady。 The
old man seemed quite in spirits； and as I could not help admiring
the beauty of the walnut…trees； which formed such an agreeable
shade over our heads； he began； though with some little difficulty；
to tell us their history。 〃As to the oldest；〃 said he； 〃we do not
know who planted it； some say one clergyman； and some another：
but the younger one； there behind us； is exactly the age of my wife；
fifty years old next October； her father planted it in the morning；
and in the evening she came into the world。 My wife's father was
my predecessor here； and I cannot tell you how fond he was of that
tree； and it is fully as dear to me。 Under the shade of that very
tree； upon a log of wood； my wife was seated knitting； when I； a
poor student； came into this court for the first time； just seven
and twenty years ago。〃 Charlotte inquired for his daughter。 He
said she was gone with Herr Schmidt to the meadows； and was with
the haymakers。 The old man then resumed his story； and told us
how his predecessor had taken a fancy to him； as had his daughter
likewise； and how he had become first his curate； and subsequently
his successor。 He had scarcely finished his story when his daughter
returned through the garden； accompanied by the above…mentioned
Herr Schmidt。 She welcomed Charlotte affectionately； and I confess
I was much taken with her appearance。 She was a lively…looking；
good…humoured brunette； quite competent to amuse one for a short
time in the country。 Her lover （for such Herr Schmidt evidently
appeared to be） was a polite； reserved personage； and would not
join our conversation； notwithstanding all Charlotte's endeavours
to draw him out。 I was much annoyed at observing； by his countenance；
that his silence did not arise from want of talent； but from caprice
and ill…humour。 This subsequently became very evident； when we
set out to take a walk； and Frederica joining Charlotte； with whom
I was talking； the worthy gentleman's face； which was naturally
rather sombre； became so dark and angry that Charlotte was obliged
to touch my arm； and remind me that I was talking too much to
Frederica。 Nothing distresses me more than to see men torment
each other； particularly when in the flower of their age； in the
very season of pleasure； they waste their few short days of sunshine
in quarrels and disputes； and only perceive their error when it
is too late to repair it。 This thought dwelt upon my mind； and
in the evening； when we returned to the vicar's； and were sitting
round the table with our bread end milk； the conversation turned
on the joys and sorrows of the world； I could not resist the
temptation to inveigh bitterly against ill…humour。 〃We are apt；〃
said I； 〃to complain； but … with very little cause； that our happy
days are few； and our evil days many。 If our hearts were always
disposed to receive the benefits Heaven sends us； we should acquire
strength to support evil when it comes。〃 〃But；〃 observed the vicar's
wife； 〃we cannot always command our tempers； so much depends upon
the constitution： when the body suffers； the mind is ill at ease。〃
〃I acknowledge that；〃 I continued； 〃but we must consider such a
disposition in the light of a disease； and inquire whether there
is no remedy for it。〃
〃I should be glad to hear one；〃 said Charlotte： 〃at least； I think
very much depends upon ourselves； I know it is so with me。 When
anything annoys me； and disturbs my temper； I hasten into the
garden； hum a couple of country dances； and it is all right with
me directly。〃 〃That is what I meant；〃 I replied； 〃ill…humour
resembles indolence： it is natural to us； but if once we have
courage to exert ourselves； we find our work run fresh from our
hands； and we experience in the activity from which we shrank a
real enjoyment。〃 Frederica listened very attentively： and the
young man objected； that we were not masters of ourselves； and
still less so of our feelings