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suddenly deceased； in Andreas's distant Prussian birthland； of whom； as of her indigent sorrowing widower； little enough was known at Entepfuhl。 Heedless of all which； the Nursling took to his spoon…meat； and throve。 I have heard him noted as a still infant； that kept his mind much to himself； above all； that seldom or never cried。 He already felt that time was precious； that he had other work cut out for him than whimpering。〃
Such； after utmost painful search and collation among these miscellaneous Paper…masses； is all the notice we can gather of Herr Teufelsdrockh's genealogy。 More imperfect； more enigmatic it can seem to few readers than to us。 The Professor； in whom truly we more and more discern a certain satirical turn； and deep under…currents of roguish whim； for the present stands pledged in honor； so we will not doubt him： but seems it not conceivable that； by the 〃good Gretchen Futteral；〃 or some other perhaps interested party； he has himself been deceived？ Should these sheets； translated or not； ever reach the Entepfuhl Circulating Library； some cultivated native of that district might feel called to afford explanation。 Nay； since Books； like invisible scouts； permeate the whole habitable globe； and Timbuctoo itself is not safe from British Literature； may not some Copy find out even the mysterious basket…bearing Stranger； who in a state of extreme senility perhaps still exists； and gently force even him to disclose himself； to claim openly a son； in whom any father may feel pride？
CHAPTER II。 IDYLLIC。
〃HAPPY season of Childhood！〃 exclaims Teufelsdrockh： 〃Kind Nature； that art to all a bountiful mother； that visitest the poor man's hut with auroral radiance； and for thy Nursling hast provided a soft swathing of Love and infinite Hope； wherein he waxes and slumbers； danced round （_umgaukelt_） by sweetest Dreams！ If the paternal Cottage still shuts us in； its roof still screens us； with a Father we have as yet a prophet； priest and king； and an Obedience that makes us free。 The young spirit has awakened out of Eternity； and knows not what we mean by Time； as yet Time is no fast…hurrying stream； but a sportful sunlit ocean； years to the child are as ages： ah！ the secret of Vicissitude； of that slower or quicker decay and ceaseless down…rushing of the universal World…fabric； from the granite mountain to the man or day…moth； is yet unknown； and in a motionless Universe； we taste； what afterwards in this quick…whirling Universe is forever denied us； the balm of Rest。 Sleep on； thou fair Child； for thy long rough journey is at hand！ A little while； and thou too shalt sleep no more； but thy very dreams shall be mimic battles； thou too； with old Arnauld； wilt have to say in stern patience： 'Rest？ Rest？ Shall I not have all Eternity to rest in？ ' Celestial Nepenthe！ though a Pyrrhus conquer empires； and an Alexander sack the world； he finds thee not； and thou hast once fallen gently； of thy own accord； on the eyelids； on the heart of every mother's child。 For as yet； sleep and waking are one： the fair Life…garden rustles infinite around； and everywhere is dewy fragrance； and the budding of Hope； which budding； if in youth； too frost…nipt； it grow to flowers； will in manhood yield no fruit； but a prickly； bitter…rinded stone…fruit； of which the fewest can find the kernel。〃
In such rose…colored light does our Professor； as Poets are wont； look back on his childhood； the historical details of which （to say nothing of much other vague oratorical matter） he accordingly dwells on with an almost wearisome minuteness。 We hear of Entepfuhl standing 〃in trustful derangement〃 among the woody slopes； the paternal Orchard flanking it as extreme outpost from below； the little Kuhbach gushing kindly by； among beech…rows； through river after river； into the Donau； into the Black Sea； into the Atmosphere and Universe； and how 〃the brave old Linden；〃 stretching like a parasol of twenty ells in radius； overtopping all other rows and clumps； towered up from the central _Agora_ and _Campus Martius_ of the Village； like its Sacred Tree； and how the old men sat talking under its shadow （Gneschen often greedily listening）； and the wearied laborers reclined； and the unwearied children sported； and the young men and maidens often danced to flute…music。 〃Glorious summer twilights；〃 cries Teufelsdrockh； 〃when the Sun； like a proud Conqueror and Imperial Taskmaster； turned his back； with his gold…purple emblazonry； and all his fireclad bodyguard （of Prismatic Colors）； and the tired brickmakers of this clay Earth might steal a little frolic； and those few meek Stars would not tell of them！〃
Then we have long details of the _Weinlesen_ （Vintage）； the Harvest…Home； Christmas； and so forth； with a whole cycle of the Entepfuhl Children's…games； differing apparently by mere superficial shades from those of other countries。 Concerning all which； we shall here； for obvious reasons； say nothing。 What cares the world for our as yet miniature Philosopher's achievements under that 〃brave old Linden 〃？ Or even where is the use of such practical reflections as the following？ 〃In all the sports of Children； were it only in their wanton breakages and defacements； you shall discern a creative instinct （_schaffenden Trieb_）： the Mankin feels that he is a born Man； that his vocation is to work。 The choicest present you can make him is a Tool； be it knife or pen…gun； for construction or for destruction； either way it is for Work； for Change。 In gregarious sports of skill or strength； the Boy trains himself to Co…operation； for war or peace； as governor or governed： the little Maid again； provident of her domestic destiny； takes with preference to Dolls。〃
Perhaps； however； we may give this anecdote； considering who it is that relates it： 〃My first short…clothes were of yellow serge； or rather； I should say； my first short…cloth； for the vesture was one and indivisible； reaching from neck to ankle； a mere body with four limbs： of which fashion how little could I then divine the architectural； how much less the moral significance！〃
More graceful is the following little picture： 〃On fine evenings I was wont to carry forth my supper （bread…crumb boiled in milk）； and eat it out…of…doors。 On the coping of the Orchard…wall； which I could reach by climbing； or still more easily if Father Andreas would set up the pruning…ladder； my porringer was placed： there； many a sunset； have I； looking at the distant western Mountains； consumed； not without relish； my evening meal。 Those hues of gold and azure； that hush of World's expectation as Day died； were still a Hebrew Speech for me； nevertheless I was looking at the fair illuminated Letters； and had an eye for their gilding。〃
With 〃the little one's friendship for cattle and poultry〃 we shall not much intermeddle。 It may be that hereby he acquired a 〃certain deeper sympathy with animated Nature：〃 but when； we would ask； saw any man； in a collection of Biographical Documents； such a piece as this： 〃Impressive enough （_bedeutungsvoll_） was it to hear； in early morning； the Swineherd's horn； and know that so many hungry happy quadrupeds were； on all sides； starting in hot haste to join him； for breakfast on the Heath。 Or to see them at eventide； all marching in again； with short squeak； almost in military order； and each； topographically correct； trotting off in succession to the right or left； through its own lane； to its own dwelling； till old Kunz； at the Village…head； now left alone； blew his last blast； and retired for the night。 We are wont to love the Hog chiefly in the form of Ham； yet did not these bristly thick…skinned beings here manifest intelligence； perhaps humor of character； at any rate； a touching； trustful submissiveness to Man；who； were he but a Swineherd； in darned gabardine； and leather breeches more resembling slate or discolored…tin breeches； is still the Hierarch of this lower world？〃
It is maintained； by Helvetius and his set； that an infant of genius is quite the same as any other infant； only that certain surprisingly favorable influences accompany him through life； especially through childhood； and expand him； while others lie close…folded and continue dunces。 Herein； say they； consists the whole difference between an inspired Prophet and a double…barrelled Game…preserver： the inner man of the one has been fostered into generous development； that of the other； crushed down perhaps by vigor of animal digestion； and the like； has exuded and evaporated； or at best sleeps now irresuscitably stagnant at the bottom of his stomach。 〃With which opinion；〃 cries Teufelsdrockh； 〃I should as soon agree as with this other； that an acorn might； by favorable or unfavorable influences of soil and climate； be nursed into a cabbage； or the cabbage…seed into an oak。
〃Nevertheless；〃 continues he； 〃I too acknowledge the all…but omnipotence of early culture and nurture： hereby we have either a doddered dwarf bush； or a high…towering； wide…shadowing tree； either a sick yellow cabbage； or an edible luxuriant green one。 Of a truth； it is the duty of all men； especially of all philosophers； to note down with accuracy the characteristic circumstances of their Education； what