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philosophers； to note down with accuracy the characteristic circumstances of their Education； what furthered； what hindered； what in any way modified it： to which duty； nowadays so pressing for many a German Autobiographer； I also zealously address myself。〃Thou rogue！ Is it by short clothes of yellow serge； and swineherd horns； that an infant of genius is educated？ And yet； as usual； it ever remains doubtful whether he is laughing in his sleeve at these Autobiographical times of ours； or writing from the abundance of his own fond ineptitude。 For he continues： 〃If among the ever…streaming currents of Sights； Hearings； Feelings for Pain or Pleasure； whereby； as in a Magic Hall； young Gneschen went about environed； I might venture to select and specify； perhaps these following were also of the number：
〃Doubtless； as childish sports call forth Intellect； Activity； so the young creature's Imagination was stirred up； and a Historical tendency given him by the narrative habits of Father Andreas； who； with his battle…reminiscences； and gray austere yet hearty patriarchal aspect； could not but appear another Ulysses and 'much…enduring Man。' Eagerly I hung upon his tales； when listening neighbors enlivened the hearth； from these perils and these travels； wild and far almost as Hades itself； a dim world of Adventure expanded itself within me。 Incalculable also was the knowledge I acquired in standing by the Old Men under the Linden…tree： the whole of Immensity was yet new to me； and had not these reverend seniors； talkative enough； been employed in partial surveys thereof for nigh fourscore years？ With amazement I began to discover that Entepfuhl stood in the middle of a Country； of a World； that there was such a thing as History； as Biography to which I also； one day； by hand and tongue； might contribute。
〃In a like sense worked the _Postwagen_ （Stage…coach）； which； slow…rolling under its mountains of men and luggage； wended through our Village： northwards； truly； in the dead of night； yet southwards visibly at eventide。 Not till my eighth year did I reflect that this Postwagen could be other than some terrestrial Moon； rising and setting by mere Law of Nature； like the heavenly one； that it came on made highways； from far cities towards far cities； weaving them like a monstrous shuttle into closer and closer union。 It was then that； independently of Schiller's _Wilhelm Tell_； I made this not quite insignificant reflection （so true also in spiritual things）： _Any road； this simple Entepfuhl road； will lead you to the end of the World_！
〃Why mention our Swallows； which； out of far Africa； as I learned； threading their way over seas and mountains； corporate cities and belligerent nations； yearly found themselves with the month of May； snug…lodged in our Cottage Lobby？ The hospitable Father （for cleanliness' sake） had fixed a little bracket plumb under their nest： there they built； and caught flies； and twittered； and bred； and all； I chiefly； from the heart loved them。 Bright； nimble creatures； who taught you the mason…craft； nay； stranger still； gave you a masonic incorporation； almost social police？ For if； by ill chance； and when time pressed； your House fell； have I not seen five neighborly Helpers appear next day； and swashing to and fro； with animated； loud； long…drawn chirpings； and activity almost super…hirundine； complete it again before nightfall？
〃But undoubtedly the grand summary of Entepfuhl child's culture； where as in a funnel its manifold influences were concentrated and simultaneously poured down on us； was the annual Cattle…fair。 Here； assembling from all the four winds； came the elements of an unspeakable hurry…burly。 Nut…brown maids and nut…brown men； all clear…washed； loud…laughing； bedizened and beribanded； who came for dancing； for treating； and if possible； for happiness。 Topbooted Graziers from the North； Swiss Brokers； Italian Drovers； also topbooted； from the South； these with their subalterns in leather jerkins； leather skull…caps； and long ox…goads； shouting in half…articulate speech； amid the inarticulate barking and bellowing。 Apart stood Potters from far Saxony； with their crockery in fair rows； Nurnberg Pedlers； in booths that to me seemed richer than Ormuz bazaars； Showmen from the Lago Maggiore； detachments of the _Wiener Schub_ （Offscourings of Vienna） vociferously superintending games of chance。 Ballad…singers brayed； Auctioneers grew hoarse； cheap New Wine （_heuriger_） flowed like water； still worse confounding the confusion； and high over all； vaulted； in ground…and…lofty tumbling； a particolored Merry…Andrew； like the genius of the place and of Life itself。
〃Thus encircled by the mystery of Existence； under the deep heavenly Firmament； waited on by the four golden Seasons； with their vicissitudes of contribution； for even grim Winter brought its skating…matches and shooting…matches； its snow…storms and Christmas…carols；did the Child sit and learn。 These things were the Alphabet； whereby in aftertime he was to syllable and partly read the grand Volume of the World： what matters it whether such Alphabet be in large gilt letters or in small ungilt ones； so you have an eye to read it？ For Gneschen； eager to learn； the very act of looking thereon was a blessedness that gilded all： his existence was a bright； soft element of Joy； out of which； as in Prospero's Island； wonder after wonder bodied itself forth； to teach by charming。
〃Nevertheless； I were but a vain dreamer to say； that even then my felicity was perfect。 I had； once for all； come down from Heaven into the Earth。 Among the rainbow colors that glowed on my horizon； lay even in childhood a dark ring of Care； as yet no thicker than a thread； and often quite overshone； yet always it reappeared； nay ever waxing broader and broader； till in after…years it almost overshadowed my whole canopy； and threatened to engulf me in final night。 It was the ring of Necessity whereby we are all begirt； happy he for whom a kind heavenly Sun brightens it into a ring of Duty； and plays round it with beautiful prismatic diffractions； yet ever； as basis and as bourn for our whole being； it is there。
〃For the first few years of our terrestrial Apprenticeship； we have not much work to do； but； boarded and lodged gratis； are set down mostly to look about us over the workshop； and see others work； till we have understood the tools a little； and can handle this and that。 If good Passivity alone； and not good Passivity and good Activity together； were the thing wanted； then was my early position favorable beyond the most。 In all that respects openness of Sense； affectionate Temper； ingenuous Curiosity； and the fostering of these； what more could I have wished？ On the other side； however； things went not so well。 My Active Power （_Thatkraft_） was unfavorably hemmed in； of which misfortune how many traces yet abide with me！ In an orderly house； where the litter of children's sports is hateful enough； your training is too stoical； rather to bear and forbear than to make and do。 I was forbid much： wishes in any measure bold I had to renounce； everywhere a strait bond of Obedience inflexibly held me down。 Thus already Freewill often came in painful collision with Necessity； so that my tears flowed； and at seasons the Child itself might taste that root of bitterness； wherewith the whole fruitage of our life is mingled and tempered。
〃In which habituation to Obedience； truly； it was beyond measure safer to err by excess than by defect。 Obedience is our universal duty and destiny； wherein whoso will not bend must break： too early and too thoroughly we cannot be trained to know that Would； in this world of ours； is as mere zero to Should； and for most part as the smallest of fractions even to Shall。 Hereby was laid for me the basis of worldly Discretion； nay of Morality itself。 Let me not quarrel with my upbringing。 It was rigorous； too frugal； compressively secluded； every way unscientific： yet in that very strictness and domestic solitude might there not lie the root of deeper earnestness； of the stem from which all noble fruit must grow？ Above all； how unskilful soever； it was loving； it was well…meant； honest； whereby every deficiency was helped。 My kind Mother； for as such I must ever love the good Gretchen； did me one altogether invaluable service： she taught me； less indeed by word than by act and daily reverent look and habitude； her own simple version of the Christian Faith。 Andreas too attended Church； yet more like a parade…duty； for which he in the other world expected pay with arrears；as； I trust； he has received； but my Mother； with a true woman's heart； and fine though uncultivated sense； was in the strictest acceptation Religious。 How indestructibly the Good grows； and propagates itself； even among the weedy entanglements of Evil！ The highest whom I knew on Earth I here saw bowed down； with awe unspeakable； before a Higher in Heaven： such things； especially in infancy； reach inwards to the very core of your being； mysteriously does a Holy of Holies build itself into visibility in the mysterious deeps； and Reverence； the divinest in man； springs forth undying from its mean envelopment of Fear。 Wouldst thou ra