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