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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 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？