" These are certainly happy beings； but others also are objects of envy，
  who dignify their paltry employments， and sometimes even their passions，
  with pompous titles ， representing them to mankind as gigantic achievements
  performed for their welfare and glory. But the man who humbly acknowledges
  the vanity of all this， who observes with what pleasure the thriving
  citizen converts his little garden into a paradise， and how patiently
  even the poor man pursues his weary way under his burden， and how all
  wish equally to behold the light of the sun a little longer ，—— yes，
  such a man is at peace， and creates his own world within himself ； and
  he is also happy， because he is a man. And then， however limited his
  sphere， he still preserves in his bosom the sweet feeling of liberty ，
  and knows that he can quit his prison whenever he likes.
  MAY 26. You know of old my ways of settling anywhere， of selecting
  a little cottage in some cosy spot， and of putting up in it with every
  inconvenience. Here ， too， I have discovered such a snug， comfortable
  place ， which possesses peculiar charms for me.
  About a league from the town is a place called Walheim. （The reader
  need not take the trouble to look for the place thus designated. We have
  found it necessary to change the names given in the original. ） It is
  delightfully situated on the side of a hill ； and， by proceeding along
  one of the footpaths which lead out of the village， you can have a view
  of the whole valley. A good old woman lives there ， who keeps a small
  inn. She sells wine ， beer ， and coffee ， and is cheerful and pleasant
  notwithstanding her age. The chief charm of this spot consists in two
  linden-trees， spreading their enormous branches over the little green
  before the church ， which is entirely surrounded by peasants' cottages，
  barns ， and homesteads. I have seldom seen a place so retired and peaceable
  ； and there often have my table and chair brought out from the little
  inn ， and drink my coffee there， and read my Homer. Accident brought
  me to the spot one fine afternoon ， and I found it perfectly deserted.
  Everybody was in the fields except a little boy about four years of age，
  who was sitting on the ground ， and held between his knees a child about
  six months old： he pressed it to his bosom with both arms， which thus
  formed a sort of arm-chair； and， notwithstanding the liveliness which
  sparkled in its black eyes， it remained perfectly still. The sight charmed
  me. I sat down upon a plough opposite ， and sketched with great delight
  this little picture of brotherly tenderness. I added the neighbouring
  hedge ， the barn-door， and some broken cart-wheels， just as they happened
  to lie； and I found in about an hour that I had made a very correct and
  interesting drawing ， without putting in the slightest thing of my own.
  This confirmed me in my resolution of adhering， for the future ， entirely
  to nature. She alone is inexhaustible ， and capable of forming the greatest
  masters. Much may be alleged in favour of rules ， as much may be likewise
  advanced in favour of the laws of society ： an artist formed upon them
  will never produce anything absolutely bad or disgusting； as a man who
  observes the laws ， and obeys decorum， can never be an absolutely intolerable
  neighbour ， nor a decided villain： but yet， say what you will of rules，
  they destroy the genuine feeling of nature， as well as its true expression.
  Do not tell me "that this is too hard ， that they only restrain and prune
  superfluous branches， etc." My good friend ， I will illustrate this
  by an analogy. These things resemble love. A warmhearted youth becomes
  strongly attached to a maiden ： he spends every hour of the day in her
  company ， wears out his health ， and lavishes his fortune ， to afford
  continual proof that he is wholly devoted to her. Then comes a man of
  the world ， a man of place and respectability， and addresses him thus
  ： "My good young friend， love is natural； but you must love within
  bounds. Divide your time： devote a portion to business ， and give the
  hours of recreation to your mistress. Calculate your fortune； and out
  of the superfluity you may make her a present ， only not too often ，
  —— on her birthday， and such occasions." Pursuing this advice， he
  may become a useful member of society ， and I should advise every prince
  to give him an appointment； but it is all up with his love ， and with
  his genius if he be an artist. O my friend！