why is it that the torrent
  of genius so seldom bursts forth， so seldom rolls in full-flowing stream，
  overwhelming your astounded soul？ Because， on either side of this stream，
  cold and respectable persons have taken up their abodes ， and， forsooth，
  their summer-houses and tulip-beds would suffer from the torrent； wherefore
  they dig trenches ， and raise embankments betimes， in order to avert
  the impending danger.
  MAY 27. I find I have fallen into raptures， declamation， and similes，
  and have forgotten， in consequence ， to tell you what became of the
  children. Absorbed in my artistic contemplations， which I briefly described
  in my letter of yesterday ， I continued sitting on the plough for two
  hours. Toward evening a young woman ， with a basket on her arm ， came
  running toward the children ， who had not moved all that time. She exclaimed
  from a distance ， "You are a good boy， Philip ！" She gave me greeting
  ： I returned it， rose ， and approached her. I inquired if she were
  the mother of those pretty children. "Yes ，" she said； and， giving
  the eldest a piece of bread ， she took the little one in her arms and
  kissed it with a mother's tenderness. "I left my child in Philip's care
  ，" she said ， "whilst I went into the town with my eldest boy to buy
  some wheaten bread， some sugar ， and an earthen pot." I saw the various
  articles in the basket， from which the cover had fallen. "I shall make
  some broth to-night for my little Hans（which was the name of the youngest）
  ： that wild fellow ， the big one， broke my pot yesterday ， whilst
  he was scrambling with Philip for what remained of the contents." I inquired
  for the eldest； and she bad scarcely time to tell me that he was driving
  a couple of geese home from the meadow， when he ran up ， and handed
  Philip an osier-twig. I talked a little longer with the woman ， and found
  that she was the daughter of the schoolmaster ， and that her husband
  was gone on a journey into Switzerland for some money a relation had left
  him. "They wanted to cheat him，" she said， "and would not answer his
  letters ； so he is gone there himself. I hope he has met with no accident，
  as I have heard nothing of him since his departure." I left the woman ，
  with regret ， giving each of the children a kreutzer ， with an additional
  one for the youngest， to buy some wheaten bread for his broth when she
  went to town next ； and so we parted. I assure you ， my dear friend ，
  when my thoughts are all in tumult， the sight of such a creature as this
  tranquillises my disturbed mind. She moves in a happy thoughtlessness
  within the confined circle of her existence ； she supplies her wants
  from day to day ； and， when she sees the leaves fall， they raise no
  other idea in her mind than that winter is approaching. Since that time
  I have gone out there frequently. The children have become quite familiar
  with me ； and each gets a lump of sugar when I drink my coffee ， and
  they share my milk and bread and butter in the evening. They always receive
  their kreutzer on Sundays ， for the good woman has orders to give it
  to them when I do not go there after evening service. They are quite at
  home with me， tell me everything ； and I am particularly amused with
  observing their tempers ， and the simplicity of their behaviour， when
  some of the other village children are assembled with them.
  It has given me a deal of trouble to satisfy the anxiety of the mother，
  lest（as she says ） "they should inconvenience the gentleman."
  MAY 30. What I have lately said of painting is equally true with respect
  to poetry. It is only necessary for us to know what is really excellent，
  and venture to give it expression ； and that is saying much in few words.
  To-day I have had a scene ， which， if literally related ， would， make
  the most beautiful idyl in the world. But why should I talk of poetry
  and scenes and idyls？