Can we never take pleasure in nature without having
  recourse to art ？
  If you expect anything grand or magnificent from this introduction，
  you will be sadly mistaken. It relates merely to a peasant-lad， who has
  excited in me the warmest interest. As usual， I shall tell my story badly
  ； and you， as usual ， will think me extravagant. It is Walheim once
  more—— always Walheim —— which produces these wonderful phenomena.
  A party had assembled outside the house under the linden-trees， to
  drink coffee. The company did not exactly please me ； and， under one
  pretext or another， I lingered behind.
  A peasant came from an adjoining house， and set to work arranging
  some part of the same plough which I had lately sketched. His appearance
  pleased me； and I spoke to him ， inquired about his circumstances ，
  made his acquaintance ， and， as is my wont with persons of that class，
  was soon admitted into his confidence. He said he was in the service of
  a young widow ， who set great store by him. He spoke so much of his mistress，
  and praised her so extravagantly， that I could soon see he was desperately
  in love with her. "She is no longer young ，" he said ： "and she was
  treated so badly by her former husband that she does not mean to marry
  again." From his account it was so evident what incomparable charms she
  possessed for him ， and how ardently he wished she would select him to
  extinguish the recollection of her first husband's misconduct ， that
  I should have to repeat his own words in order to describe the depth of
  the poor fellow's attachment， truth， and devotion. It would ， in fact，
  require the gifts of a great poet to convey the expression of his features，
  the harmony of his voice， and the heavenly fire of his eye. No words
  can portray the tenderness of his every movement and of every feature
  ： no effort of mine could do justice to the scene. His alarm lest I should
  misconceive his position with regard to his mistress， or question the
  propriety of her conduct， touched me particularly. The charming manner
  with which he described her form and person ， which， without possessing
  the graces of youth ， won and attached him to her， is inexpressible ，
  and must be left to the imagination. I have never in my life witnessed
  or fancied or conceived the possibility of such intense devotion， such
  ardent affections ， united with so much purity. Do not blame me if I
  say that the recollection of this innocence and truth is deeply impressed
  upon my very soul ； that this picture of fidelity and tenderness haunts
  me everywhere ； and that my own heart， as though enkindled by the flame，
  glows and burns within me.
  I mean now to try and see her as soon as I can： or perhaps ， on
  second thoughts ， I had better not ； it is better I should behold her
  through the eyes of her lover. To my sight， perhaps， she would not appear
  as she now stands before me ； and why should I destroy so sweet a picture？
  JUNE 16. "Why do I not write to you ？" You lay claim to learning ，
  and ask such a question. You should have guessed that I am well —— that
  is to say —— in a word， I have made an acquaintance who has won my
  heart ： I have —— I know not.
  To give you a regular account of the manner in which I have become
  acquainted with the most amiable of women would be a difficult task. I
  am a happy and contented mortal ， but a poor historian.
  An angel！ Nonsense ！ Everybody so describes his mistress； and yet
  I find it impossible to tell you how perfect she is ， or why she is so
  perfect ： suffice it to say she has captivated all my senses.
  So much simplicity with so much understauding —— so mild， and yet
  so resolute —— a mind so placid ， and a life so active.
  But all this is ugly balderdash ， which expresses not a single character
  nor feature. Some other time—— but no ， not some other time， now，
  this very instant ， will I tell you all about it. Now or never. Well ，
  between ourselves ， since I commenced my letter， I have been three times
  on the point of throwing down my pen， of ordering my horse ， and riding
  out. And yet I vowed this morning that I would not ride to-day， and yet
  every moment I am rushing to the window to see how high the sun is.
  I could not restrain myself —— go to her I must. I have just returned，
  Wilhelm ； and whilst I am taking supper I will write to you. What a delight
  it was for my soul to see her in the midst of her dear， beautiful children，
  —— eight brothers and sisters ！