Show me the man who has the courage to hide his ill-humour， who bears
  the whole burden himself， without disturbing the peace of those around
  him. No ： ill-humour arises from an inward consciousness of our own want
  of merit， from a discontent which ever accompanies that envy which foolish
  vanity engenders. We see people happy ， whom we have not made so ， and
  cannot endure the sight." Charlotte looked at me with a smile ； she observed
  the emotion with which I spoke： and a tear in the eyes of Frederica stimulated
  me to proceed. "Woe unto those，" I said， "who use their power over a
  human heart to destroy the simple pleasures it would naturally enjoy！
  All the favours ， all the attentions ， in the world cannot compensate
  for the loss of that happiness which a cruel tyranny has destroyed." My
  heart was full as I spoke. A recollection of many things which had happened
  pressed upon my mind， and filled my eyes with tears. "We should daily
  repeat to ourselves ，" I exclaimed ， "that we should not interfere with
  our friends ， unless to leave them in possession of their own joys ，
  and increase their happiness by sharing it with them！ But when their
  souls are tormented by a violent passion， or their hearts rent with grief，
  is it in your power to afford them the slightest consolation？
  "And when the last fatal malady seizes the being whose untimely grave
  you have prepared ， when she lies languid and exhausted before you ，
  her dim eyes raised to heaven ， and the damp of death upon her pallid
  brow， there you stand at her bedside like a condemned criminal ， with
  the bitter feeling that your whole fortune could not save her ； and the
  agonising thought wrings you， that all your efforts are powerless to
  impart even a moment's strength to the departing soul ， or quicken her
  with a transitory consolation."
  At these words the remembrance of a similar scene at which I had been
  once present fell with full force upon my heart. I buried my face in my
  handkerchief， and hastened from the room ， and was only recalled to
  my recollection by Charlotte's voice， who reminded me that it was time
  to return home. With what tenderness she chid me on the way for the too
  eager interest I took in everything ！ She declared it would do me injury，
  and that I ought to spare myself. Yes ， my angel ！ I will do so for
  your sake.
  JULY 6. She is still with her dying friend， and is still the same
  bright， beautiful creature whose presence softens pain ， and sheds happiness
  around whichever way she turns. She went out yesterday with her little
  sisters ： I knew it， and went to meet them； and we walked together.
  In about an hour and a half we returned to the town. We stopped at the
  spring I am so fond of， and which is now a thousand times dearer to me
  than ever. Charlotte seated herself upon the low wall ， and we gathered
  about her. I looked around， and recalled the time when my heart was unoccupied
  and free. "Dear fountain！" I said， "since that time I have no more come
  to enjoy cool repose by thy fresh stream： I have passed thee with careless
  steps ， and scarcely bestowed a glance upon thee." I looked down ， and
  observed Charlotte's little sister， Jane ， coming up the steps with
  a glass of water. I turned toward Charlotte ， and I felt her influence
  over me. Jane at the moment approached with the glass. Her sister ， Marianne，
  wished to take it from her. "No ！" cried the child ， with the sweetest
  expression of face， "Charlotte must drink first."
  The affection and simplicity with which this was uttered so charmed
  me， that I sought to express my feelings by catching up the child and
  kissing her heartily. She was frightened， and began to cry. "You should
  not do that ，" said Charlotte： I felt perplexed. "Come， Jane ，" she
  continued ， taking her hand， and leading her down the steps again ，
  "it is no matter： wash yourself quickly in the fresh water." I stood
  and watched them； and when I saw the little dear rubbing her cheeks with
  her wet hands ， in full belief that all the impurities contracted from
  my ugly beard would be washed off by the miraculous water ， and how，
  though Charlotte said it would do ， she continued still to wash with
  all her might ， as though she thought too much were better than too little，
  I assure you， Wilhelm， I never attended a baptism with greater reverence
  ； and， when Charlotte came up from the well ， I could have prostrated
  myself as before the prophet of an Eastern nation.
  In the evening I would not resist telling the story to a person who，
  I thought ， possessed some natural feeling ， because he was a man of
  understanding. But what a mistake I made. He maintained it was very wrong
  of Charlotte， that we should not deceive children， that such things
  occasioned countless mistakes and superstitions ， from which we were
  bound to protect the young. It occurred to me then， that this very man
  had been baptised only a week before； so I said nothing further， but
  maintained the justice of my own convictions. We should deal with children
  as God deals with us， we are happiest under the influence of innocent
  delusions.
  JULY 8. What a child is man that he should be so solicitous about
  a look！