“Thus encircled by the mystery of Existence; under the deep heavenly Firmament; waited on by the four golden Seasons, with their vicissitudes of contribution, for even grim Winter brought its skating-matches and shooting-matches, its snow-storms and Christmas-carols,—­did the Child sit and learn.  These things were the Alphabet, whereby in aftertime he was to syllable and partly read the grand Volume of the World:  what matters it whether such Alphabet be in large gilt letters or in small ungilt ones, so you have an eye to read it?  For Gneschen, eager to learn, the very act of looking thereon was a blessedness that gilded all:  his existence was a bright, soft element of Joy; out of which, as in Prospero’s Island, wonder after wonder bodied itself forth, to teach by charming.

“Nevertheless, I were but a vain dreamer to say, that even then my felicity was perfect.  I had, once for all, come down from Heaven into the Earth.  Among the rainbow colors that glowed on my horizon, lay even in childhood a dark ring of Care, as yet no thicker than a thread, and often quite overshone; yet always it reappeared, nay ever waxing broader and broader; till in after-years it almost overshadowed my whole canopy, and threatened to engulf me in final night.  It was the ring of Necessity whereby we are all begirt; happy he for whom a kind heavenly Sun brightens it into a ring of Duty, and plays round it with beautiful prismatic diffractions; yet ever, as basis and as bourn for our whole being, it is there.

“For the first few years of our terrestrial Apprenticeship, we have not much work to do; but, boarded and lodged gratis, are set down mostly to look about us over the workshop, and see others work, till we have understood the tools a little, and can handle this and that.  If good Passivity alone, and not good Passivity and good Activity together, were the thing wanted, then was my early position favorable beyond the most.  In all that respects openness of Sense, affectionate Temper, ingenuous Curiosity, and the fostering of these, what more could I have wished?  On the other side, however, things went not so well.  My Active Power (Thatkraft) was unfavorably hemmed in; of which misfortune how many traces yet abide with me!  In an orderly house, where the litter of children’s sports is hateful enough, your training is too stoical; rather to bear and forbear than to make and do.  I was forbid much:  wishes in any measure bold I had to renounce; everywhere a strait bond of Obedience inflexibly held me down.  Thus already Freewill often came in painful collision with Necessity; so that my tears flowed, and at seasons the Child itself might taste that root of bitterness, wherewith the whole fruitage of our life is mingled and tempered.