“Let us go to the Mutter-Haus,” (Mother-House,) said my friend; “we shall probably find Dr. Wichern there.”

So saying, he led the way to a plain, neat building, situated nearly centrally, though in the anterior portion of the grounds.  This is Dr. Wichern’s private residence, and here he receives reports from the Brothers, as the assistants are called, and gives advice to the pupils.  We were ushered into the superintendent’s office, and found him a fine, noble-looking man, with a clear, mild eye, and an expression of great decision and energy.  My friend introduced me, and Dr. Wichern welcomed us both with great cordiality.

“Be seated for a moment, gentlemen,” said he; “I am just finishing the proofs of our Fliegenle Blaetter,” (Flying Leaves, a periodical published at the Rauhe Haus,) “and will presently show you through our buildings.”

We waited accordingly, interesting ourselves, meanwhile, with the portraits of benefactors of the institution which decorated the walls.

In a few minutes Dr. Wichern rose, and merely saying, “I am at your service, gentlemen,” led the way to the original Rough House.  It is situated in the southeastern corner of the grounds, and is overshadowed by one of the noblest chestnut-trees I have ever seen.  The building is old and very humble in appearance, but of considerable size.  In addition to accommodations for the House-Father and his family of twelve boys, several of the Brothers of the Mission reside here, and there are also rooms for a probationary department for new pupils.

“Here,” said the Doctor, “we began the experiment whose results you see around you.  When, with my mother and sister and three of the worst boys to be found in Hamburg, I removed to this house in 1833, there was need of strong faith to foresee the results which God has wrought since that day.”

“What were the means you found most successful in bringing these turbulent and intractable spirits into subjection?” I inquired.

“Love, the affection of a parent for his children,” was his reply.  “These wild, hardened boys were inaccessible to any emotion of fear; they had never been treated with kindness or tenderness; and when they found that there was no opportunity for the exercise of the defiant spirit they had summoned to their aid, when they were told that all the past of their lives was to be forgotten and never brought up against them, and that here, away from temptation, they might enter upon a new life, their sullen and intractable natures yielded, and they became almost immediately docile and amiable.”

“But,” I asked, “is there not danger, that, when removed from these comfortable homes, and subjected again to the iron gripe of poverty, they will resume their old habits?”