In Eduard Pfyffer I found an estimable sterling man of humane and firm character.  He started from the fundamental principle that it was of little use freeing the people from this or that special superstition, but that we should do better by working for the future against sloth of thought and want of independent mental character from the very bottom—­namely, by educating our young people.  Therefore, he set great store by our undertaking.  And when I told him of our downcast spirits and the absolute danger in which we lived at the moment, he replied:—­“There is only one way to ensure your safety.  You must win over the people.  Work on a little longer, and then invite them all from far and near to a public examination.  If this test wins over the crowd to your side, then, and only then, are you out of harm’s reach.”  I went home, and we followed this counsel.  The examination was held on a lovely day in autumn.  A great crowd from several cantons flocked together, and there appeared delegates from the authorities of Zuerich, of Bern, and other cantons.  Our contest with the clerical party, which had been commented upon in most of the Swiss journals, had drawn all eyes upon us.  We scored a great victory with our examination.  The children developed so much enthusiasm, and answered so readily, that all were agreeably surprised, and rewarded us with loud applause.  From seven in the morning till seven in the evening lasted this examination, closing with games and gymnastic exercises performed by the whole school.  We rejoiced within ourselves; for our undertaking might now be regarded as fairly floated.  The institution was spoken of in the great Council of the Canton, and most glowing speeches were delivered in our favour by Herr Pfyffer, Herr Amrhyn, and others.  The Council decided that the castle and its outbuildings should be let to us at a very cheap rate, and that the Capuchin who had openly incited to riot against us should be expelled from the canton.

A little time after this examination a deputation from Bern came to invite Froebel to undertake the organisation of an Orphanage at Burgdorf.  Froebel suggested that he should not be restricted to teach orphans alone in the new establishment; his request was granted, and he then accepted the invitation.

With this, it seemed to me, my mission in Switzerland was at an end, and I began to long to return to Keilhau; my eldest son was now a year old, and I had never yet seen him.  Middendorff left his family, and replaced me at Willisau, living there for four years far away from wife and child.[138] At Keilhau I found things had improved, and the numbers had increased most cheeringly.  I determined to throw all my strength into the work of raising the mother institution from her slough of debt.  I began by a piece of honourable swindling:  and borrowed of Peter to pay Paul, covering one debt with another, but at the same time making it appear that we were paying our way.  In this fashion our damaged credit was restored, and as the receipts grew happily greater and greater, I began to gain ground.  Eventually I was able to send help to the other branches of our community, to increase my help as time went on, and to prepare a place of refuge for them if anything went wrong elsewhere.