59.

Wasserburg, Sept. 23, 1777.

Mon Tres-Cher Pere,—­

God be praised! we reached Waging, Stain, Ferbertshaim, and Wasserburg safely.  Now for a brief report of our journey.  When we arrived at the city gates, we were kept waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour till they could be thrown open for us, as they were under repair.  Near Schinn we met a drove of cows, and one of these very remarkable, for each side was a different color, which we never before saw.  When at last we got to Schinn, we met a carriage, which stopped, and ecce, our postilion called out we must change.  “I don’t care,” said I. Mamma and I were parleying, when a portly gentleman came up, whose physiognomy I at once recognized; he was a Memmingen merchant.  He stared at me for some time, and at last said, “You surely are Herr Mozart?” “At your service,” said I; “I know you, too, by sight, but not your name.  I saw you, a year ago, at Mirabell’s [the palace garden in Salzburg] at a concert.”  He then told me his name, which, thank God!  I have forgotten; but I retained one of probably more importance to me.  When I saw this gentleman in Salzburg, he was accompanied by a young man whose brother was now with him, and who lives in Memmingen.  His name is Herr Unhold, and he pressed me very much to come to Memmingen if possible.  We sent a hundred thousand loves to papa by them, and to my sister, the madcap, which they promised to deliver without fail.  This change of carriages was a great bore to me, for I wished to send a letter back from Waging by the postilion.  We then (after a slight meal) had the honor of being conveyed as far as Stain, by the aforesaid post-horses, in an hour and a half.  At Waging I was alone for a few minutes with the clergyman, who looked quite amazed, knowing nothing of our history.  From Stain we were driven by a most tiresome phlegmatic postilion—­N.  B., in driving I mean; we thought we never were to arrive at the next stage.  At last we did arrive, as you may see from my writing this letter. (Mamma is half asleep.) From Ferbertshaim to Wasserburg all went on well.  Viviamo come i principi; we want nothing except you, dear papa.  Well, this is the will of God; no doubt all will go on right.  I hope to hear that papa is as well as I am and as happy.  Nothing comes amiss to me; I am quite a second papa, and look after everything.[Footnote:  The father had been very uneasy at the idea of allowing the inexperienced youth, whose unsuspicious good-nature exposed him still more to danger, to travel alone; for the mother also was not very expert in travelling.] I settled from the first to pay the postilions, for I can talk to such fellows better than mamma.  At the Stern, in Wasserburg, we are capitally served; I am treated here like a prince.  About half an hour ago (mamma being engaged at the time) the Boots knocked at the door to take my orders about various things, and I gave them to him with the same grave air that I have in my portrait.  Mamma is just