he students often make excursions to a beautiful spot on the
Neckar, called "Wolfsbrunnen," where they obtain trout fresh from a
pond, and eat them, nicely cooked, on tables set out under the trees
near the river-side.

Another frequent recreation is to attend the peasant fairs in the
neighboring villages, and to take jaunts to the lovely Swetzingen
gardens, or to the top of the Konigsthul hill, back of the castle,
from which a most beautiful view of the Black Forest and Hartz
Mountains, with the broad valley of the Rhine, is to be seen.

On this hill is an inn where many resort to drink whey. Many of the
students are too poor to enjoy the pastimes of the others, or even
to live at the university without doing something to support
themselves.

These go wandering about the country in vacation time, on foot,
singing in the villages, and receiving money from the kindly
disposed, with which to pay the expenses of their education. As you
pass through Germany you frequently meet parties of these poor
students, who go about merrily; and to give them a few kreuzers is
always a pleasure.

Mr. Beal gave from translations a few specimens of these German
student songs. The first was

GAUDEAMUS.

Let us then rejoice, ere youth
From our grasp hath hurried;
After cheerful youth is past,
After cheerless age, at last,
In the earth we're buried.

Where are those who lived of yore,
Men whose days are over?
To the realms above thee go,
Thence unto the shades below,
An' thou wilt discover.

Short and fleeting is our life,--
Swift away 'tis wearing;
Swiftly, too, will death be here,
Cruel, us away to tear,
Naught that liveth sparing.

Long live Academia,--
And our tutors clever;
All our comrades long live they,
And our female comrades gay,
May they bloom forever.

Long live every maiden true,
Who has worth and beauty;
And may every matron who
Kind and good is, flourish, too,--
Each who does her duty.

Long may also live our state,
And the king who guides us;
Long may live our town, and fate
Prosper each Mecaenas great,
Who good things provides us.

Perish melancholy woe,
Perish who derides us;
Perish fiend, and perish so
Every antiburschian foe
Who for laughing chides us.

[Illustration: GERMAN STUDEN