ight
long enjoy them! We too are got thereby a few miles nearer
you; and on a future journey to Franconia, which we are
every year projecting, we may the more easily get over to
you.

"How sorry am I, dear Sister, that thy health has suffered
so much; and that thou wert again so unfortunate with thy
confinement! Perhaps your new situation might permit you,
this summer, to visit some tonic watering-place, which might
do thee a great deal of good."--

"Of our Family here, my Wife will write thee more at large.
Our Children, this winter, have all had chicken-pox; and
poor little Emilie" (a babe of four months) "had much to
suffer in the affair. Thank God, things are all come round
with us again, and my own health too begins to confirm
itself.

"A thousand times I embrace thee, dear Sister, and my dear
Brother-in-law as well, whom I always wish from the heart to
have more acquaintance with. Kiss thy Children in my name;
may all go right happily with you, and much joy be in store!
How would our dear Parents have rejoiced in your good
fortune; and especially our dear Mother, had she been spared
to see it! Adieu, dear Luise. With my whole soul,

"Thy faithful Brother,

"SCHILLER."

Schiller's tone and behaviour to his Sisters is always beautifully
human and brotherlike, as here. Full of affection, sincerity and the
warmest truest desire to help and cheer. The noble loving Schiller;
so mindful always of the lowly, from his own wildly-dangerous and
lofty path! He was never rich, poor rather always; but of a spirit
royally munificent in these respects; never forgets the poor
"birthdays" of his Sisters, whom one finds afterwards gratefully
recognising their "beautiful dress" or the like!--

* * * * *

Of date some six weeks after this Letter to Luise, let us take from
Eyewitnesses one glimpse of Schiller's own deathbed. It is the eighth
day of his illness; his last day but one in this world:

'_Morning of 8th May 1805._-- --Schiller, on awakening from sleep,
asked to see his youngest Child. The Baby' Emilie, spoken of above,
'was brought. He turned his head round; took the little hand in his,
and, with an inexpressible look of love and sorrow, gazed into the
little face; then burst into bitter weeping, hid his face among the
pillows; and made a sign to take the child