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.