"I'll get a golden seat in heaven for making that bench. The
king hasn't got a finer place than that, and he can't get any one to
paint bluer skies or greener woods for him than we can see from here."
*
I am quite distressed by what the little pitchman tells me. He brings
me word that the man who purchases my work intends to pay me a visit.
He has just received an order to furnish carved wainscotings for the
palace at the king's new hunting-seat, and wishes to see me about them.
How shall I avoid meeting him?
*
The good mother has helped me out of my trouble. She received him when
he came, and told him that I would see no one. She would not consent to
tell a falsehood, a point on which Walpurga would have had less
scruples.
I now have the working designs, and beautiful woods with which to carry
them out, for I have undertaken to execute a portion of the order.
*
It matters little what manner of life one leads, so long as there is
self-awakening and self-consciousness. All arts, all science, merely
exist in order that our own consciousness may be acted upon and aroused
by that of others. He who can do this unaided is fortunate. He who
awakes of himself when it is time to go to work in the morning, has no
need of a watchman to call him.
Hansei has become a juryman. Walpurga is quite proud of it, and when he
took leave of us, it was with a certain air of pride and importance.
The idea of appealing to the conscience of the people for the verdict
of justice, is a beautiful one.
*
Hansei has returned, and had many terrible stories to tell.
It seems to me as if our lives and destinies were nothing more than
shadows playing on the wall.
Hansei was deeply affected when he said to us:
"Yes, all my sins came back to me, and I felt as if I were doing
penance when I pronounced judgment on others. It's nothing but good
luck that prevents us from falling into sinful ways and keeps us off of
the anxious bench."
*
(Sunday, May 28th.)--The grandmother is dead.
I cannot write of it. My hand seems as if paralyzed.
She kissed my eyes and said: "I kiss your eyes, and hope they may never
weep again."
Two hours before her death, she said to Hansei:
"Make a sled for Burgei. She is so anxious to have one. It'll please me
if you
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