These venerable solemnities were followed, in the fine season, by many festivals, delightful for us children, which took place in the open air, outside the city.  On the right shore of the Main, going down, about half an hour’s walk from the gate, there rises a sulphur-spring, neatly enclosed, and surrounded by aged lindens.  Not far from it stands the Good-People’s-Court, formerly a hospital erected for the sake of the waters.  On the commons around, the herds of cattle from the neighborhood were collected on a certain day of the year; and the herdsmen, together with their sweethearts, celebrated a rural festival with dancing and singing, with all sorts of pleasure and clownishness.  On the other side of the city lay a similar but larger common, likewise graced with a spring and still finer lindens.  Thither, at Whitsuntide, the flocks of sheep were driven:  and, at the same time, the poor, pale orphan children were allowed to come out of their walls into the open air; for the thought had not yet occurred that these destitute creatures, who must some time or other help themselves through the world, ought soon to be brought in contact with it; that, instead of being kept in dreary confinement, they should rather be accustomed to serve and to endure; and that there was every reason to strengthen them physically and morally from their infancy.  The nurses and maids, always ready to take a walk, never failed to carry or conduct us to such places, even in our first years; so that these rural festivals belong to the earliest impressions that I can recall.

Meanwhile, our house had been finished, and that too in tolerably short time; because every thing had been judiciously planned and prepared, and the needful money provided.  We now found ourselves all together again, and felt comfortable; for, when a well-considered plan is once carried out, we forget the various inconveniences of the means that were necessary to its accomplishment.  The building, for a private residence, was roomy enough, light and cheerful throughout, with broad staircases, agreeable parlors, and a prospect of the gardens that could be enjoyed easily from several of the windows.  The internal completion, and what pertained to mere ornament and finish, was gradually accomplished, and served at the same time for occupation and amusement.

The first thing brought into order was my father’s collection of books, the best of which, in calf and half-calf binding, were to ornament the walls of his office and study.  He possessed the beautiful Dutch editions of the Latin classics, which, for the sake of outward uniformity, he had endeavored to procure all in quarto; and also many other works relating to Roman antiquities and the more elegant jurisprudence.  The most eminent Italian poets were not wanting, and for Tasso he showed a great predilection.  There were also the best and most recent Travels, and he took great delight in correcting and completing Keyssler and Nemeiz from them.  Nor had he omitted to surround himself with all needful aids to learning, such as dictionaries of various languages, and encyclopaedias of science and art, which, with much else adapted to profit and amusement, might be consulted at will.