ADVANCING TO MANHOOD. 147

little difficult was it to still the convulsions of the little
laughers, when poor Ludwig undertook to read aloud
his English lesson.

It was a relief to Carl to go out under the fine trees,
or among the rocks of the shore, at the interval of
noon, A favourite spot with the youngsters was a
spring half a mile inland, at the bottom of a small but
deep basin, in the pasture-ground. Here they secreted
their jugs of milk, and here they opened their little
dinner-baskets, and ate with a zest unknown at city
feasts ; often exchanging the varieties of the different
families, and joying in the superior cakes of other
mothers and aunts. These simple cares and simple
pleasures make up much of an humble teacher’s life.
Perhaps, in later days, he inclines to suspect that more
ambitious vexations and delights involve the same
principles, teach the same lessons, and reveal the same
frailties. The heart of the child is very much like the
heart of the man.