Delphi Collected Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe \(Illustrated\) pdfdrive com

AUGUST 4.

I  am  not  alone  unfortunate.  All  men  are  disappointed  in  their  hopes,  and

deceived in their expectations. I have paid a visit to my good old woman under

the lime-trees. The eldest boy ran out to meet me: his exclamation of joy brought

out his mother, but she had a very melancholy look. Her first word was, “Alas!

dear  sir,  my  little  John  is  dead.”  He  was  the  youngest  of  her  children.  I  was

silent.  “And  my  husband  has  returned  from  Switzerland  without  any  money;

and,  if  some  kind  people  had  not  assisted  him,  he  must  have  begged  his  way

home. He was taken ill with fever on his journey.” I could answer nothing, but

made the little one a present. She invited me to take some fruit: I complied, and

left the place with a sorrowful heart.