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and heard their noise, everything swam before my eyes. Like so many others I had pictured it to myself quite differently, nor had I ever imagined such awesome majesty. How small and insignificant did I appear to myself there! Indeed, after an hour of gazing at it in wonder I went homewards quite humbled by it. From time to time I went up to the Bonenberg, to see the fine view. At the landing-stages I would help the watermen, and soon I too took pleasure in travelling hither and thither.38. An unexpected visit:
Such was my way of life, and I was very happy in it, when, doubtless from my worthy companions, a rumour reached my homeland that I had been sold for a sailor; indeed it was said that tidings had been heard from a man who with his own eyes had seen me put in irons and carried down the Rhine. Already they were setting me up as a warning to all the children, that it was better to stay right at home than to venture out into the wicked world. My father, indeed, did not believe a word of it, but because my mother became so sorely grieved, reproaching him over and over again, leaving him no peace by day or night, he decided at length to make his way to Schaffhausen and inform himself of the truth or untruth of the story. And so one evening what joy there was for us both, when quite unexpectedly (so that I could hardly believe my eyes), my beloved father entered my chamber. He told me the reason for his coming, and I told him how fortunate I was; I showed him my box full of elegant clothes, everything piece by piece down to the little shirt-buttons. Then I presented him to my good master, who bade him welcome very kindly and had the best of everything set before him.
It so happened, however, that on that same evening after supper, there was dancing at the inn where we were lodged, and my master, who loved all kinds of merriment, came to join in, when father and I were eating our roast meat at a table in the corner of the great parlour. All of a sudden he came up to me: "Ollrich! You must come and dance with the young people". In vain I excused myself and called my father to witness that I had never danced in my life. There was no help for it. He pulled me out from behind the table, and put my hand into that of the cook-maid from the inn, a pretty Swabian girl. For shame that I should be dancing in my father's presence, the sweat ran down from my brow. The girl pulled me about in such a maze, that before long I was bumping senselessly from one wall to another, and became the laughing-stock of all the spectators. Dear father spoke not a word throughout this scene, but from time to time he cast a woeful look towards me that went to my heart. We went to bed early. I did not weary in telling him over yet another homily about how fortunate I was, what a good master I had, who treated me so kindly and was like a father to me, and so forth. He answered only with broken phrases: Yes - so - that is good - and fell asleep somewhat uneasily, and I no less so.
In the morning he took his leave as soon as my master was awake. My master paid his expenses for the journey and gave him a thaler over for the road, and assured him by all the powers that in his care all should go well with me, and I should be well looked after, if I in my turn continued to show myself faithful and honest. My worthy father, who was now regaining courage and confidence, thanked him politely and recommended me to his best care. I accompanied him as far as the Paradies monastery. On the way we conversed in a more intimate fashion than we had ever done since I had that illness in my childhood. [...]
39. And more of the same:
I soon became accustomed to my service. My master, without my knowing of it, had made trial of my honesty several times by leaving sums of money here and there in his room. Soon
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The falls of the Rhine at Schaffhausen were already regarded as one of the most impressive natural wonders in Europe. They had also brought prosperity to the town because they were un-navigable, all goods brought by water had to be carried round them and reloaded.
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