CHAP, i.] Early Recollections. 9 



her own room. Alexander went with many others to 

 follow their relatives for some miles to take a last look. I 

 found myself now with my mother alone in a room all in 

 confusion, in one corner of which my little brother Dietrich 

 lay in his cradle ; my tears flowed like my mother's, but 

 neither of us could speak. I snatched a large handkerchief 

 of my father's from a chair and took a stool to place it at 

 my mother's feet, on which I sat down, and put into her 

 hands one corner of the handkerchief, reserving the opposite 

 one for myself; this little action actually drew a momen- 

 tary smile into her face . . . My father left half his 

 pay for our support in the hands of an agent in Hanover, 

 but Griesbach, instead of following my father's example, 

 gave up his lodging and brought his wife with her goods 

 and chattels to her mother, which arrangement was no 

 small addition to our uncomfortable situation." 



Even at this early age, it is not difficult to trace 

 in these childish recollections the influence of that 

 intense affection for her brother William which 

 made him more and more the centre of all her 

 interests ; next to him, her father filled a large 

 place in her heart. Of the long year of separation, 

 nothing is recorded. At last Jacob arrived (having 

 " out of aggravation " got permission to resign his 

 place when the hoped-for vacancy in the orchestra 

 had been otherwise filled) he had travelled by post, 

 while his father and brother, " who never forsook 

 him for self-consideration," were still toiling wearily 

 on the march home. 



"My mother being very busy preparing dinner, had 



