the Poor in Bavaria, 305 



creatures were first brought together, I used very fre- 

 quently to visit them, to speak kindly to them, and to 

 encourage them ; and I seldom passed through the halls 

 where they were at work without being a witness to the 

 most moving scenes. 



Objects formerly the most miserable and wretched, 

 whom I had seen for years as beggars in the streets ; 

 young women, perhaps the unhappy victims of seduc- 

 tion, who, having lost their reputation, and being turned 

 adrift in the world, without a friend and without a home, 

 were reduced to the necessity of begging, to sustain a 

 miserable existence, — now recognized me as their bene- 

 factor ; and, with tears dropping fast from their cheeks, 

 continued their work in the most expressive silence. 



If they were asked what was the matter with them, 

 their answer was (" Nichts "), " Nothing, " accompanied 

 by a look of affectionate regard and gratitude, so ex- 

 quisitely touching as frequently to draw tears from the 

 most insensible of the bystanders. 



It was not possible to be mistaken with respect to the 

 real state of the minds of these poor people. Every thing 

 about them showed that they were deeply affected with 

 the kindness shown them ; and that their hearts were 

 really softened, appeared, not only from their unaffected 

 expressions of gratitude, but also from the effusions of 

 their affectionate regard for those who were dear to 

 them. In short, never did I witness such affecting 

 scenes as passed between some of these poor people 

 and their children. 



It was mentioned above that the children were sepa- 

 rated from the grown persons. This was the case at 

 first ; but as soon as order was thoroughly established 

 in every part of the house, and the poor people had 



VOL. IV. 20 



