We  learned  a  lesson  from  all  this — we  felt  that
not  a  word  of  kindness  is  ever  wasted,  that  a
simple  friendly  glance  may  cheer  the  spirit  and
warm  the  lonely  heart,  and  that  the  slightest
deed,  prompted  by  generous  sympathy,  becomes
a  living  joy  in  the  memory  of  the  receiver,  which
blesses  unceasingly  him  who  bestowed  it.
"VVe  left  Zurich  the  same  afternoon,  to  walk  to
Stafa,  where  we  were  told  the  poet  Freiligrath
resided.  The  road  led  along  the  bank  of  the
lake,  whose  shores  sloped  gently  up  from  the
water,  covered  with  gardens  and  farm-houses,
which,  with  the  bolder  mountains  that  rose  be-
hind them,  made  a  combination  of  the  lovely
and  grand,  on  which  the  eye  rested  with  rapture
and  delight.  The  sweetest  cottages  were  em-
bowered among  the  orchards,  and  the  whole
country  bloomed  like  a  garden.  The  waters  of
the  lake  are  of  a  pale,  transparent  green,  and  so
clear  that  we  could  see  its  bottom  of  white  peb-
(bles,  for  some  distance.  Here  and  there  floated
a  quiet  boat  on  its  surface.  The  opposite  hills
were  covered  with  a  soft  blue  haze,  and  white
villages  sat  along  the  shore,  "like  swans  among
the  reeds."  Behind,  we  saw  the  woody  range  of
the  Bruni^  Alp.  The  people  bade  us  a  pleasant
good  evening;  there  was  a  universal  air  of  cheer-
fulness and  content  on  their  countenances.
Towards  evening,  the  clouds  which  hung  in  the
south  the  whole  day,  dispersed  a  little  and  we
could  see  the  Dodiberg  and  the  Alps  of  Glarus.
