Schleiermacher to Charlotte von Kathen.
[CCCCXIV.] Berlin, 14th February, 1820.
Dearest Lotte, it seems an age since I communicated with you, but therefore I will also now give you most joyous tidings! The day before yesterday my wife was happily delivered of a boy!1
This time I had not felt so strong a wish that it might be a boy, as on former occasions. I was too much penetrated by the feeling that we do not know what we wish for, more especially in the present times. But among the children there was such a constant talk about the little brother that was expected, that I felt quite anxious as to how we should reconcile them to the fact, should the child be a girl. But when it proved to be a boy, you may conceive with what joy and thankfulness I received him, and that my first prayer to God was, to be inspired with wisdom and power from above to educate the child to His glory. Join with me in this prayer, I beg you, all you dear ones! … .
Schleiermacher to his Step-Son.
[CCCCXV.] 1821.
My hearty greetings also, I send you, my dear son, hoping that after this pleasant excursion you will set to work again with renewed zeal and earnestness, and begin your new cursus with the earnest endeavour to avoid in future such blame as is this time contained in the report of your examiners. However, this is the least that you have to do; you have now attained the age when you must no longer be content to do what you have been given to do, well and ably, but when your own zeal must carry you further than the tasks imposed in school. We will rejoice to find you renouncing all trifling, striving steadfastly forward, and exercising a beneficent influence on your sisters by your example and by your love. May God assist you herein, dear son. Think often of us.
Schleiermacher to Charlotte von Kathen.
[CCCCXVI.] Berlin, 9th April, 1824.
Dear Lotte, so badly stand matters with me, that Ernst arrives, and brings me a letter from you, and not until now, when he is again leaving us, have I been able to pen you a few lines in return. Thus life passes on while man is doing what he is bound to do, and little time is left for doing what he wishes to do. Could I but feel easy as to my doing all that I am bound to do!
Your son, dear sister, will tell you how our life passes. We have had a sad time of sickness among the children latterly… . . About myself there is a great deal to be said that Ernst cannot tell you, and which, in fact, I cannot myself tell you. My outward position is very precarious, perhaps more so than ever. The suspicions of demagogical tendencies in regard to me have, I trust, been allayed; but the ecclesiastical questions must soon be brought to a head, and should the result be violent measures, I must infallibly be one of the first victims. I cannot say that I am alarmed, or that in itself the thought of this troubles me; for in regard to these matters I know that I have done nothing but what I was bound to do, and I almost think I may say, also, that I have done all that I ought to do. But when such decisions are impending, one cannot help feeling very keenly, what under ordinary circumstances is less remarked, viz.: that in regard to our offices and their functions, we are dreadfully exposed to personal arbitrariness, and to feel this is very disagreeable. But this also must be borne, and all things will come to pass as God wills it… . .
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Footnotes
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His only son, Nathanael, whom he lost again at the age of nine years. ↩