Monday, June 9:
Sky completely overcast, but we put our faith in the barometer and, to the strains of “When my master starts his travels”, we set off in the gayest of spirits, eight in all! It is raining when we meet up with our carriage in Pegnitz, but by Pottenstein the weather has already cleared, and we have a merry meal in the little inn in Gössweinstein, walk through the park to the Stampfer mill, sit for a little while in the pretty bower awaiting our carriage, and then drive on to Muggendorf, where a splendid evening greets our entrance.
Great amusement to see the six heads looking out one after another from the windows and greeting us both on the balcony. Walk along the banks of the Wisent; meeting a poor cripple who also has only one eye, the result of an accident. R. speaks to him, and we learn that he is walking to Streitberg to mend shoes, carrying his tools on his back. R. gives him alms and hopes he will find some others to help him as well. Coming upon such a sight when one is enjoying oneself, how impossible not to help a little! On the way from Pegnitz to Pottenstein we had already passed a young man with sore, bare feet; he was not begging, but R. called him over to our carriage and gave him something, and a grateful and cheerful look was our reward. To the cripple, who gazed at us like a character in a fairy tale, R. says, “See that you meet someone else who will help you further.”
Returning to our hotel, we read Carlyle with the loggia door open, his account of the death of Mirabeau. We go to bed in cheerful spirits.