[...] Heavens! the weather cleared up yesterday so beautifully that I really took some joy in life again. I had a lot to see and enjoy in a three hours' ramble such as one can only get in this glorious district.
I sat down near a mill by the stream, to cool down before I could take a drink, and fell into just the right mood for looking at things. Inside the mill-wheels clattered, outside cackled the hens, and pigeons sought food amongst them; on a small wain heaped with straw, the sparrows hopped about looking for grains of corn; I could hear the ox in his stall and wondered if anything was lacking to complete the scene? Aha! out through the door came the cat, seated herself on the step, washed herself and watched the birds. At last a little maid came out to draw water and behind her bounded a huge dog, which did not touch me. Then I thought to myself, "Yes, real country life like this might suit me for a change. I like to be with animals, and that not merely superficially. They always furnish one with little cares and innocent joys to give each day its interest; and then one learns to know each animal personally, they depend on us and that flatters us."—After that I went over the hill and through the wood, full of heavenly bird-song, and I kept on thinking I heard a new one. But it was glorious in the meadow. I had never heard such lovely tinkling of bells. Almost every cow had a big fine-toned metal bell, on which the people here seem to spend a lot. When I stood among them, the volume of sound was magnificent; and the cattle are so friendly they all come up and gaze at one inquisitively. For a long time I heard those lovely bells in the farthest distance. Yes, and even at night I heard them from my perch away across the lake, for the cows stay out in the meadows all night.
If I could have my wish, I should like to live in Paris for the winter, but in the summer we should be able to live a real homely country life like this in Switzerland, perhaps in Brunnen, after all. I won't give up the idea entirely and shall discuss the plan again with Aufdermauer. America, America, you must help! Money will do anything, you know! [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 409