Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 13.djvu/46

24 conversely, when the child who was a dunce at school, turns out a man of genius.

GIn the summer of 1754 the old house was entirely rebuilt, Wolfgang officiating at the ceremony of laying the foundation, dressed as a little bricklayer. The quick, observant boy found much in this rebuilding of the paternal house to interest him; he chatted with the workmen, learning their domestic circumstances, and learning something of the builder's art, which in after years so often occupied him. This event, moreover, led to his being sent to a friend during the restoration of the upper part of the house—for the family inhabited the house during its reconstruction, which was made story by story from the ground

"Ein Quidam sagt: 'Ich bin von keiner Schule;

Kein Meister lebt mit dem ich buhle;

Auch bin ich weit davon entfernt

Dass ich von Todten was gelernt.'

Das heisst, wenn ich ihn recht verstand:

'Ich bin ein Narr auf eigne Hand!'"

In the summer of 1754 the old house was entirely rebuilt, Wolfgang officiating at the ceremony of laying the foundation, dressed as a little bricklayer. The quick, observant boy found much in this rebuilding of the paternal house to interest him; he chatted with the workmen, learning their domestic circumstances, and learning something of the builder's art, which in after years so often occupied him. This event, moreover, led to his being sent to a friend during the restoration of the upper part of the house—for the family inhabited the house during its reconstruction, which was made story by story from the ground