That was many years ago; but his unapproachable memory still lives, as Father of United Germany--and his fame goes marching on. 68 The old man's strange fancies as he passes the time awaiting his final call. ¶ Behold our old master in retirement, as obscure as a simple country squire; and he reads again--what do you think? The Book of Job, Bismarck's last reading, reminds him of the evanescence of all earthly glory, which passes away like the grass that is cut down by the mower. ¶ Brave old fighter, with your show of dauntless spirit, down to the very end, we know that you are grown weary of it all, and in truth, in silent moments of self-communion, you do not care when the end may come, nor may it come too soon for you. ¶ He is worried all the time, now; worried about his son's health; worried about the death of his brother; broken over the death of his wife; distressed by the death of favorite dogs and horses. Also, he recalls a gypsy saying having to do with the end of the Bismarck family, under strange conditions, in these mystical words: Dem Grafen von Bismarck soll es verleiber So Lang sie vom Horste die Reiher nicht trieben-- Or, "The Counts Bismarck shall reign at Varzin as long as the herons are not driven from their ancient haunts"; in rude rhyme: "The Bismarcks shall hold their domain till the day When they from their haunts drive the herons away." ¶ You see, the old man's mind was wandering, and now and then he saw the future, as in a strange dream. ¶ He watched the crows and jackdaws gather over the fields and at the rookeries, and he said one day, "They have their joys and sorrows like human beings." ¶ He recited Shakespeare, thinking of the olden times when he went roaring up and down the land! "Let me play the lion, too! I will roar that it will do any man's heart good to hear me. I will that I can make the Duke say, 'Let him roar again, let him roar again!'" * * * * * ¶ Trifles annoyed the aged Bismarck, as might be expected; such things as changing the clocks to introduce "standard time," as it is called. "I do not like this 'standard time'; here I get up half an hour too early and go to bed half an hour too soon," was the octogenarian's crabbed comment. ¶ Day by day, crowds came to see him--children, students, laborers, artists, musicians, politicians, writers--all visited the sage in his retirement. Levi, the Wagnerian Kappelmeister, journeyed from Munich to Friedrichsruh to beg the honor of owning, as a souvenir, one of Bismarck's old hats. ¶ Lenbach, the renowned artist, came to paint Bismarck's picture; and noted the curious fact that although Mecklenburgers have the largest German skulls, "Bismarck's is larger still." ¶ Bad nights, neuralgia, insomnia became his companions; but still ambition, the one supreme infirmity of his majestic mind, gives him no peace.