Like his brilliant sister, Brentano is a fascinating figure in literature. He was amiable and winning, full of quips and cranks, and with an inexhaustible fund of stories. Astonishing tales of adventure, related with great circumstantiality of detail, and of which he himself was the hero, played an important part in his conversation. Tieck once said he had never known a better improvisatore than Brentano, nor one who could "lie more gracefully." When Brentano was forty years of age a total change came over his life. The witty and fascinating man of the world was transformed into a pious and gloomy ascetic. The visions of the stigmatized nun of Dülmen, Katharina Emmerich, attracted him, and he remained under her influence until her death in 1824. These visions he subsequently published as the 'Life of the Virgin Mary.' The eccentricities of his later years bordered upon insanity. He died in the Catholic faith in the year 1842. THE NURSE'S WATCH From 'The Boy's Wonderhorn' The moon it shines, My darling whines; The clock strikes twelve:--God cheer The sick both far and near. God knoweth all; Mousy nibbles in the wall; The clock strikes one:--like day, Dreams o'er thy pillow play. The matin-bell Wakes the nun in convent cell; The clock strikes two:--they go To choir in a row. The wind it blows, The cock he crows; The clock strikes three:--the wagoner In his straw bed begins to stir. The steed he paws the floor, Creaks the stable door; The clock strikes four:--'tis plain The coachman sifts his grain. The swallow's laugh the still air shakes, The sun awakes; The clock strikes five:--the traveler must be gone, He puts his stockings on. The hen is clacking, The ducks are quacking; The clock strikes six:--awake, arise, Thou lazy hag; come, ope thy eyes. Quick to the baker's run; The rolls are done; The clock strikes seven:-- 'Tis time the milk were in the oven. Put in some butter, do, And some fine sugar, too; The clock strikes eight:-- Now bring my baby's porridge straight. Englished by Charles T. Brooks. THE CASTLE IN AUSTRIA From 'The Boy's Wonderhorn' There lies a castle in Austria, Right goodly to behold, Walled tip with marble stones so fair, With silver and with red gold. Therein lies captive a young boy, For life and death he lies bound, Full forty fathoms under the earth, 'Midst vipers and snakes around.