She carried me to a house that was called "In der Wilde,"
near Grenchen. One of my aunts was there also: she wrapped me up in a
truss of straw that was accidentally in the room, and laid me on the
table, and went to the other women. Once in the night, after my aunts
had laid me down, they went to the mass at candle-mass time. Then I got
up, and had run through the snow in winter, naked, to a house. When
they came back, and did not find me, they were in great distress, but
found me at last in that house, between two men, who were warming me,
for I was frozen in the snow. Afterwards when I was also for a while
with the same aunts, at "In der Wilde," my eldest brother arrived from
the Savoy war, and brought me a little wooden horse, which I drew along
by a thread before the door. I still remember well that I really
thought the little horse could walk, and can therefore well explain to
myself how the little children often think that their dolls, and what
they have, are alive. My brother also strode over me with one leg, as I
still perfectly remember, and said, "Oho! Tommy, now you will never
grow any more." When I was about three years old. Cardinal Matthew
Schinner passed through the country to hold a visitation and confirm
every where, as is the custom in the Catholic Church, and came to
Grenchen also. At this time there was a priest in Grenchen, whose name
was Anthony Platter; he was a relation of mine; to him they brought me,
that he should act as godfather at my confirmation. When however the
Cardinal had dined, and was gone again into the church to confirm, (I
do not know what my uncle had to do), I ran without his knowledge into
the church, that I might be confirmed, and that my godfather might give
me a crown piece, as it is the custom to give the children something.
The Cardinal sat in an arm chair waiting till they brought him the
children. I still recollect very well that I ran up to him. As my
godfather was not with me, he spoke to me: "What do you want, my
child?" I said, "I should like to be confirmed." Then he said,
smiling, "What is your name?" I answered, "My name is Master Thomas."
Then he laughed, murmured something with his hand laid on my head, and
gave me a gentle slap on the cheek. At this moment Mr. Anthony came,
and excused himself by saying that I had run away without his
knowledge. Then the Cardinal related to him what I had said, and said
to that gentleman, "Certainly that child will become something
wonderful,--probably a priest." And because I was born just as they
were ringing for mass, many people supposed that I should become a
priest; on which account also they sent me to school earlier than
usual. When I was about six years old they sent me to Eisenthal behind
Stalden, where my mother's sister had a husband, called Thomas of Rüdi,
who lived on a farm called Am Boden. For him I was obliged to keep the
goats near the house. I can remember how I often stuck in the snow, so
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account