I was, of course, well contented with this proposal; and by way of conversation, while supper was placed on the table, began to praise the solitude and retirement of his house, by which I professed myself to be greatly attracted. "It is remote, sir, no doubt," said the forester; "at the same time, our life here is the farthest possible from being dull or gloomy, as a townsman would probably conclude it to be.--To such people every situation in the country appears both lonely and stupid;--but much depends on the temper and disposition of the party by whom a house like this of ours is inhabited. "If, as in former years in this castle, an old gloomy Baron were the master,--one who shuts himself up within the four walls of his court, and takes no pleasure in the woods or the chase--then, indeed, it would be a dull and lonely habitation--But since this old Baron died, and our gracious Prince has been pleased to fit it up as a _forst-haus_, it has been kept in constant liveliness and mirth. "Probably you, sir, may be one of those townspeople, who know nothing, unless by report, of our pleasures, and therefore can have no adequate idea, what a joyous pleasant life we hunters lead in the forest--As to solitude, I know nothing either of its pains or pleasures--for, along with my huntsmen lads, we live all equally, and make but one family. Indeed, however absurd this may seem to you, I reckon my staunch wise dogs also among the number--And why not? They understand every word that I say to them. They obey even my slightest signals, and are attached, and faithful even to death. "Mark there, only, how intelligently my Waldmann looks up, because he knows already that I am speaking about him! "Now, sir, not only is there every day something to be done with the huntsmen and dogs in the forest--but every evening before, there is the pleasure of preparation, and a hospitable well-supplied board, (at which we enjoy ourselves with a zest, that you townsmen never experience;) then, with the first dawn of day, I am always out of bed, and make my appearance, blowing all the way a cheering _réveille_ upon my hunting-horn. "At that sound every one directly starts up--The dogs, too, begin to give tongue, and join in one great concert, of barking and rejoicing, from their delight at the anticipation of the coming sport. The huntsmen are quickly dressed--They throw the game-bags and fire-arms on their shoulders, and assemble directly in this room, where my old woman (my wife, I mean) prepares for us a right stout hunter's breakfast, an enormous _schüssel_ of hot ragout, with a bottle of vin-ordinaire, a reaming flagon of home-brewed ale, with another of _Stettiner beer_, sent us from the _residenz_; then, after a glass of _schnaps_, we all sally forth in the highest possible spirits, shouting and rejoicing.