But even by walking, a man rests and recovers himself for climbing; by little joys and duties, for great. The victorious Dictator must contrive to plough down his battle Mars-field into a flax and carrot field; to transform his theatre of war into a parlour theatre, on which his children may enact some good pieces from the _Children's Friend_. Can he accomplish this, can he turn so softly from the path of poetical happiness into that of household happiness,--then is he little different from myself, who even now, though modesty might forbid me to disclose it--who even now, I say, amid the creation of this Letter, have been enabled to reflect, that when it is done, so also will the Roses and Elder-berries of pastry be done, which a sure hand is seething in butter for the Author of this Work. As I purpose appending to this Letter a Postscript (at the end of the Book), I reserve somewhat which I had to say about the Third[31] half-satirical half-philosophical part of the Work, till that opportunity. Here, out of respect for the rights of a Letter, the Author drops his half anonymity,[32] and for the first time subscribes himself with his _whole_ true name, JEAN PAUL FRIEDRICH RICHTER. _Hof in Voigtland, 29th June 1795._ [31] _Fixlein_ stands in the middle of the volume; preceded by _Einer Mustheil fuer Madchen_ (A Jelly-course for Young Ladies); and followed by _Some_ JUS DE TABLETTE _for Men_. A small portion of the Preface relating to the first I have already omitted. Neither of the two has the smallest relation to _Fixlein_.--ED. [32] _J. P. H., Jean Paul_ HASUS, _Jean Paul_, &c. have in succession been Richter's signatures. At present even, his German designation, either in writing or speech, is never _Richter_, but _Jean Paul_.--ED. LIFE OF QUINTUS FIXLEIN. FIRST LETTER-BOX. _Dog-days Vacation. Visits. An Indigent of Quality_. Egidius Zebedaeus Fixlein had just for eight days been Quintus,[33] and fairly commenced his teaching duties, when Fortune tabled out for him four refreshing courses and collations, besprinkled with flowers and sugar. These were the four canicular weeks. I could find in my heart, at this hour, to pat the cranium of that good-man who invented the Dog-days Vacation: I never go to walk in that season, without thinking how a thousand down-pressed pedagogic persons are now erecting themselves in the open air; and the stiff knapsack is lying unbuckled at their feet, and they can seek whatsoever their soul desires; butterflies,--or roots of numbers,--or roots of words,--or herbs,--or their native villages.