Autobiography of Friedrich Froebel | Page 6

buildings to right and left,
the big church in front, and at the back the sloping fields stretching up a
high hill. For a long time I remained thus deprived of any distant view:
but above me I saw the sky, clear and bright as we so often find it in the
hill country; and around me I felt the pure fresh breeze stirring. The
impression which that clear sky and that pure air then made on me has
remained ever since present to my mind. My perceptions were in this
manner limited to only the nearest objects. Nature, with the world of
plants and flowers, so far as I was able to see and understand her, early
became an object of observation and reflection to me. I soon helped my
father in his favourite occupation of gardening, and in this way
received many permanent perceptions; but the consciousness of the real
life in nature only came to me further on, and I shall return to the point
hereafter in the course of my narrative. Our domestic life at this time
gave me much opportunity for occupation and reflection. Many
alterations went on in our house; both my parents were exceedingly
active-minded, fond of order, and determined to improve their dwelling
in every possible way. I had to help them according to my capacity, and
soon perceived that I thereby gained strength and experience; while
through this growth of strength and experience my own games and

occupations became of greater value to me.
But from my life in the open air amongst the objects of nature, and
from the externals of domestic life, I must now turn to the inner aspects
of my home and family.
My father was a theologian of the old school, who held knowledge and
science in less estimation than faith; but yet he endeavoured to keep
pace with the times. For this purpose he subscribed to the best
periodicals he could obtain, and carefully examined what information
they offered him. This helped not a little to elevate and enlighten the
old-fashioned truly Christian life which reigned in our family. Morning
and evening all its members gathered together, and even on Sunday as
well, although on that day divine service would of course also call upon
us to assemble for common religious worship. Zollikofer, Hermes,
Marezoll, Sturm, and others, turned our thoughts, in those delightful
hours of heavenly meditation, upon our innermost being, and served to
quicken, unfold, and raise up the life of the soul within us. Thus my life
was early brought under the influence of nature, of useful handiwork,
and of religious feelings; or, as I prefer to say, the primitive and natural
inclinations of every human being were even in my case also tenderly
fostered in the germ. I must mention here, with reference to my ideas
regarding the nature of man, to be treated of later, and as throwing light
upon my professional and individual work, that at this time I used
repeatedly, and with deep emotion, to resolve to try and be a good and
brave man. As I have heard since, this firm inward resolution of mine
was in flagrant contrast with my outward life. I was full of youthful
energy and in high spirits, and did not always know how properly to
moderate my vivacity. Through my want of restraint I got into all kinds
of scrapes. Often, in my thoughtlessness, I would destroy the things I
saw around me, in the endeavour to investigate and understand them.
My father was prevented by his manifold occupations from himself
instructing me. Besides, he lost all further inclination to teach me, after
the great trouble he found in teaching me to read--an art which came to
me with great difficulty. As soon as I could read, therefore, I was sent
to the public village school.

The position in which my father stood to the village schoolmasters, that
is to say, to the Cantor,[5] and to the master of the girls' school, and his
judgment of the value of their respective teaching, decided him to send
me to the latter. This choice had a remarkable influence on the
development of my inner nature, on account of the perfect neatness,
quiet, intelligence, and order which reigned in the school; nay, I may
go further, and say the school was exactly suitable for such a child as I
was. In proof of this I will describe my entrance into the school. At that
time church and school generally stood in strict mutual relationship,
and so it was in our case. The school children had their special places in
church; and not only were they obliged to attend church, but each child
had to repeat to the teacher, at a special class held for the purpose