looked through the highest windows into the rooms, and over the roofs. I
looked in, and saw what nobody else could see, or indeed ought to see; in
fact, it is a bad world, and I would not care to be a man, but that men are of
some importance. I saw the most miserable things going on between
husbands and wives, parents and children,-sweet, incomparable children. I
have seen what no human being has the power of knowing, although they
would all be very glad to know-the evil conduct of their neighbors. Had I
written a newspaper, how eagerly it would have been read! Instead of
which, I wrote directly to the persons themselves, and great alarm arose in
all the town I visited. They had so much fear of me, and yet how dearly they
loved me. The professor made me a professor. The tailor gave me new
clothes; I am well provided for in that way. The overseer of the mint struck
coins for me. The women declared that I was handsome, and so I became
the man you now see me. And now I must say adieu. Here is my card. I live
on the sunny side of the street, and always stay at home in rainy weather.”
And the shadow departed.
“This is all very remarkable,” said the learned man.
Years passed, days and years went by, and the shadow came again. “How
are you going on now?” he asked.
“Ah!” said the learned man; “I am writing about the true, the beautiful,
and the good; but no one cares to hear anything about it. I am quite in
despair, for I take it to heart very much.”
“That is what I never do,” said the shadow; “I am growing quite fat and
stout, which every one ought to be. You do not understand the world; you
will make yourself ill about it; you ought to travel; I am going on a journey
in the summer, will you go with me? I should like a travelling companion;
will you travel with me as my shadow? It would give me great pleasure, and
I will pay all expenses.”
“Are you going to travel far?” asked the learned man.
“That is a matter of opinion,” replied the shadow. “At all events, a
journey will do you good, and if you will be my shadow, then all your
