This peculiarity distinguishes Gotthelf's Bauernspiegel from the nearly contemporary Oberhof, the episode of Immermann's Münchhausen which is intended as a popular contrast to the aristocratic society represented in the larger part of that novel. Cf. Vol. vii, p. 169.

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2

Editor's note.—Numerous omissions have been made in the course of the narrative, reducing the length of the original text by about one fifth. Wherever necessary for the continuity of the story, the essence of the excluded portions has been supplied by synopses. These synopses are printed enclosed in brackets. Permission Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd., London.

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3

This old country saying is founded on the similarity in sound between sechse (sixes) and hexe (witch).

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4

Permission Bernhard Tauchnitz, Leipzig.

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5

Translator's note. In Mecklenburg the cows are always milked in the fields.

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6

Translator's note. The Kammer is the chief government office in Mecklenburg, and Mr. von Rambow was a member of it.

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7

A mortgage or lien, a corruption of Hypothek.

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8

Translator's note.—This story is founded on fact, and during Reuter's last visit to Stuer (from the 13th of December, 1868, till the 29th of January, 1869) he discovered this great amusement that he had been given the very room in which the director of the establishment told him the hero of the tale had been attacked by a neighbor's bees while he was lying helpless in the "packing" sheets. See Duboc's "Auf Reuterschem Boden" in Westermann's "Monats-Hefte."

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9

Translator's note.—A common saying in Mecklenburg, the origin of which is unknown.

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10

From Bunte Steine

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11

From The Natural History of the People.

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12

Hilly woodland in the eastern part of the Island of Rügen.

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13

From Studies in the Culture of Three Centuries.

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14

Claude Lorraine himself, who according to tradition is said to have made studies near Munich, did not go into the high mountains, but, quite in keeping with the eye for natural scenery of his time, remained on the plateau.

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15

From Studies in the Culture of Three Centuries.

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16

France centralizes in this respect also and at present (1858) a council is being called together in Paris to reestablish the catholicity of European orchestral pitch.

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