Die Kinder auf dem Abendberg: Eine Weihnachtsgabe

After wandering from Gibraltar to Denmark, the narrator finally reaches Switzerland in late summer, drawn more by old friends than by the country itself. Yet the moment the Jura is crossed, the landscape’s timeless magic overwhelms him, making the Swiss scenery feel incomparable—mountain valleys beside bustling cities, serene farms beside polished lakes. He sketches a vivid tableau of places: the industrious pulse of Zürich and Basel, the cultured calm of Bern’s vineyards, the quiet refuges of Uri and Unterwalden, and the traveler‑laden streets of Lucerne and Interlaken.

Through these observations, the narrator reflects on a nation where wealth and modesty coexist, where farmers tend thriving fields without the burdens of heavy taxes, and where social change stirs a restless yearning for something beyond material comfort. Against this backdrop, a small group of children gather on the evening hill, hinting at a simple, heart‑warming celebration that may offer a quiet counterpoint to the larger questions of progress and purpose.