
A young narrator’s love of the outdoors turns into a quiet obsession with the humble treasures hidden in fields, hedgerows and forest clearings. He gathers smooth pebbles, glittering “cat‑silver” flakes and oddly soft stones that reveal hidden colours when a thin glaze is applied. Through gentle description he invites listeners to share the simple wonder of finding a rainbow‑hued shard of glass beneath damp earth, and the patient pleasure of arranging these finds into tiny collections.
Beyond the personal reminiscences, the work becomes a modest guide for curious youths, encouraging them to look closely at the natural world and to cherish the small marvels it offers. Dedicated to a late friend, the author’s reflections blend nostalgia with a quiet call to keep exploring, preserving the joy of discovery for generations to come.
Language
de
Duration
~10 hours (615K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Norbert H. Langkau, Daniel Kraft, Jana Srna and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2009-07-31
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1805–1868
Known for calm, carefully observed stories of nature and everyday life, this 19th-century Austrian writer became one of the great stylists of German-language literature. His work often pairs quiet beauty with a deep moral seriousness that still feels distinctive today.
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