CHAPTER XI

      MORALUSEOFINVENTORIES

      November13th,NineOclockP.M.

      Ihadwellstoppedupthechinksofmywindow;mylittlecarpetwasnaileddowninitsplace;mylamp,providedwithitsshade,castasubduedlightaround,andmystovemadealow,murmuringsound,asifsomelivecreaturewassharingmyhearthwithme.

      Allwassilentaroundme.But,outofdoorsthesnowandrainswepttheroofs,andwithalow,rushingsoundranalongthegurglinggutters;sometimesagustofwindforceditselfbeneaththetiles,whichrattledtogetherlikecastanets,andafterwarditwaslostintheemptycorridor.

      Thenaslightandpleasurableshiverthrilledthroughmyveins:Idrewtheflapsofmyoldwaddeddressing-gownaroundme,Ipulledmythreadbarevelvetcapovermyeyes,and,lettingmyselfsinkdeeperintomyeasy-chair,whilemyfeetbaskedintheheatandlightwhichshonethroughthedoorofthestove,Igavemyselfuptoasensationofenjoyment,mademorelivelybytheconsciousnessofthestormwhichragedwithout.Myeyes,swimminginasortofmist,wanderedoverallthedetailsofmypeacefulabode;theypassedfrommyprintstomybookcase,restinguponthelittlechintzsofa,thewhitecurtainsoftheironbedstead,andtheportfolioofloosepapers——thosearchivesoftheattics;andthen,returningtothebookIheldinmyhand,theyattemptedtoseizeoncemorethethreadofthereadingwhichhadbeenthusinterrupted.

      Infact,thisbook,thesubjectofwhichhadatfirstinterestedme,hadbecomepainfultome.Ihadcometotheconclusionthatthepicturesofthewriterweretoosombre.Hisdescriptionofthemiseriesoftheworldappearedexaggeratedtome;Icouldnotbelieveinsuchexcessofpovertyandofsuffering;neitherGodnormancouldshowthemselvessoharshtowardthesonsofAdam.Theauthorhadyieldedtoanartistictemptation:hewasmakingashowofthesufferingsofhumanity,asNeroburnedRomeforthesakeofthepicturesque.

      Takenaltogether,thispoorhumanhouse,sooftenrepaired,somuchcriticised,isstillaprettygoodabode;wemayfindenoughinittosatisfyourwants,ifweknowhowtosetboundstothem;thehappinessofthewisemancostsbutlittle,andasksbutlittlespace.

      Theseconsolingreflectionsbecamemoreandmoreconfused.Atlastmybookfellonthegroundwithoutmyhavingtheresolutiontostoopandtakeitupagain;andinsensiblyovercomebytheluxuryofthesilence,thesubduedlight,andthewarmth,Ifellasleep.

      Iremainedforsometimelostinthesortofinsensibilitybelongingtoafirstsleep;atlastsomevagueandbrokensensationscameoverme.

      Itseemedtomethatthedaygrewdarker,thattheairbecamecolder.

      Ihalfperceivedbushescoveredwiththescarletberrieswhichforetellthecomingofwinter.Iwalkedonadrearyroad,borderedhereandtherewithjuniper-treeswhitewithfrost.Thenthescenesuddenlychanged.

      Iwasinthediligence;thecoldwindshookthedoorsandwindows;thetrees,loadedwithsnow,passedbylikeghosts;invainIthrustmybenumbedfeetintothecrushedstraw.Atlastthecarriagestopped,and,byoneofthosestageeffectssocommoninsleep,Ifoundmyselfaloneinabarn,withoutafireplace,andopentothewindsonallsides.Isawagainmymothersgentleface,knownonlytomeinmyearlychildhood,thenobleandsterncountenanceofmyfather,thelittlefairheadofmysister,whowastakenfromusattenyearsold;allmydeadfamilylivedagainaroundme;theywerethere,exposedtothebitingsofthecoldandtothepangsofhunger.Mymotherprayedbytheresignedoldman,andmysister,rolleduponsomeragsofwhichtheyhadmadeherabed,weptinsilence,andheldhernakedfeetinherlittlebluehands.

      ItwasapagefromthebookIhadjustreadtransferredintomyownexistence.

      Myheartwasoppressedwithinexpressibleanguish.Crouchedinacorner,withmyeyesfixeduponthisdismalpicture,Ifeltthecoldslowlycreepinguponme,andIsaidtomyselfwithbitterness:

      "Letusdie,sincepovertyisadungeonguardedbysuspicion,apathy,andcontempt,andfromwhichitisvaintotrytoescape;letusdie,sincethereisnoplaceforusatthebanquetoftheliving!"

      AndItriedtorisetojoinmymotheragain,andtowaitatherfeetforthehourofrelease.

      Thiseffortdispelledmydream,andIawokewithastart.

      Ilookedaroundme;mylampwasexpiring,thefireinmystoveextinguished,andmyhalf-openeddoorwaslettinginanicywind.

      Igotup,withashiver,toshutanddouble-lockit;thenImadeforthealcove,andwenttobedinhaste.

      Butthecoldkeptmeawakealongtime,andmythoughtscontinuedtheinterrupteddream.

      ThepicturesIhadlatelyaccusedofexaggerationnowseemedbutatoofaithfulrepresentationofreality;andIwenttosleepwithoutbeingabletorecovermyoptimism——ormywarmth.

      Thusdidacoldstoveandabadlycloseddooraltermypointofview.

      Allwentwellwhenmybloodcirculatedproperly;alllookedgloomywhenthecoldlaidholdonme.

      Thisremindsmeofthestoryoftheduchesswhowasobligedtopayavisittotheneighboringconventonawintersday.Theconventwaspoor,therewasnowood,andthemonkshadnothingbuttheirdisciplineandtheardoroftheirprayerstokeepoutthecold.Theduchess,whowasshiveringwithcold,returnedhome,greatlypityingthepoormonks.

      Whiletheservantsweretakingoffhercloakandaddingtwomorelogstoherfire,shecalledhersteward,whomsheorderedtosendsomewoodtotheconventimmediately.Shethenhadhercouchmovedclosetothefireside,thewarmthofwhichsoonrevivedher.Therecollectionofwhatshehadjustsufferedwasspeedilylostinherpresentcomfort,whenthestewardcameinagaintoaskhowmanyloadsofwoodhewastosend.

      "Oh!youmaywait,"saidthegreatladycarelessly;"theweatherisverymuchmilder."

      Thus,mansjudgmentsareformedlessfromreasonthanfromsensation;andassensationcomestohimfromtheoutwardworld,sohefindshimselfmoreorlessunderitsinfluence;bylittleandlittleheimbibesaportionofhishabitsandfeelingsfromit.

      Itisnot,then,withoutcausethat,whenwewishtojudgeofastrangerbeforehand,welookforindicationsofhischaracterinthecircumstanceswhichsurroundhim.Thethingsamongwhichwelivearenecessarilymadetotakeourimage,andweunconsciouslyleaveinthemathousandimpressionsofourminds.Aswecanjudgebyanemptybedoftheheightandattitudeofhimwhohassleptinit,sotheabodeofeverymandiscoverstoacloseobservertheextentofhisintelligenceandthefeelingsofhisheart.BernardindeSt-Pierrehasrelatedthestoryofayounggirlwhorefusedasuitorbecausehewouldneverhaveflowersordomesticanimalsinhishouse.Perhapsthesentencewassevere,butnotwithoutreason.Wemaypresumethatamaninsensibletobeautyandtohumbleaffectionmustbeillpreparedtofeeltheenjoymentsofahappymarriage.

      14th,sevenoclockP.M——Thismorning,asIwasopeningmyjournaltowrite,Ihadavisitfromouroldcashier.

      Hissightisnotsogoodasitwas,hishandbeginstoshake,andtheworkhewasabletodoformerlyisnowbecomingsomewhatlaborioustohim.Ihadundertakentowriteoutsomeofhispapers,andhecameforthoseIhadfinished.

      Weconversedalongtimebythestove,whilehewasdrinkingacupofcoffeewhichImadehimtake.

      M.Rateauisasensibleman,whohasobservedmuchandspeakslittle;sothathehasalwayssomethingtosay.

      WhilelookingovertheaccountsIhadpreparedforhim,hislookfelluponmyjournal,andIwasobligedtoacknowledgethatinthiswayIwroteadiaryofmyactionsandthoughtseveryeveningforprivateuse.

      Fromonethingtoanother,Ibeganspeakingtohimofmydreamthedaybefore,andmyreflectionsabouttheinfluenceofoutwardobjectsuponourordinarysentiments.Hesmiled.

      "Ah!you,too,havemysuperstitions,"hesaid,quietly."Ihavealwaysbelieved,likeyou,thatyoumayknowthegamebythelair:itisonlynecessarytohavetactandexperience;butwithoutthemwecommitourselvestomanyrashjudgments.Formypart.Ihavebeenguiltyofthismorethanonce,butsometimesIhavealsodrawnarightconclusion.

      Irecollectespeciallyanadventurewhichgoesasfarbackasthefirstyearsofmyyouth——"

      Hestopped.IlookedathimasifIwaitedforhisstory,andhetolditmeatonce.

      AtthistimehewasstillbutthirdclerktoanattorneyatOrleans.HismasterhadsenthimtoMontargisondifferentaffairs,andheintendedtoreturninthediligencethesameevening,afterhavingreceivedtheamountofabillataneighboringtown;buttheykepthimatthedebtorshouse,andwhenhewasabletosetoutthedayhadalreadyclosed.

      FearingnottobeabletoreachMontargisingoodtime,hetookacrossroadtheypointedouttohim.Unfortunatelythefogincreased,nostarwasvisibleintheheavens,andthedarknessbecamesogreatthathelosthisroad.Hetriedtoretracehissteps,passedtwentyfootpaths,andatlastwascompletelyastray.

      Afterthevexationoflosinghisplaceinthediligence,camethefeelingofuneasinessastohissituation.Hewasalone,onfoot,lostinaforest,withoutanymeansoffindinghisrightroadagain,andwithaconsiderablesumofmoneyabouthim,forwhichhewasresponsible.Hisanxietywasincreasedbyhisinexperience.Theideaofaforestwasconnectedinhismindwithsomanyadventuresofrobberyandmurder,thatheexpectedsomefatalencountereveryinstant.

      Tosaythetruth,hissituationwasnotencouraging.Theplacewasnotconsideredsafe,andforsometimepasttherehadbeenrumorsofthesuddendisappearanceofseveralhorse-dealers,thoughtherewasnotraceofanycrimehavingbeencommitted.

      Ouryoungtraveller,withhiseyesstaringforward,andhisearslistening,followedafootpathwhichhesupposedmighttakehimtosomehouseorroad;butwoodsalwayssucceededtowoods.Atlastheperceivedalightatadistance,andinaquarterofanhourhereachedthehighroad.

      Asinglehouse,thelightfromwhichhadattractedhim,appearedatalittledistance.Hewasgoingtowardtheentrancegateofthecourtyard,whenthetrotofahorsemadehimturnhishead.Amanonhorsebackhadjustappearedattheturningoftheroad,andinaninstantwasclosetohim.

      Thefirstwordsheaddressedtotheyoungmanshowedhimtobethefarmerhimself.Herelatedhowhehadlosthimself,andlearnedfromthecountrymanthathewasontheroadtoPithiviers.Montargiswasthreeleaguesbehindhim.

      Thefoghadinsensiblychangedintoadrizzlingrain,whichwasbeginningtowettheyoungclerkthrough;heseemedafraidofthedistancehehadstilltogo,andthehorseman,whosawhishesitation,invitedhimtocomeintothefarmhouse.

      Ithadsomethingofthelookofafortress.Surroundedbyaprettyhighwall,itcouldnotbeseenexceptthroughthebarsofthegreatgate,whichwascarefullyclosed.Thefarmer,whohadgotoffhishorse,didnotgonearit,but,turningtotheright,reachedanotherentranceclosedinthesameway,butofwhichhehadthekey.

      Hardlyhadhepassedthethresholdwhenaterriblebarkingresoundedfromeachendoftheyard.Thefarmertoldhisguesttofearnothing,andshowedhimthedogschaineduptotheirkennels;bothwereofanextraordinarysize,andsosavagethatthesightoftheirmasterhimselfcouldnotquietthem.

      Aboy,attractedbytheirbarking,cameoutofthehouseandtookthefarmershorse.Thelatterbeganquestioninghimaboutsomeordershehadgivenbeforeheleftthehouse,andwenttowardthestabletoseethattheyhadbeenexecuted.

      Thusleftalone,ourclerklookedabouthim.

      Alanternwhichtheboyhadplacedonthegroundcastadimlightoverthecourtyard.Allaroundseemedemptyanddeserted.Notatracewasvisibleofthedisorderoftenseeninacountryfarmyard,andwhichshowsatemporarycessationoftheworkwhichissoontoberesumedagain.

      Neitheracartforgottenwherethehorseshadbeenunharnessed,norsheavesofcornheapedupreadyforthreshing,noraplowoverturnedinacornerandhalfhiddenunderthefreshly-cutclover.Theyardwasswept,thebarnsshutupandpadlocked.Notasinglevinecreepingupthewalls;everywherestone,wood,andiron!

      Hetookupthelanternandwentuptothecornerofthehouse.Behindwasasecondyard,whereheheardthebarkingofathirddog,andacoveredwallwasbuiltinthemiddleofit.

      Ourtravellerlookedinvainforthelittlefarmgarden,wherepumpkinsofdifferentsortscreepalongtheground,orwherethebeesfromthehiveshumunderthehedgesofhoneysuckleandelder.Verdureandflowerswerenowheretobeseen.Hedidnotevenperceivethesightofapoultry-yardorpigeon-house.Thehabitationofhishostwaseverywherewantinginthatwhichmakesthegraceandthelifeofthecountry.

      Theyoungmanthoughtthathishostmustbeofaverycarelessoraverycalculatingdisposition,toconcedesolittletodomesticenjoymentsandthepleasuresoftheeye;andjudging,inspiteofhimself,bywhathesaw,hecouldnothelpfeelingadistrustofhischaracter.

      Inthemeantimethefarmerreturnedfromthestables,andmadehimenterthehouse.

      Theinsideofthefarmhousecorrespondedtoitsoutside.Thewhitewashedwallshadnootherornamentthanarowofgunsofallsizes;themassivefurniturehardlyredeemeditsclumsyappearancebyitsgreatsolidity.

      Thecleanlinesswasdoubtful,andtheabsenceofallminorconveniencesprovedthatawomanscarewaswantinginthehouseholdconcerns.Theyoungclerklearnedthatthefarmer,infact,livedherewithnoonebuthistwosons.

      Ofthis,indeed,thesignswereplainenough.Atablewiththeclothlaid,thatnoonehadtakenthetroubletoclearaway,wasleftnearthewindow.Theplatesanddisheswerescattereduponitwithoutanyorder,andloadedwithpotato-paringsandhalf-pickedbones.Severalemptybottlesemittedanodorofbrandy,mixedwiththepungentsmelloftobacco-smoke.

      Afterseatinghisguest,thefarmerlightedhispipe,andhistwosonsresumedtheirworkbythefireside.Nowandthenthesilencewasjustbrokenbyashortremark,answeredbyawordoranexclamation;andthenallbecameasmuteasbefore.

      "Frommychildhood,"saidtheoldcashier,"Ihadbeenverysensibletotheimpressionofoutwardobjects;laterinlife,reflectionhadtaughtmetostudythecausesoftheseimpressionsratherthantodrivethemaway.Isetmyself,then,toexamineeverythingaroundmewithgreatattention.

      "Belowtheguns,Ihadremarkedonentering,somewolftrapsweresuspended,andtooneofthemstillhungthemangledremainsofawolfspaw,whichtheyhadnotyettakenofffromtheironteeth.Theblackenedchimneypiecewasornamentedbyanowlandaravennailedonthewall,theirwingsextended,andtheirthroatswithahugenailthrougheach;afoxsskin,freshlyflayed,wasspreadbeforethewindow;andalarderhook,fixedintotheprincipalbeam,heldaheadlessgoose,whosebodyswayedaboutoverourheads.

      "Myeyeswereoffendedbyallthesedetails,andIturnedthemagainuponmyhosts.Thefather,whosatoppositetome,onlyinterruptedhissmokingtopourouthisdrink,oraddresssomereprimandtohissons.

      Theeldestofthesewasscrapingadeepbucket,andthebloodyscrapings,whichhethrewintothefireeveryinstant,filledtheroomwithadisagreeablefetidsmell;thesecondsonwassharpeningsomebutchersknives.Ilearnedfromaworddroppedfromthefatherthattheywerepreparingtokillapigthenextday.

      "Theseoccupationsandthewholeaspectofthingsinsidethehousetoldofsuchhabitualcoarsenessintheirwayoflivingasseemedtoexplain,whileitformedthefittingcounterpartof,theforbiddinggloominessoftheoutside.Myastonishmentbydegreeschangedintodisgust,andmydisgustintouneasiness.Icannotdetailthewholechainofideaswhichsucceededoneanotherinmyimagination;but,yieldingtoanimpulseIcouldnotovercome,Igotup,declaringIwouldgoonmyroadagain.

      "Thefarmermadesomeefforttokeepme;hespokeoftherain,ofthedarkness,andofthelengthoftheway.IrepliedtoallbytheabsolutenecessitytherewasformybeingatMontargisthatverynight;andthankinghimforhisbriefhospitality,Isetoffagaininahastewhichmightwellhaveconfirmedthetruthofmywordstohim.

      "However,thefreshnessofthenightandtheexerciseofwalkingdidnotfailtochangethedirectionsofmythoughts.Whenawayfromtheobjectswhichhadawakenedsuchlivelydisgustinme,Ifeltitgraduallydiminishing.Ibegantosmileatthesusceptibilityofmyfeelings,andthen,inproportionastherainbecameheavierandcolder,thesestricturesonmyselfassumedatoneofill-temper.Isilentlyaccusedmyselfoftheabsurdityofmistakingsensationforadmonitionsofmyreason.Afterall,werenotthefarmerandhissonsfreetolivealone,tohunt,tokeepdogs,andtokillapig?Wherewasthecrimeofit?

      Withlessnervoussusceptibility,Ishouldhaveacceptedthesheltertheyofferedme,andIshouldnowbesleepingsnuglyonatrussofstraw,insteadofwalkingwithdifficultythroughthecoldanddrizzlingrain.

      Ithuscontinuedtoreproachmyself,until,towardmorning,IarrivedatMontargis,jadedandbenumbedwithcold.

      "When,however,Igotuprefreshed,towardthemiddleofthenextday,Iinstinctivelyreturnedtomyfirstopinion.Theappearanceofthefarmhousepresenteditselftomeunderthesamerepulsivecolorswhichtheeveningbeforehaddeterminedmetomakemyescapefromit.Reasonitselfremainedsilentwhenreviewingallthosecoarsedetails,andwasforcedtorecognizeinthemtheindicationsofalownature,orelsethepresenceofsomebalefulinfluence.

      "Iwentawaythenextdaywithoutbeingabletolearnanythingconcerningthefarmerorhissons;buttherecollectionofmyadventureremaineddeeplyfixedinmymemory.

      "TenyearsafterwardIwastravellinginthediligencethroughthedepartmentoftheLoiret;Iwasleaningfromthewindow,andlookingatsomecoppicegroundnowforthefirsttimebroughtundercultivation,andthemodeofclearingwhichoneofmytravellingcompanionswasexplainingtome,whenmyeyesfelluponawalledinclosure,withaniron-barredgate.InsideitIperceivedahousewithalltheblindsclosed,andwhichIimmediatelyrecollected;itwasthefarmhousewhereIhadbeensheltered.Ieagerlypointeditouttomycompanion,andaskedwholivedinit.

      "Nobodyjustnow,repliedhe.

      "Butwasitnotkept,someyearsago,byafarmerandhistwosons?

      "TheTurreaus;saidmytravellingcompanion,lookingatme;didyouknowthem?

      "Isawthemonce.

      "Heshookhishead.

      "Yes,yes!resumedhe;formanyyearstheylivedtherelikewolvesintheirden;theymerelyknewhowtotillland,killgame,anddrink.Thefathermanagedthehouse,butmenlivingalone,withoutwomentolovethem,withoutchildrentosoftenthem,andwithoutGodtomakethemthinkofheaven,alwaysturnintowildbeasts,yousee;soonemorningtheeldestson,whohadbeendrinkingtoomuchbrandy,wouldnotharnesstheplow-horses;hisfatherstruckhimwithhiswhip,andtheson,whowasmaddrunk,shothimdeadwithhisgun."

      16th,P.M——Ihavebeenthinkingofthestoryoftheoldcashierthesetwodays;itcamesoopportunelyuponthereflectionsmydreamhadsuggestedtome.

      HaveInotanimportantlessontolearnfromallthis?

      Ifoursensationshaveanincontestableinfluenceuponourjudgments,howcomesitthatwearesolittlecarefulofthosethingswhichawakenormodifythesesensations?Theexternalworldisalwaysreflectedinusasinamirror,andfillsourmindswithpictureswhich,unconsciouslytoourselves,becomethegermsofouropinionsandofourrulesofconduct.

      Alltheobjectswhichsurroundusarethen,inreality,somanytalismanswhencegoodandevilinfluencesareemitted,anditisforustochoosethemwisely,soastocreateahealthyatmosphereforourminds.

      Feelingconvincedofthistruth,Isetaboutmakingasurveyofmyattic.

      Thefirstobjectonwhichmyeyesrestisanoldmapofthehistoryoftheprincipalmonasteryinmynativeprovince.Ihadunrolleditwithmuchsatisfaction,andplaceditonthemostconspicuouspartofthewall.WhyhadIgivenitthisplace?Oughtthissheetofoldworm-eatenparchmenttobeofsomuchvaluetome,whoamneitheranantiquarynorascholar?Isnotitsrealimportanceinmysightthatoneoftheabbotswhofoundeditboremyname,andthatIshall,perchance,beabletomakemyselfagenealogicaltreeofitfortheedificationofmyvisitors?

      Whilewritingthis,Ifeelmyownblushes.Come,downwiththemap!

      letusbanishitintomydeepestdrawer.

      AsIpassedmyglass,Iperceivedseveralvisitingcardscomplacentlydisplayedintheframe.Bywhatchanceisitthatthereareonlynamesthatmakeashowamongthem?HereisaPolishcount——aretiredcolonel——thedeputyofmydepartment.Quick,quick,intothefirewiththeseproofsofvanity!andletusputthiscardinthehandwritingofouroffice-boy,thisdirectionforcheapdinners,andthereceiptofthebrokerwhereIboughtmylastarmchair,intheirplace.Theseindicationsofmypovertywillserve,asMontaignesays,matermasuperbe,andwillalwaysmakemerecollectthemodestyinwhichthedignityofthelowlyconsists.

      Ihavestoppedbeforetheprintshanginguponthewall.ThislargeandsmilingPomona,seatedonsheavesofcorn,andwhosebasketisoverflowingwithfruit,onlyproducesthoughtsofjoyandplenty;Iwaslookingathertheotherday,whenIfellasleepdenyingsuchathingasmisery.LetusgiveherascompanionthispictureofWinter,inwhicheverythingtellsofsorrowandsuffering:onepicturewillmodifytheother.

      AndthisHappyFamilyofGreuzes!Whatjoyinthechildrenseyes!

      Whatsweetreposeintheyoungwomansface!Whatreligiousfeelinginthegrandfatherscountenance!MayGodpreservetheirhappinesstothem!

      butletushangbyitssidethepictureofthismother,whoweepsoveranemptycradle.Humanlifehastwofaces,bothofwhichwemustdaretocontemplateintheirturn.

      Letmehide,too,theseridiculousmonsterswhichornamentmychimneypiece.Platohassaidthat"thebeautifulisnothingelsethanthevisibleformofthegood."Ifitisso,theuglyshouldbethevisibleformoftheevil,and,byconstantlybeholdingit,themindinsensiblydeteriorates.

      Butaboveall,inordertocherishthefeelingsofkindnessandpity,letmehangatthefootofmybedthisaffectingpictureoftheLastSleep!

      NeverhaveIbeenabletolookatitwithoutfeelingmyhearttouched.

      Anoldwoman,clothedinrags,islyingbyaroadside;herstickisatherfeet,andherheadrestsuponastone;shehasfallenasleep;herhandsareclasped;murmuringaprayerofherchildhood,shesleepsherlastsleep,shedreamsherlastdream!

      Sheseesherself,againastrongandhappychild,keepingthesheeponthecommon,gatheringtheberriesfromthehedges,singing,curtsyingtopassers-by,andmakingthesignofthecrosswhenthefirststarappearsintheheavens!Happytime,filledwithfragranceandsunshine!Shewantsnothingyet,forsheisignorantofwhatthereistowishfor.

      Butseehergrownup;thetimeiscomeforworkingbravely:shemustcutthecorn,threshthewheat,carrythebundlesoffloweringcloverorbranchesofwitheredleavestothefarm.Ifhertoilishard,hopeshineslikeasunovereverythinganditwipesthedropsofsweataway.

      Thegrowinggirlalreadyseesthatlifeisatask,butshestillsingsasshefulfillsit.

      By-and-byetheburdenbecomesheavier;sheisawife,sheisamother!

      Shemusteconomizethebreadofto-day,havehereyeuponthemorrow,takecareofthesick,andsustainthefeeble;shemustact,inshort,thatpartofanearthlyProvidence,soeasywhenGodgivesushisaid,sohardwhenheforsakesus.Sheisstillstrong,butsheisanxious;shesingsnolonger!

      Yetafewyears,andallisovercast.Thehusbandshealthisbroken;hiswifeseeshimpineawaybythenowfirelesshearth;coldandhungerfinishwhatsicknesshadbegun;hedies,andhiswidowsitsonthegroundbythecoffinprovidedbythecharityofothers,pressinghertwohalf-nakedlittleonesinherarms.Shedreadsthefuture,sheweeps,andshedroopsherhead.

      Atlastthefuturehascome;thechildrenaregrownup,buttheyarenolongerwithher.Hersonisfightingunderhiscountrysflag,andhissisterisgone.Bothhavebeenlosttoherforalongtime——perhapsforever;andthestronggirl,thebravewife,thecourageousmother,ishenceforthonlyapooroldbeggar-woman,withoutafamily,andwithoutahome!Sheweepsnomore,sorrowhassubduedher;shesurrenders,andwaitsfordeath.

      Death,thatfaithfulfriendofthewretched,iscome:nothideousandwithmockery,assuperstitionrepresents,butbeautiful,smiling,andcrownedwithstars!Thegentlephantomstoopstothebeggar;itspalelipsmurmurafewairywords,whichannouncetohertheendofherlabors;apeacefuljoycomesovertheagedbeggarwoman,and,leaningontheshoulderofthegreatDeliverer,shehaspassedunconsciouslyfromherlastearthlysleeptohereternalrest.

      Liethere,thoupoorway-weariedwoman!Theleaveswillservetheeforawinding-sheet.Nightwillshedhertearsofdewoverthee,andthebirdswillsingsweetlybythyremains.Thyvisitherebelowwillnothaveleftmoretracethantheirflightthroughtheair;thynameisalreadyforgotten,andtheonlylegacythouhasttoleaveisthehawthornsticklyingforgottenatthyfeet!

      Well!someonewilltakeitup——somesoldierofthatgreathumanhostwhichisscatteredabroadbymiseryorbyvice;forthouartnotanexception,thouartaninstance;andunderthesamesunwhichshinessopleasantlyuponall,inthemidstofthesefloweringvineyards,thisripecorn,andthesewealthycities,entiregenerationssuffer,succeedeachother,andstillbequeathtoeachthebeggarsstick!

      ThesightofthissadpictureshallmakememoregratefulforwhatGodhasgivenme,andmorecompassionateforthosewhomhehastreatedwithlessindulgence;itshallbealessonandasubjectforreflectionforme.

      Ah!ifwewouldwatchforeverythingthatmightimproveandinstructus;ifthearrangementsofourdailylifeweresodisposedastobeaconstantschoolforourminds!butoftenestwetakenoheedofthem.

      Manisaneternalmysterytohimself;hisownpersonisahouseintowhichheneverenters,andofwhichhestudiestheoutsidealone.EachofusneedhavecontinuallybeforehimthefamousinscriptionwhichonceinstructedSocrates,andwhichwasengravedonthewallsofDelphibyanunknownhand:

      KNOWTHYSELF.