THE STUDY OF NATURE 



85 



labourers, we lived among the vines ; it was our right. 

 But before the gi'ape ripened, we had numerous other 

 vintages, those of the fruit-trees — cherries, apricots, ^■^'^^ 

 peaches. Even at a later period, the apples and the ^^^^ 

 pears imposed upon us new and severe laboui-s, in .^^7^ 

 which it was a matter of conscience that our hands 

 should be employed. And thus, even in winter, these 

 necessities returned — to act, to laugh, and to do nothing. 

 The last ta.sks, occurring in mid-November, were perhaps 

 the most delightful ; a light mist then enfolded every- 

 thing ; I have seen nothing like it elsewhere ; it was a 

 dream, an enchantment. All objects were transfigured 

 under the wavy folds of the vast pearl-gray canopy 

 which, at the breath of the warm autumn, lovingly 

 alighted hither and thither, like a farewell kiss. 



" The digiiified hospitality of my mother, my father's 

 charm of manner and piquant conversation, drew upon 

 us also the unforeseen distractions of visitors from the 

 town, constraining suspensions of our studies, at which 

 we did not weep. But the great and unceasing visit 

 was from the poor, who well knew the house and the 

 hand inexhaustibly opened by charity. All partici- 

 pated in its benefits, even the very animals; and it 

 was a curious and diverting thing to see the dogs of 

 the neighbourhood, patiently, silently seated on their 

 hind legs, waiting until my father should raise his 

 eyes from his book: they felt assured that he would 

 not resist the mute eloquence of their prayer. My 

 mother, more reasonable, was inclined to drive away 

 these indiscreet gue.sts who came at their own invitation. 

 My father felt that he was wrong, and yet he never 



