CHAPTER XII 



THE CRICKET 



THE HOUSEHOLDER 



THE Field Cricket, the inhabitant of the 

 meadows, is almost as famous as the Cicada, 

 and figures among the limited but glorious 

 number of the classic insects. He owes this honour to 

 his song and his house. One thing alone is lacking to 

 complete his renown. The master of the art of making 

 animals talk. La Fontaine, gives him hardly two lines, 



Florian, the other French writer of fables, gives us a 

 story of a Cricket, but it lacks the simplicity of truth 

 and the saving salt of humour. Besides, it represents 

 the Cricket as discontented, bewailing his condition! 

 This is a preposterous idea, for all who have studied 

 him know, on the contrary, that he is very well pleased 

 with his own talent and his own burrow. And indeed, 

 at the end of the story, Florian makes him admit : 



"My snug little home is a place of delight; 



If you want to live happy, live hidden from sight!" 



[175] 



