Morality 



wherewithal for his children to live upon. 

 To ease the work of his mate, who shreds 

 and compresses the preserved foodstuffs, 

 packing it away in layers, he once more 

 changes his trade and becomes a miller. At 

 some distance from the bottom, he bruises 

 and crumbles the materials found hardened 

 by the sun; he m.akes them into a meal and 

 flour which gradually pour down into the ma- 

 ternal bake-house. Lastly, worn out by his 

 efforts, he leaves the home and goes out to 

 die at a distance, in the open air. He has 

 gallantly performed his duty as the head 

 of a family; he has spent himself without 

 stint to secure the prosperity of his off- 

 spring. 



The mother, on her side, allows nothing 

 to divert her from her housekeeping. 

 Throughout her working life, she never goes 

 out: domi mansit, as the ancients used to say 

 of their model matrons: she stays at home, 

 kneading her cylindrical loaves, filling them 

 with an egg, watching them until the exodus 

 arrives. When the time comes for the au- 

 tumnal merry-making, she at last returns to 

 the surface, accompanied by her youngsters, 

 who disperse at will to feast in places fre- 

 quented by the Sheep. Thereupon, having 

 153, 



