192 STUDIES OF NATURE, 



My landlord, in another of my ftations, ha« 

 lived a very différent life ; he fcarcely ever was 

 bej'-ond the walls of Paris, and but feldom beyond 

 the precinct of his fliop. But though he has not 

 travelled over the World, he has not miffed his 

 Ihare of calamity, by flaying at home. He was 

 very much at his eafe ; he had laid up, by means 

 of his honeft favings, fifty good Louis d'or, when 

 one night his wife and daughter thought proper to 

 elope, carrying his treafure with them. He had 

 almoft died with vexation. Now, he fays, he 

 thinks no more about it ; and cries as he tells me 

 the ftory. I compofe his mind, by talking kindly 

 to him ; I give him employment ; he tries to dif- 

 lipate his chagrin by labour ; his induftry is an 

 amuiement to me : I fometimes pafs complete 

 hours in looking at him, as he bores, ^d turns, 

 pieces of oak as hard as ivory. 



Now and then I flop in the middle of the city 

 before the fliop of a fmith ; and then I am trans- 

 formed into the Lacedemonian LicbeSy at Tegeum, 

 attending to the proceffes of forging and hammer- 

 ing iron. The moment that the man perceives 

 me attentive to his work, 1 will foon acquire his 

 confidence. I am not, as Liches was, looking for 

 the tomb of Oreftes * ; but 1 have occafion to 



* See Hcrodotu'^ book i. 



employ 



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