STUDY XIII. 245 



and a few others, if the perfons celebrated in them, 

 had paid attention to the People while 'they lived. 

 But the Nation takes pleafure in reading Hiftory. 



As I was walking fome time ago, toward the 

 quarter of the Military School, I perceived at fome 

 diftance, near a fand-pit, a thick column of fmoke. 

 I bent my courfe that way, to fee what produced 

 it, I found, in a very folitary place, a good deal 

 refembling that which Sbakefpear makes the fcene 

 where the three witches appear to Macbeth, a poor 

 and aged woman fitting upon a ftone. She was 

 deeply engaged in reading in an old book, clofe 

 by a great pile of herbage, which flie had fet on 

 fire. I firft afked her for what purpofe (he was 

 burning thofe herbs? She replied, that it was 

 for the fake of the alhes, which fhe gathered 

 up and fold to the laundrefles ; that for this end 

 Ihe bought of the gardeners the refufe plants of 

 their grounds, and was waiting till they were en- 

 tirely confumed, that flie might carry off the alhes, 

 becaufe they were liable to be ftolen in her ab- 

 fence. After having thus fatisfied my curiofity, 

 fhe returned to her book, and read on with deep 

 attention. Eagerly defirous to know what book 

 it was with which (he (illed up her hours of lan- 

 guor, I took the liberty to afk the title of it. *' It 

 *' is the life of M. de Turenne,'' (he replied. *' Well, 

 *' what do you think of him ?" faid I. ** Ah!" 



R 3 replied 



