Recollections of Childhood 



make mother banish it from the family-table. 

 I could scarcely understand how the bouturel, 

 so attractive in appearance, came to be so 

 wicked; however, I accepted the experience of 

 my elders; and no disaster ever ensued from 

 my rash friendship with the poisoner. 



As my visits to the beech-clump were re- 

 peated, I managed to divide my finds into 

 three categories. In the first, which was the 

 most numerous, the mushroom was furnished 

 underneath with little radiating leaves. In the 

 second, the lower surface was lined with a 

 thick pad pricked with hardly visible holes. 

 In the third, it bristled with tiny spots similar 

 to the papillae on a Cat's tongue. The need of 

 some order to assist the memory made me in- 

 vent a classification for myself. 



Very much later there fell into my hands 

 certain small books from which I learnt that 

 my three categories were well-known; they 

 even had Latin names, which fact was far 

 from displeasing to me. Ennobled by Latin 

 which provided me with my first exercises and 

 translations, glorified by the ancient language 

 which the rector used in saying his mass, the 

 mushroom rose in my esteem. To deserve so 

 learned an appellation, it must possess a genu- 

 ine importance. 



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