

The Life of the Grasshopper 



known by the same name, do not the virtues 

 of the former become obvious? That is 

 how reputations are created. 



In my village and no doubt for some di- 

 stance around, the tigno — I am now speaking 

 of the Mantis' nest — is also highly praised 

 as a wonderful cure for toothache. As long 

 as you have it on you, you need never fear 

 that trouble. Our housewives gather it 

 under a favourable moon; they preserve it 

 religiously in a corner of the press; they sew 

 it into their pocket, lest they should lose it 

 when taking out their handkerchief; and 

 neighbours borrow it when tortured by some 

 molar. 



" Lend me your tigno: I am in agony," 

 says the sufferer with the swollen face. 



The other hastens to unstitch and to hand 

 over the precious object: 



" Don't lose it, whatever you do," she 

 impresses on her friend. " It's the only one 

 I have ; and this isn't the right time of moon." 



Let us not laugh at this eccentric 

 toothache-nostrum: many remedies that 

 sprawl triumphantly over the back pages 

 of the newspapers are no more effective. 

 Besides, this rural simplicity is surpassed 

 by some old books in which slumbers the 



168 



