The Life of the Grasshopper 



the tactical use of the straw, springs up sud- 

 denly, after a long trial of skill and pa- 

 tience with the recalcitrant, and, brandishing 

 his closed hand in the air, cries, excitedly: 



" I've got him, I've got him! " 



Quick, here's a bag; in you go, my little 

 Cricket ! You shall be petted and pampered ; 

 but mind you teach us something and, first 

 of all, show us your house. 



It is a slanting gallery, situated in the 

 grass, on some sunny bank which soon dries 

 after a shower. It is nine inches long at 

 most, hardly as thick as one's finger and 

 straight or bent according to the exigencies 

 of the ground. As a rule, a tuft of grass, 

 which is respected by the Cricket when he 

 goes out to browse upon the surrounding 

 turf, half-conceals the home, serving as a 

 porch and throwing a discreet shade over the 

 entrance. The gently-sloping threshold, 

 scrupulously raked and swept, is carried for 

 some distance. This is the belvedere on 

 which, when everything is peaceful round 

 about, the Cricket sits and scrapes his fiddle. 



The inside of the house is devoid of 

 luxury, with bare and yet not coarse walls. 

 Ample leisure allows the inhabitant to do 

 away with any unpleasant roughness. At the 



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