A Piece of Gratuitous Fiction 



children to learn the languages of both. My father had a 

 friend in France, and they made an agreement that for three 

 years I should stay during half of each year with them in 

 Paris, and he the other six months with us in London. So 

 we became friends — much the same as brothers. And, 

 besides, my companion has a sister very amiable. I have 

 long loved her, and this year we were to have been married, 

 only my health was not good ; and as my companion, who is 

 in the wine-trade, had some business in Andalusia, it was 

 agreed that we should pass this winter together in a southern 

 climate, for up there it is very cold. Now, as the summer 

 is coming on, we are returning northwards ; and as we 

 came out by sea, we have bought these ponies, and are 

 returning by land to see the country." 



" You are fortunate caballeros to have the means of tra- 

 velling. I have often wished I could travel myself, for it 

 must be a pleasant thing to see the world. But I am not 

 a rich man, like you. I have no spare money to wear in 

 horse-shoes and wheel-tires : I live by making them." 



" Every man is rich, my good man, who can make an 

 honest living, and who has wisdom enough to be content. 

 Happiness dwells quite as much at home in the workshop 

 of healthy labour as on the road ; and discontent often 

 travels both on horseback and in coaches." 



" That is true, senor ; and, thanks be to God, I am not 

 dissatisfied with my lot. But God made the world for us 

 all, and doubtless it is well worth seeing. They tell me 

 our country is far behind France and England in science. 

 With you, men fly and travel with incredible swiftness in 

 steamboats and railways, which we have never seen. I 

 much wonder what a railroad is like." 



" A railroad is a level tract cut through whatever uneven 

 ground may come in the way. Sometimes it runs in a 



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