LE LONG DU SENTIER 



low. Taking up the trail on the further 

 side, let us saunter on. 



Though the simple peasant may have 

 to rely upon you as to the denomination 

 of the bill that passes between you, 

 though he may not be able to read the 

 face of a watch, or tell in what year of 

 grace he lives, though his system of 

 chronology may be founded on the age 

 and fortunes of his successive horses, 

 yet is he of quick wit and good under- 

 standing. On the long roads, in the 

 hours of waiting for game, when pipes 

 are lit and the camp-fire blazes, you may 

 have as profitable discourse with him 

 about religion and politics, life and 

 death, and the heart of man, as you are 

 like to encounter across the walnut and 

 the wine. One omission you will note, 

 for to these clean-minded people aught 

 of sculduddery is odious. Their club, 

 the church, teaches better things. 



The speech and idiom their fathers 

 brought from northern France have 



17 253 



