116 A TOUa KOTJND MT GABDEN. 



his basin. Another process compelled him to eat his pigeons, 

 which were devouring the house of his neighbour. At length 

 one day, in a fit of passion, he went so far as, I don't know 

 how, to threaten to shoot M. Durut. The latter commenced 

 a criminal action, which Arnold had no other means of stop- 

 ping, but by. purchasing, in a friendly way, and at a third more 

 than its value, the property of M. Durut. In a word,, at the 

 end of two years, the twelve tulip roots cost Arnold the sum of 

 300,000 francs ! 



For my part, my friend, I cultivate flowers only for the 

 sake of seeing them, and not for the pride of showing them. 

 I have but about fifty tulips of all colours. I never reject any 

 that will do me the honour to bloom in my garden, not even 

 those according to the hearts of the great amateurs, and 

 I have no neighbour, which reminds me of two remarkable 

 aphorisms of some buffoon or other : 



" Never have any neighboiu's ; if you wish to hve at peace 

 with them." 



" Never give anything to your children, if you wish they 

 should entertain gratitude towards you equal to the benefit." 



There are many philosophers who -have written large 

 books, without saying anything so reasonable. 



