186 A TOXJfi BOUND MY SAEDEN. 



Bucolics are thickly sprinkled with base and ridiculous adula- 

 tions ; that the Georgies are stained with false ideas and 

 erroneous opinions. That was not the question ! Ideas, 

 sentiments, words, were the things necessary to be learnt. 



There called on me the other day a man apparently as 

 happy as possible. You know, my friend, what respect I have 

 for all kinds of happiness ; you have seen me step out of my 

 way, for fear of disturbing a bird that was picking up a grain 

 of com, or a peasant that was sleeping under a tree; I lis- 

 tened to the account of the happiness of this man. He is 

 having a good education as it is called given to his son; not 

 an education that may teach him to be satisfied with a little, 

 to be firm and com-ageous, to be strong and independent. 

 No ; he has him taught Latin. " I make many sacrifices," 

 said he to me, "but I am largely recompensed; my boy 

 is surprising for his age. I wish you would see him." 

 I did not dare to refuse, and he sent the little fellow to 

 me. 



On his entrance he saluted me with an ease and confidence 

 that I have never been able to acquire in all my life, except 

 when I find myself face to face with people who are .hostile 

 to me, because then my timidity dies for fear of degenerating 

 into cowardice. 



I found him thin and pale ; he has neither the petulance 

 nor the peach-like bloom of boyhood ; nothing is in blossom 

 with him, neither his mind nor his cheeks : he is but thirteen 

 years old; and I at first really thought him surprising for 

 his age. 



I was in the garden : I continued to walk about with him. 

 As we passed through a spot where the grass is divided by 

 a rivulet of little more than two feet wide, he left me, to go 

 to a small bridge to pass over it; I was almost ashamed of 

 having jumped over it. As we came near to the violet turf, 

 upon which is a hive, — " Ah ! ah ! " said he, 



** AeTii mellis ccelestia dona." 



" Yes," replied I, " it is a hive. Are you acquainted with 

 bees ? It is a very interestingjstudy." 



" Oh, certainly, I am acquainted with them," answered he; 



" Mores et studia, et populos, et pr^lia dicara.*' 



