The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-12-11

permit OIL his increasing the NUMBER OF AM
mails he could stall, and the muck pit woult
utilize the waste Of the beasts. Evidently
these works, of which he had not thought al
first, were indispensable additions. If ht
could not carry them out now there would
follow disappointment most pitiable. But
nj. Favrol could not, without hardness and
injustice. refuse them to him.
Nevertheless, several days passed and he
had no word from the contractor. His i'm.
patience became agonizing. He went to the
house of the master mason, who lived in the
village at some distance, but did not meet
him. He returned still more anxious. Ac-
cording to appearances, NJ. Favrol had re.
fused. He would not increase the expenses
by adding the outbuildings.
Lireux was in the midst of his vexation at
these reflections when he heard himself call
ed by name. 1t was the contractor, whom
he perceived On high scafolding where he
was directing some of his workmen.
well, the affair Is settled, Father AN
toine," he said. At..t#
what affair p queried the farmer, who
did not dare to guess.
"Parbleu that of your house and barn."
"Our master consents?"
| I'VE shall begin work next month"
Come down and tell me all about it while
we drink glass together" cried Antoine
| joyously." ''Let me know how it was all ar
ranged"
The master mason left the scaffold and
Joined Lireux in the hostelry He told An
tome that the proprietor had merely laughed,
without making any objection, and had re-
| quested the contractor to give a detail of all
the alterations to be effected.
Antoine resumed his homeward route COM
pletey treasured. On his arrival there he
proceeded to the place destined to receive the
new erections, and distributed in advance the
| space for the greatest service. The former
entrance became quite impossible in the new
| plan, so it was required to lay out path
across the garden. There was hedge to cut
| through and a ditch to fill. He decided to do
| this himself, and without speaking to M.
| Favrol. But this took away from caltiva-
| tion another piece of the garden, already re-
duced in extent by the construction of the
extensions. This was a loss for which the
proprietor of Joncheres could not refuse to
indemnify him. Unoccupied land could GER
tainly be found ON the other side ofthe road,
and Father Lireux judged that he would be
able to make clear his title for compensation.
He now decided to call on M. Favrol under
pretext of wanting to know the date when
the repairs would commence.
swell, Friend Lireux," said the proprietor,
on perceiving him, 81 hope your are salts
fied?"
poor men have the right to complain
when they lack Bread" responded Antoine,
with reserve.
THAT is precept of resignation truly
Christian" replied Favrol; "but it seems to
me that you must lave some other things TO
ask for. Have l not accorded you all you re-
quested"
81 am very much Obliged" said the farmer,
cODpyyh hot ool6tu UhI1t Ina
that toiler lives by the land, and to take
away some burrows is like taking from him
piece of bread"
"And who pretends to take any from your"
demand M. Favrol.
Excuse me-" said Antoine, little en-
barrassed. at is the granary of our master,
and the roadway to reach it takes part of the
garden. l do not know that am complain
ing, but if our master would permit me to
use little bit of the ground opposite the
farm it would be a compensation"
NJ. Favrol regarded the farmer with an in
scrutable eye.
"Ah very WE'LL" said he. But it seems to
me the little bit of ground is about an acre."
II could not say as to that" returned
Lireux. 81 have never measured it but it is
something for poor people like US, but moth
ing to our master"
Zone moment" said the landlord ut is
necessary to reckon up, my friend. You see
the extent to which your successive desires
have reached. 1t comes to 2, ago francs. Add
the acre of land, and there will be $500 francs
to expend TO satisfy your desires for less than
one month. At this rate it will be necessary,
to content poor man like you, Master An
tome, 10000 livres of rent, which is to say
more than possess. And still you are not
happy; for after the promise 10 put tiles on
your barn you began to wish for something
else, always restless and always complaining.
You see, then, that wealth can do nothing
for those who do not know how to use the
advantages they have. The ancients told in
their fables of the daughters of king who
were condemned in the internal regions to con-
tinually draw water in buckets without bot
toms. 1t is precisely so with you, Friend
Antoine. The happiness after which you
have vainly chased since your youth you will
never, as you hope, overtake. 1t is not in
riches, nor in power. nor in anything that
gathers about our lives. God has put it nearer
our own door, He has put it within our own
selves"