ous, the run of good
luck soon came to an end. The old butcher went around hawking out the
meat which had not been sold at the shambles; but he generally spent
not only the profit, but the cost besides. The competition of the
Jewish butchers was not to be overcome even by Florian's superior
skill; for the Jews can undersell Christians in the hindquarters of
beef, because an opportune provision of the Bible forbids them to eat
any thing but the fore-quarters. Moreover, it is almost impossible in a
German village to support a household on mechanical labor alone,
without some resort to agriculture. Florian had no opportunity, and
still less inclination, to till the soil. He preferred to go into
partnership with a Jewish butcher for a time; but this was also of
short duration.

His next resource was to assist the Strasbourg butchers in purchasing
oxen. This helped him to some good commissions, and enabled him to make
his father the happiest of men. The old gentleman was restored to his
favorite occupation of guessing at the weight of oxen. It quite made
him young again. Florian was the leading young man in the village.
Unfortunately, he made the squire his enemy. The latter, wishing to
sell his oxen to some dealers passing through the village, invited
Florian to come to his house. "They weigh fourteen hundred, and over,"
he asseverated. "What they weigh over eleven," said Florian, "I'll eat
raw." This was foolish; for from that day the squire hated him
cordially.

Florian cared but little for this, however: he played the fine
gentleman every Sunday, played longest at ninepins, and was a fast man
generally.

It is strange how soon the glory of the stranger in a village is
consumed. The honor acquired merely by presenting an unusual appearance
ceases the moment all eyes have become accustomed to it: the rainbow
would be forgotten if it were always in the sky. Thus, Florian soon
sunk into oblivion; and it required a special occurrence to attract
attention to him again.

One evening he was standing, with his comrades, near the Eagle, while
the squire sat on a bench before the house, talking to the geometer.
Florian perceived that they were looking at him: he saw the squire pass
his hand over his upper lip, while the geometer laughed immoderately
and said something which sounded like "Samson." Florian did not
understand what it all meant; but he was soon to have an explanation.

He received a summons next day to appear be