reds of peasants waited morning and night at
the post-office, but no letters came now. I passed and repassed
through the crowd without paying much attention to it, for I had seen
so much of the same thing. And besides, I had a thought in my mind
which gladdened my heart, and made everything seem rosy to me.

You must know that for six months past I had wished to make Catharine a
magnificent present for her birthday, which fell on the 18th of
December. Among the watches which hung in Monsieur Goulden's window
was one little one, of the prettiest kind, with a silver case full of
little circles, which made it shine like a star. Around the face,
under the glass, was a thread of copper, and on the face were painted
two lovers, the youth evidently declaring his love, and giving to his
sweetheart a large bouquet of roses, while she modestly lowered her
eyes and held out her hand.

The first time I saw the watch, I said to myself: "You will not let
that escape; that watch is for Catharine, and, although you must work
every day till midnight for it, she must have it." Monsieur Goulden,
after seven in the evening, allowed me work on my own account. He had
old watches to clean and regulate; and as this work was often very
troublesome, old Father Melchior paid me reasonably for it. But the
little watch was thirty-five francs, and one can imagine how many hours
at night I would have to work for it. I am sure that if Monsieur
Goulden knew that I wanted it he would have given it me for a present,
but I would not have let him take a farthing less for it; I would have
regarded doing so something shameful. I kept saying: "You must earn
it; no one else must have any claim upon it." Only for fear somebody
else might take a fancy to buy it, I put it aside in a box, telling
Father Melchior that I knew a purchaser.

Under these circumstances, every one can readily understand how it was
that all these stories of war went in at one ear and out at the other
with me. While I worked I imagined Catharine's joy, and for five
months that was all I had before my eyes. I thought how pleased she
would look, and asked myself, "What will she say?" Sometimes I
imagined she would cry out, "Oh, Joseph! what are you thinking of? It
is much too beautiful for me. No, no; I cannot take so fine a watch
from you!" Then I thought I would force it upon her; I would slip it
into her apron-pocket, saying, "Come, come, Catharine! Do you wish to
give