nd corn thereon. I was startled when the man said,

"I have a mind to buy it of you: it will do to heat my oven."

"But this load is engaged already," said Antoine.

"Why did you not say so at first? You said you were going to see if you
could get a trifle for it."

"I confess I expressed myself badly. My poor brother's sad state has
bewildered me. Go you, and look in on him, and see what a pitiable
object he is."

"Well, I think I will. What is the value of this load, as it stands?"

Antoine seemed so disposed to haggle for it that I confess I quaked;
however, he set such a high value on it that the other demurred.

Happily we got out of the town without further molestation. I was very
much cramped, but that was no matter. The church-bells began to ring;
and Antoine said, in a low voice, "How pitiable are the poor people who
are now going to vespers on compulsion! Where will all this end? Can it
be that he who now goeth forth weeping, and bearing good seed, shall
return again in joy, bringing his sheaves with him?"

I said, "The Lord's hand is not straitened, that he cannot save. What
is impossible with man is possible with God."

"Oh that we may live to see it, sir."

We came up with a wagon, with the driver of which Antoine fell into
conversation for some time, but what they said I could not well hear.
At length we reached the water-side, at a landing-place where a boat
laden with kitchen stuff was awaiting us. Here Antoine saw me safely
placed in charge of the boatman, who bade me never fear, for he would
safely carry me to Bordeaux. We pushed off: the moon shone cold and
bright; the air on the river felt fresh and chill. The boatman threw a
warm covering on me, bade me sleep, and began a monotonous boat-song.
I soon slept.

When I awoke it was late in the morning, for the bright October sun
overhead was making the rapid Garonne quiver in a sheen of golden light.
I found we had made good progress, and were not many hours from our
destination. I found it inexpressibly pleasant to float down that
bright river, as it carried me to new scenes, which love, hope, and
inexperience painted in pleasing colors. My feet were sufficiently
painful for me to be glad to lie idly among the piles of cabbages and
while the time in day-dreams. Aged confessors might go forth sighing,
"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" but to the young
and buoyant, change of occupation and foreign travel have great
allur