vor to copy it. Taking a perfect needle, well
magnetized, we inclosed it in white wax, modelled as well as we could
do it into the shape of a duck, so that the needle passed entirely
through the body, and with its larger end formed the duck's bill. We
placed the duck upon the water, applied to the beak the handle of a
key, and saw, with a delight easy to imagine, that our duck would
follow the key precisely as the one at the fair had followed the piece
of bread. We saw that some time or other we might observe the
direction in which the duck turned when left to itself upon the water.
But absorbed at that time by another object, we wanted nothing more.

That evening, having in our pockets bread prepared for the occasion, we
returned to the fair. As soon as the mountebank had performed his
feat, my little philosopher, scarcely able to contain himself, told him
that the thing was not hard to do, and that he could do it himself. He
was taken at his word. Instantly he took from his pocket the bread in
which he had hidden the bit of iron. Approaching the table his heart
beat fast; almost tremblingly, he presented the bread. The duck came
toward it and followed it; the child shouted and danced for joy. At
the clapping of hands, and the acclamations of all present, his head
swam, and he was almost beside himself. The juggler was astonished,
but embraced and congratulated him, begging that we would honor him
again by our presence on the following day, adding that he would take
care to have a larger company present to applaud our skill. My little
naturalist, filled with pride, began to prattle; but I silenced him,
and led him away loaded with praises. The child counted the minutes
until the morrow with impatience that made me smile. He invited
everybody he met; gladly would he have had all mankind as witnesses of
his triumph. He could scarcely wait for the hour agreed upon, and,
long before it came, flew to the place appointed. The hall was already
full, and on entering, his little heart beat fast. Other feats were to
come first; the juggler outdid himself, and there were some really
wonderful performances. The child paid no attention to these. His
excitement had thrown him into a perspiration; he was almost
breathless, and fingered the bread in his pocket with a hand trembling
with impatience.

At last his turn came, and the master pompously announced the fact.
Rather bashfully the boy drew near and held forth