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nearer； soon reconciled me to the disaster。 It was a little
farmhouse surrounded with about twenty acres of vineyard； about as
much corn； and close to the house on one side was a potagerie of an
acre and a half； full of everything which could make plenty in a
French peasant's house； and on the other side was a little wood
which furnished wherewithal to dress it。 It was about eight in the
evening when I got to the house； so I left the postilion to manage
his point as he could； and for mine I walked directly into the
house。
The family consisted of an old gray…headed man and his wife； with
five or six sons and sons…in…laws； and their several wives； and a
joyous genealogy out of them。
They were all sitting down together to their lentil soup。 A large
wheaten loaf was in the middle of the table； and a flagon of wine
at each end of it promised joy through the stages of the repast
'twas a feast of love。
The old man rose up to meet me； and with a respectful cordiality
would have me sit down at the table。 My heart was sat down the
moment I entered the room； so I sat down at once like a son of the
family； and to invest myself in the character as speedily as I
could； I instantly borrowed the old man's knife； and taking up the
loaf cut myself a hearty luncheon； and； as I did it； I saw a
testimony in every eye； not only of an honest welcome； but of a
welcome mixed with thanks that I had not seemed to doubt it。
Was it this； or tell me； Nature； what else it was that made this
morsel so sweet； and to what magic I owe it that the draught I took
of their flagon was so delicious with it that they remain upon my
palate to this hour？
If the supper was to my taste； the grace which followed it was much
more so。
When supper was over； the old man gave a knock upon the table with
the haft of his knife to bid them prepare for the dance。 The
moment the signal was given； the women and girls ran all together
into a back apartment to tie up their hair； and the young men to
the door to wash their faces and change their sabots； and in three
minutes every soul was ready upon a little esplanade before the
house to begin。 The old man and his wife came out last； and；
placing me betwixt them； sat down upon a sofa of turf by the door。
The old man had some fifty years ago been no mean performer upon
the vielle；* and at the age he was then of； touched well enough for
the purpose。 His wife sung now and then a little to the tune； then
intermitted； and joined her old man again； as their children and
grandchildren danced before them。
* A small violin； such as was used by the wandering jongleurs of
the Middle Ages。EDITOR。
It was not till the middle of the second dance when； from some
pauses in the movement wherein they all seemed to look up； I
fancied I could distinguish an elevation of spirit different from
that which is the cause or the effect of simple jollity。 In a
word； I thought I beheld RELIGION mixing in the dance； but； as I
had never seen her so engaged； I should have looked upon it now as
one of the illusions of an imagination； which is eternally
misleading me； had not the old man； as soon as the dance ended；
said that this was their constant way； and that all his life long
he had made it a rule； after supper was over； to call out his
family to dance and rejoice； believing； he said； that a cheerful
and contented mind was the best sort of thanks to heaven that an
illiterate peasant could pay
〃Or a learned prelate either；〃 said I。
When you have gained the top of Mount Taurira； you run presently
down to Lyons。 Adieu then to all rapid movements！ It is a journey
of caution； and it fares better with sentiments not to be in a
hurry with them； so I contracted with a volturin to take his time
with a couple of mules and convey me in my own chaise safe to Turin
through Savoy。
Poor； patient； quiet； honest people； fear not！ Your poverty； the
treasury of your simple virtues； will not be envied you by the
world； nor will your values be invaded by it。 Nature； in the midst
of thy disorders； thou art still friendly to the scantiness thou
hast created； with all thy great works about thee little hast thou
left to give； either to the scythe or to the sickle； but to that
little thou grantest safety and protection； and sweet are the
dwellings which stand so sheltered！
William Makepeace Thackeray
On Being Found Out
At the close （let us say） of Queen Anne's reign； when I was a boy
at a private and preparatory school for young gentlemen； I remember
the wiseacre of a master ordering us all； one night； to march into
a little garden at the back of the house； and thence to proceed one
by one into a tool or hen house （I was but a tender little thing
just put into short clothes； and can't exactly say whether the
house was for tools or hens）； and in that house to put our hands
into a sack which stood on a bench； a candle burning beside it。 I
put my hand into the sack。 My hand came out quite black。 I went
and joined the other boys in the schoolroom； and all their hands
were black too。
By reason of my tender age （and there are some critics who； I hope；
will be satisfied by my acknowledging that I am a hundred and
fifty…six next birthday） I could not understand what was the
meaning of this night excursionthis candle； this tool house； this
bag of soot。 I think we little boys were taken out of our sleep to
be brought to the ordeal。 We came； then； and showed our little
hands to the master； washed them or notmost probably； I should
say； notand so went bewildered back to bed。
Something had been stolen in the school that day； and Mr。 Wiseacre
having read in a book of an ingenious method of finding out a thief
by making him put his hand into a sack （which； if guilty； the rogue
would shirk from doing）； all we boys were subjected to the trial。
Goodness knows what the lost object was； or who stole it。 We all
had black hands to show the master。 And the thief； whoever he was；
was not Found Out that time。
I wonder if the rascal is alivean elderly scoundrel he must be by
this time； and a hoary old hypocrite； to whom an old schoolfellow
presents his kindest regardsparenthetically remarking what a
dreadful place that private school was； cold； chilblains； bad
dinners； not enough victuals； and caning awful！Are you alive
still； I say； you nameless villain； who escaped discovery on that
day of crime？ I hope you have escaped often since； old sinner。
Ah； what a lucky thing it is； for you and me； my man； that we are
NOT found out in all our peccadilloes； and that our backs can slip
away from the master and the cane！
Just consider what life would be； if every rogue was found out； and
flogged coram populo！ What a butchery； what an indecency； what an
endless swishing of the rod！ Don't cry out about my misanthropy。
My good friend Mealymouth； I will trouble you to tell me； do you go
to church？ When there； do you say； or do you not； that you are a
miserable sinner； and saying so do you believe or disbelieve it？
If you are a M。 S。； don't you deserve correction； and aren't you
grateful if you are to be let off？ I say again what a blessed
thing it is that we are not all found out！
Just picture to yourself everybody who does wrong being found out；
and punished accordingly。 Fancy all the boys in all the school
being whipped； and then the assistants； and then the headmaster
（Dr。 Badford let us call him）。 Fancy the provost marshal being
tied up； having previously superintended the correction of the
whole army。 After the young gentlemen have had their turn for the
faulty exercises； fancy Dr。 Lincolnsinn being taken up for certain
faults in HIS Essay and Review。 After the clergyman has cried his
peccavi； suppose we hoist up a bishop； and give him a couple of
dozen！ （I see my Lord Bishop of Double…Gloucester sitting in a
very uneasy posture on his right reverend bench。） After we have
cast off the bishop； what are we to say to the Minister who
appointed him？ My Lord Cinqwarden； it is painful to have to use
personal correction to a boy of your age； but really 。 。 。 Siste
tandem carnifex！ The butchery is too horrible。 The hand drops
powerless； appalled at the quantity of birch which it must cut and
brandish。 I am glad we are not all found out； I say again； and
protest； my dear brethren； against our having our deserts。
To fancy all men found out and punished is bad enough； but imagine
all the women found out in the distinguished social circle in which
you and I have the honor to move。 Is it not a mercy that a many of
these fair criminals remain unpunished and undiscovered！ There is
Mrs。 Longbow； who is forever practicing； and who shoots poisoned
arrows； too； when you meet her you don't call her liar； and charge
her with the wickedness she has done and is doing。 There is Mrs。
Painter； who passes for a most respectable woman； and a model in
society。 There is no use in saying what you really know regarding
her and her goings on。 There is Diana Hunterwhat a little
haughty prude it is； and yet WE know stories about her which are
not altogether edifying。 I say it is best for the sake of the
good； that the bad should no