Luckfavoredmeasecondtime。Asarewardformyprowess，IwasgivenLaFontaine’sFables，inapopular，cheapedition，crammedwithpictures，small，Iadmit，andveryinaccurate，butstilldelightful。Herewerethecrow，thefox，thewolf，themagpie，thefrog，therabbit，theass，thedog，thecat:allpersonsofmyacquaintance。Thegloriousbookwasimmenselytomytaste，withitsskimpyillustrationsonwhichtheanimalwalkedandtalked。Astounderstandingwhatitsaid，thatwasanotherstory！Nevermind，mylad！Puttogethersyllablesthatsaynothingtoyouasyet;theywillspeaktoyoulaterandLaFontainewillalwaysremainyourfriend。
　　IcometothetimewhenIwastenyearsoldandatRodezCollege。
　　Myfunctionsasaservingboyinthechapelentitledmetofreeinstructionasadayboarder。Therewerefourofusinwhitesurplicesandredskull—capsandcassocks。Iwastheyoungestofthepartyanddidlittlemorethanwalkon。Icountedasaunit;
　　andthatwasaboutall，forIwasnevercertainwhentoringthebellormovethemissal。Iwasallofatremblewhenwegatheredtwoonthissideandtwoonthat，withgenuflection’s，inthemiddleofthesanctuary，tointonetheDomine，salvumfacregernattheendofmass。Letmemakeaconfession:tongue—tiedwithshyness，Iusedtoleaveittotheothers。
　　Nevertheless，Iwaswellthoughtof，for，intheschool，Icutagoodfigureincompositionandtranslation。Inthatclassicalatmosphere，therewastalkofProcas，KingofAlba，andofhistwosons，NumitorandAmulius。WeheardofCynoegirus，thestrongjawedman，who，havinglosthistwohandsinbattle，seizedandheldaPersiangalleywithhisteeth，andofCadmusthePhoenician，whosowedadragon’steethasthoughtheywerebeansandgatheredhisharvestintheshapeofahostofarmedmen，whokilledoneanotherastheyroseupfromtheground。Theonlyonewhosurvivedtheslaughterwasoneastoughasleather，presumablythesonofthebigbackgrinder。
　　Hadtheytalkedtomeaboutthemaninthemoon，Icouldnothavebeenmorestartled。Imadeupforitwithmyanimals，whichIwasfarfromforgettingamidthisphantasmagoriaofheroesanddemigods。WhilehonoringtheexploitsofCadmusandCynoegirus，I
　　hardlyeverfailed，onSundaysandThursdays[theweeklyhalf—
　　holidayinFrenchschools]，togoandseeifthecowsliportheyellowdaffodilwasmakingitsappearanceinthemeadows，iftheLinnetwashatchingonthejuniperbushes，iftheCockchaferswereploppingdownfromthewindshakenpoplars。Thuswasthesacredsparkkeptaglow，everbrighterthanbefore。
　　Byeasystages，IcametoVirgilandwasverymuchsmittenwithMeliboeus，Corydon，Menalcas，Damoetasandtherestofthem。Thescandalsoftheancientshepherdsfortunatelypassedunnoticed;andwithintheframeinwhichthecharactersmovedwereexquisitedetailsconcerningthebee，thecicada，theturtledove，thecrow，thenannygoatandthegoldenbroom。Averitabledelightwerethesestoriesofthefields，sunginsonorousverse;andtheLatinpoetleftalastingimpressiononmyclassicalrecollections。
　　Then，suddenly，goodbyetomystudies，goodbyetoTityrusandMenalcas。Illluckisswoopingdownonus，relentlessly。Hungerthreatensusathome。Andnow，boy，putyourtrustinGod;runaboutandearnyourpenn’orthofpotatoesasbestyoucan。Lifeisabouttobecomeahideousinferno。Letuspassquicklyoverthisphase。
　　Amidthislamentablechaos，mylovefortheinsectoughttohavegoneunder。Notatall。ItwouldhavesurvivedtheraftoftheMedusa。Istillrememberacertainpinecockchafermetforthefirsttime。Theplumesonherantennae，herprettypatternofwhitespotsonadarkbrowngroundwereasarayofsunshineinthegloomywretchednessoftheday。
　　Tocutalongstoryshort:goodfortune，whichneverabandonsthebrave，broughtmetotheprimarynormalschoolatVauclusewhereI
　　wasassuredfood:driedchestnutsandchickpeas。Theprincipal，amanofbroadviews，sooncametotrusthisnewassistant。Heleftmepracticallyafreehand，solongasIsatisfiedtheschoolcurriculum，whichwasverymodestinthosedays。PossessingasmatteringofLatinandgrammar，Iwasalittleaheadofmyfellowpupils。Itookadvantageofthistogetsomeorderintomyvagueknowledgeofplantsandanimals。Whileadictationlessonwasbeingcorrectedaroundme，withgenerousassistancefromthedictionary，Iwouldexamine，intherecessesofmydesk，theoleander’sfruit，thesnapdragon’sseedvessel，thewasp’sstingandthegroundbeetle’swing—case。
　　Withthisforetasteofnaturalscience，pickeduphaphazardandbystealth，Ileftschoolmoredeeplyinlovethaneverwithinsectsandflowers。AndyetIhadtogiveitallup。Thatwidereducation，whichwouldhavetobemysourceoflivelihoodinthefuture，demandedthisimperiously。WhatwasItotakeinhandtoraisemeabovetheprimaryschool，whosestaffcouldbarelyearntheirbreadinthosedays？Naturalhistorycouldnotbringmeanywhere。Theeducationalsystemofthetimekeptitatadistance，asunworthyofassociationwithLatinandGreek。
　　Mathematicsremained，withitsverysimpleequipment:ablackboard，abitofchalkandafewbooks。
　　SoIflungmyselfwithmightandmainintoconicsectionsandthecalculus:ahardbattle，ifevertherewasone，withoutguidesorcounselors，facetofacefordaysonendwiththeabstruseproblemwhichmystubbornthinkingatlaststrippedofitsmysteries。Nextcamethephysicalsciences，studiedinthesamemanner，withanimpossiblelaboratory，theworkofmyownhands。
　　Thereadercanimaginethefateofmyfavoritebranchofscienceinthisfiercestruggle。Atthefaintestsignofrevolt，Ilecturedmyselfseverely，lestIshouldletmyselfbeseducedbysomenewgrass，someunknownBeetle。Ididviolencetomyfeelings。Mynaturalhistorybooksweresentencedtooblivion，relegatedtothebottomofatrunk。
　　Andso，intheend，IamsenttoteachphysicsandchemistryatAjaccioCollege。Thistime，thetemptationistoomuchforme。
　　Thesea，withitswonders，thebeach，whereonthetidecastssuchbeautifulshells，themaquisofmyrtles，arbutusandmastictrees:
　　allthisparadiseofgorgeousnaturehastoomuchonitssideinthestrugglewiththesineandthecosine。Isuccumb。Myleisuretimeisdividedintotwoparts。One，thelarger，isallottedtomathematics，thefoundationofmyacademicalfuture，asplannedbymyself;theotherisspent，withmuchmisgiving，inbotanizingandlookingforthetreasuresofthesea。Whatacountryandwhatmagnificentstudiestobemade，if，unobsessedbyxandy，Ihaddevotedmyselfwholeheartedlytomyinclinations！
　　Wearethewispofstraw，theplaythingofthewinds。Wethinkthatwearemakingforagoaldeliberatelychosen;destinydrivesustowardsanother。Mathematics，theexaggeratedpreoccupationofmyyouth，didmehardlyanyservice;andanimals，whichIavoidedasmuchaseverIcould，aretheconsolationofmyoldage。
　　Nevertheless，Ibearnogrudgeagainstthesineandthecosine，whichIcontinuetoholdinhighesteem。Theycostmemanyapallidhouratonetime，buttheyalwaysaffordedmesomefirstrateentertainment:theystilldoso，whenmyheadliestossingsleeplesslyonitspillow。
　　Meanwhile，AjaccioreceivedthevisitofafamousAvignonbotanist，Requienbyname，who，withaboxcrammedwithpaperunderhisarm，hadlongbeenbotanizingalloverCorsica，pressinganddryingspecimensanddistributingthemtohisfriends。Wesoonbecameacquainted。Iaccompaniedhiminmyfreetimeonhisexplorationsandneverdidthemasterhaveamoreattentivedisciple。Totellthetruth，Requienwasnotamanoflearningsomuchasanenthusiasticcollector。Veryfewwouldhavefeltcapableofcompetingwithhimwhenitcametogivingthenameorthegeographicaldistributionofaplant。Abladeofgrass，apadofmoss，ascaboflichen，athreadofseaweed:heknewthemall。Thescientificnameflashedacrosshismindatonce。Whatanunerringmemory，whatageniusforclassificationamidtheenormousmassofthingsobserved！Istoodaghastatit。IowemuchtoRequieninthedomainofbotany。Haddeathsparedhimlonger，Ishoulddoubtlesshaveowedmoretohim，forhiswasagenerousheart，everopentothetroublesofnovices。
　　Inthefollowingyear，ImetMoquin—Tandon，withwhom，thankstoRequien，Ihadalreadyexchangedafewlettersonbotany。TheillustriousToulouseprofessorcametostudyonthespottheflorawhichheproposedtodescribesystematically。Whenhearrived，allthehotelbedroomswerereservedforthemembersofthegeneralcouncilwhichhadbeensummoned;andIofferedhimboardandlodging:ashakedowninaroomoverlookingthesea;fareconsistingoflampreys，turbotandseaurchins:commonenoughdishesinthatlandofCockayne，butpossessingnosmallattractionforthenaturalist，becauseoftheirnovelty。Mycordialproposaltemptedhim;heyieldedtomyblandishments;andtherewewereforafortnightchattingattabledeomnirescibiliafterthebotanicalexcursionwasover。
　　WithMoquin—Tandon，newvistasopenedbeforeme。Hereitwasnolongerthecaseofanomenclatorwithaninfalliblememory:hewasanaturalistwithfar—reachingideas，aphilosopherwhosoaredabovepettydetailstocomprehensiveviewsoflife，awriter，apoetwhoknewhowtoclothethenakedtruthinthemagicmantleoftheglowingword。NeveragainshallIsitatanintellectualfeastlikethat:’Leaveyourmathematics，’hesaid。’Noonewilltaketheleastinterestinyourformula。Gettothebeast，theplant;
　　and，if，asIbelieve，thefeverburnsinyourveins，youwillfindmentolistentoyou。’
　　Wemadeanexpeditiontothecenteroftheisland，toMonteRenoso，withwhichIwasalreadyfamiliar。Imadethescientistpickthehoaryeverlasting（Helichrysumfrigidum），whichmakesawonderfulpatchofsilver;themany—headedthrift，ormouflongrass（Armeriamulticeps），whichtheCorsicanscallerbamuorone;thedownymarguerite（Leucanthemumtomosum），which，cladinwadding，shiversamidthesnows;andmanyotherraritiesdeartothebotanist。
　　Moquin—Tandonwasjubilant。I，onmyside，wasmuchmoreattractedandovercomebyhiswordsandhisenthusiasmthanbythehoaryeverlasting。Whenwecamedownfromthecoldmountaintop，mymindwasmadeup:mathematicswouldbeabandoned。
　　Onthedaybeforehisdeparture，hesaidtome:’Youinterestyourselfinshells。Thatissomething，butitisnotenough。Youmustlookintotheanimalitself。Iwillshowyouhowit’sdone。’
　　And，takingasharppairofscissorsfromthefamilywork—basketandacoupleofneedlesstuckintoabitofvineshootwhichservedasamakeshifthandle，heshowedmetheanatomyofasnailinasoupplatefilledwithwater。Graduallyheexplainedandsketchedtheorganswhichhespreadbeforemyeyes。Thiswastheonly，never—to—be—forgottenlessoninnaturalhistorythatIeverreceivedinmylife。
　　Itistimetoconclude。Iwascross—examiningmyself，beingunabletocross—examinethesilentBeetle。Asfarasitispossibletoreadwithinmyself，Ianswerasfollows:’Fromearlychildhood，fromthemomentofmyfirstmentalawakening，Ihavefeltdrawntowardsthethingsofnature，or，toreturntoourcatchword，I
　　havethegift，thebumpofobservation。’
　　AfterthedetailswhichIhavealreadygivenaboutmyancestors，itwouldberidiculoustolooktoheredityforanexplanationofthefact。Norwouldanyoneventuretosuggestthewordsorexampleofmymasters。Ofscientificeducation，thefruitofcollegetraining，Ihadnonewhatever。Ineversetfootinalecturehallexcepttoundergotheordealofexaminations。Withoutmasters，withoutguides，oftenwithoutbooks，inspiteofpoverty，thatterribleextinguisher，Iwentahead，persisted，facingmydifficulties，untiltheindomitablebumpendedbysheddingitsscantycontents。Yes，theywereveryscanty，yetpossiblyofsomevalue，ifcircumstanceshadcometotheirassistance。Iwasabornanimalist。Whyandhow？Noreply。
　　Wethushave，allofus，indifferentdirectionsandinagreaterorlesserdegree，characteristicsthatbranduswithaspecialmark，characteristicsofanunfathomableorigin。Theyexistbecausetheyexist;andthatisallthatanyonecansay。Thegiftisnothandeddown:themanoftalenthasafoolforason。Norisitacquired;butitisimprovedbypractice。Hewhohasnotthegermofitinhisveinswillneverpossessit，inspiteofallthepainsofahothouseeducation。
　　Thattowhichwegivethenameofinstinctwhenspeakingofanimalsissomethingsimilartogenius。Itis，inbothcases，apeakthatrisesabovetheordinarylevel。Butinstinctishandeddown，unchangedandundiminished，throughoutthesequenceofaspecies;
　　itispermanentandgeneralandinthisitdiffersgreatlyfromgenius，whichisnottransmissibleandchangesindifferentcases。
　　Instinctistheinviolableheritageofthefamilyandfallstooneandall，withoutdistinction。Herethedifferenceends。
　　Independentofsimilarityofstructure，itbreaksoutlikegenius，hereorelsewhere，fornoperceptiblereason。Nothingcausesittobeforeseen，nothingintheorganizationexplainsit。Ifcross—
　　examinedonthispoint，theDungbeetlesandtherest，eachwithhisownpeculiartalent，wouldanswer，wereweabletounderstandthem:’Instinctistheanimal’sgenius。’
　　CHAPTERVIITHEPOND
　　Thepond，thedelightofmyearlychildhood，isstillasightwhereofmyoldeyesnevertire。Whatanimationinthatverdantworld！Onthewarmmudoftheedges，thefrog’slittletadpolebasksandfrisksinitsblacklegions;downinthewater，theorange—belliednewtsteershiswayslowlywiththebroadrudderofhisflattail;amongthereedsarestationedtheflotillasofthecaddisworms，halfprotrudingfromtheirtubes，whicharenowatinybitofstickandagainaturretoflittleshells。
　　Inthedeepplaces，thewaterbeetledives，carryingwithhimhisreservesofbreath:anairbubbleatthetipofthewingcasesand，underthechest，afilmofgasthatgleamslikeasilverbreastplate;onthesurface，theballetofthoseshimmeringpearls，thewhirligigs，turnsandtwistsabout;hardbythereskimstheunsubmersibletroopofthepondskaters，whoglidealongwithsidestrokessimilartothosewhichthecobblermakeswhensewing。
　　Herearethewaterboatmen，whoswimontheirbackswithtwooarsspreadcross—wise，andtheflatwaterscorpions;here，squalidlycladinmud，isthegrubofthelargestofourdragonflies，socuriousbecauseofitsmannerofprogression:itfillsitshinderparts，ayawningfunnel，withwater，spurtsitoutagainandadvancesjustsofarastherecoilofitshydrauliccannon。
　　Themollusksabound，apeacefultribe。Atthebottom，theplumpriversnailsdiscreetlyraisetheirlid，openingeversolittletheshuttersoftheirdwelling;onthelevelofthewater，inthegladesoftheaquaticgarden，thepondsnails——Physa，LimnaeaandPlanorbis——taketheair。Darkleecheswritheupontheirprey，achunkofearthworm;thousandsoftiny，reddishgrubs，futuremosquitoes，gospinningaroundandtwistandcurvelikesomanygracefuldolphins。
　　Yes，astagnantpool，thoughbutafewfeetwide，hatchedbythesun，isanimmenseworld，aninexhaustiblemineofobservationtothestudiousmanandamarveltothechildwho，tiredofhispaperboat，divertshiseyesandthoughtsalittlewithwhatishappeninginthewater。LetmetellwhatIrememberofmyfirstpond，atatimewhenideasbegantodawninmyseven—year—oldbrain。
　　Howshallamanearnhislivinginmypoornativevillage，withitsinclementweatheranditsniggardlysoil？Theownerofafewacresofgrazinglandrearssheep。Inthebestparts，hescrapesthesoilwiththeswingplow;heflattensitintoterracesbankedbywallsofbrokenstones。Pannierfulsofdungarecarriedupondonkey—backfromthecowshed。Then，indueseason，comestheexcellentpotato，which，boiledandservedhotinabasketofplaitedstraw，isthechiefstand—byinwinter。
　　Shouldthecropexceedtheneedsofthehousehold，thesurplusgoestofeedapig，thatpreciousbeast，atreasureofbaconandham。
　　Theewessupplybutterandcurds;thegardenboastscabbages，turnipsandevenafewhivesinashelteredcorner。Withwealthlikethatonecanlookfateintheface。
　　Butwe，wehavenothing，nothingbutthelittlehouseinheritedbymymotheranditsadjoiningpatchofgarden。Themeagerresourcesofthefamilyarecomingtoanend。Itistimetoseetoitandthatquickly。Whatistobedone？Thatisthesternquestionwhichfatherandmothersatdebatingoneevening。
　　Hop—o’—my—Thumb，hidingunderthewoodcutter’sstool，listenedtohisparentsovercomebywant。Ialso，pretendingtosleep，withmyelbowsonthetable，listennottobloodcurdlingdesigns，buttograndplansthatsetmyheartrejoicing。Thisishowthematterstands:atthebottomofthevillage，nearthechurch，atthespotwherethewaterofthelargeroofedspringescapesfromitsundergroundweirandjoinsthebrookinthevalley，anenterprisingman，backfromthewar，hassetupasmalltallowfactory。Hesellsthescrapingsofhispans，theburntfat，reekingofcandlegrease，atalowprice。Heproclaimsthesewarestobeexcellentforfatteningducks。
　　"Supposewebredsomeducks，"saysmother。"Theysellverywellintown。Henriwouldmindthemandtakethemdowntothebrook。"
　　"Verywell，"saysfather，"let’sbreedsomeducks。Theremaybedifficultiesintheway;butwe’llhaveatry。"
　　Thatnight，Ihaddreamsofparadise:Iwaswithmyducklings，cladintheiryellowsuits;Itookthemtothepond，Iwatchedthemhavetheirbath，Ibroughtthembackagain，carryingthemoretiredonesinabasket。
　　Amonthortwoafter，thelittlebirdsofmydreamswereareality。
　　Thereweretwenty—fourofthem。Theyhadbeenhatchedbytwohens，ofwhomone，thebig，blackone，wasaninmateofthehouse，whiletheotherwasborrowedfromaneighbor。
　　Tobringthemup，theformerissufficient，socarefulissheofheradoptedfamily。Atfirst，everythinggoesperfectly:atubwithtwofingers’depthofwaterservesasapond。Onsunnydays，theducklingsbatheinitundertheanxiouseyeofthehen。
　　Afortnightlater，thetubisnolongerenough。Itcontainsneithercressescrammedwithtinyshellfishnorwormsandtadpoles，daintymorselsboth。Thetimehascomefordivesandhuntsamidthetangleofthewaterweeds;andforusthedayoftroublehasalsocome。True，themiller，downbythebrook，hasfineducks，easyandcheaptobringup;thetallowsmelter，whohasextolledhisburntfatsoloudly，hassomeaswell，forhehastheadvantageofthewastewaterfromthespringatthebottomofthevillage;
　　buthowarewe，rightupthere，atthetop，toprocureaquaticsportsforourbroods？Insummer，wehavehardlywatertodrink！
　　Nearthehouse，inafreestonerecess，ascantysourcetricklesintoabasinmadeintherock……Fourorfivefamilieshave，likeourselves，todrawtheirwatertherewithcopperpails。Bythetimethattheschoolmaster’sdonkeyhasslakedherthirstandtheneighborshavetakentheirprovisionfortheday，thebasinisdry。
　　Wehavetowaitforfour—and—twentyhoursforittofill。No，thisisnottheholeinwhichtheduckswoulddelightnorindeedinwhichtheywouldbetolerated。
　　Thereremainsthebrook。Togodowntoitwiththetroopofducklingsisfraughtwithdanger。Onthewaythroughthevillage，wemightmeetcats，boldravishersofsmallpoultry;somesurlymongrelmightfrightenandscatterthelittleband;anditwouldbeahardpuzzletocollectitinitsentirety。Wemustavoidthetrafficandtakerefugeinpeacefulandsequesteredspots。
　　Onthehills，thepaththatclimbsbehindthechateausoontakesasuddenturnandwidensintoasmallplainbesidethemeadows。Itskirtsarockyslopewhencetrickles，levelwiththeground，astreamlet，formingapondofsomesize。Hereprofoundsolitudereignsalldaylong。Theducklingswillbewelloff;andthejourneycanbemadeinpeacebyadesertedfootpath。
　　You，littleman，shalltakethemtothatdelectablespot。Whatadayitwasthatmarkedmyfirstappearanceasaherdsmanofducks！
　　Whymusttherebeajartotheeventenorofsuchjoys？Thetoofrequentencounterofmytenderskinwiththehardgroundhadgivenmealargeandpainfulblisterontheheel。HadIwantedtoputontheshoesstowedawayinthecupboardforSundaysandholidays，I
　　couldnot。Therewasnothingforitbuttogobarefootoverthebrokenstones，draggingmylegandcarryinghightheinjuredheel。
　　Letusmakeastart，hobblingalong，switchinhand，behindtheducks。Theytoo，poorlittlethings，havesensitivesolestotheirfeet;theylimp，theyquackwithfatigue。TheywouldrefusetogoanyfartherifIdidnot，fromtimetotime，callahaltundertheshelterofanash。
　　Wearethereatlast。Theplacecouldnotbebetterformybirdlets;shallow，tepidwater，interspersedwithmuddyknollsandgreeneyots。Thediversionsofthebathbeginforthwith。Theducklingsclaptheirbeaksandrummagehere，thereandeverywhere;
　　theysifteachmouthful，rejectingtheclearwaterandretainingthegoodbits。Inthedeeperparts，theypointtheirsternsintotheairandsticktheirheadsunderwater。Theyarehappy;anditisablessedthingtoseethematwork。Wewillletthembe。Itismyturntoenjoythepond。
　　Whatisthis？Onthemudliesomeloose，knotted，soot—coloredcords。Onecouldtakethemforthreadsofwoollikethosewhichyoupulloutofanoldravellystocking。Cansomeshepherdess，knittingablacksockandfindingherworkturnoutbadly，havebegunalloveragainand，inherimpatience，havethrowndownthewoolwithallthedroppedstitches？Itreallylookslikeit。
　　Itakeuponeofthosecordsinmyhand。Itisstickyandextremelyslack;thethingslipsthroughthefingersbeforetheycancatchholdofit。Afewoftheknotsburstandshedtheircontents。Whatcomesoutisablackglobule，thesizeofapin’shead，followedbyaflattail。Irecognize，onaverysmallscale，afamiliarobject:thetadpole，thefrog’sbaby。Ihaveseenenough。Letusleavetheknottedcordsalone。
　　Thenextcreaturespleasemebetter。Theyspinroundonthesurfaceofthewaterandtheirblackbacksgleaminthesun。IfI
　　liftahandtoseizethem，thatmomenttheydisappear，Iknownotwhere。It’sapity:IshouldhavemuchlikedtoseethemcloserandtomakethemwriggleinalittlebowlwhichIshouldhaveputreadyforthem。
　　Letuslookatthebottomofthewater，pullingasidethosebunchesofgreenstringwhencebeadsofairarerisingandgatheringintofoam。Thereissomethingofeverythingunderneath。Iseeprettyshellswithcompactwhorls，flatasbeans;Inoticelittlewormscarryingtuftsandfeathers;Imakeoutsomewithflabbyfinsconstantlyflappingontheirbacks。Whataretheyalldoingthere？
　　Whataretheirnames？Idonotknow。AndIstareatthemforeversolong，heldbytheincomprehensiblemysteryofthewaters。
　　Attheplacewheretheponddribblesintotheadjoiningfieldaresomealdertrees;andhereImakeagloriousfind。Itisascarab—
　　—notaverylargeone，ohno！Heissmallerthanacherry—stone，butofanunutterableblue。Theangelsinparadisemustweardressesofthatcolor。Iputthegloriousoneinsideanemptysnail—shell，whichIplugupwithaleaf。Ishalladmirethatlivingjewelatmyleisure，whenIgetback。Otherdistractionssummonmeaway。
　　Thespringthatfeedsthepondtricklesfromtherock，coldandclear。Thewaterfirstcollectsintoacup，thesizeofthehollowofone’stwohands，andthenrunsoverinastream。Thesefallscallforamill:thatgoeswithoutsaying。Twobitsofstraw，artisticallycrosseduponanaxis，providethemachinery;someflatstonessetonedgeaffordsupports。Itisagreatsuccess:themillturnsadmirably。Mytriumphwouldbecomplete，couldIbutshareit。Forwantofotherplaymates，Iinvitetheducks。
　　Everythingpallsinthispoorworldofours，evenamillmadeoftwostraws。Letusthinkofsomethingelse:letuscontriveadamtoholdbackthewatersandformapool。Thereisnolackofstonesforthebrickwork。Ipickthemostsuitable;Ibreakthelargerones。And，whilecollectingtheseblocks，suddenlyIforgetallaboutthedamwhichImeanttobuild。
　　Ononeofthebrokenstones，inacavitylargeenoughformetoputmyfistin，somethinggleamslikeglass。Thehollowislinedwithfacetsgatheredinsixeswhichflashandglitterinthesun。I
　　haveseensomethinglikethisinchurch，onthegreatsaints’days，whenthelightofthecandlesinthebigchandelierkindlesthestarsinitshangingcrystal。
　　Wechildren，lying，insummer，onthestrawofthethreshingfloor，havetoldoneanotherstoriesofthetreasureswhichadragonguardsunderground。Thosetreasuresnowreturntomymind:thenamesofpreciousstonesringoutuncertainlybutgloriouslyinmymemory。Ithinkoftheking’scrown，oftheprincesses’necklaces。
　　Inbreakingstones，canIhavefound，butonamuchricherscale，thethingthatshinesquitesmallinmymother’sring？Iwantmoresuch。
　　Thedragonofthesubterraneantreasurestreatsmegenerously。HegivesmehisdiamondsinsuchquantitiesthatsoonIpossessaheapofbrokenstonessparklingwithmagnificentclusters。Hedoesmore:hegivesmehisgold。Thetrickleofwaterfromtherockfallsonabedoffinesandwhichitswirlsintobubbles。IfI
　　bentovertowardsthelight，Iseesomethinglikegoldfilingswhirlingwherethefalltouchesthebottom。Isitreallythefamousmetalofwhichtwenty—francpieces，sorarewithusathome，aremade？Onewouldthinkso，fromtheglitter。
　　Itakeapinchofsandandplaceitinmypalm。Thebrilliantparticlesarenumerous，butsosmallthatIhavetopickthemupwithastrawmoistenedinmymouth。Letusdropthis:theyaretootinyandtoobothersometocollect。Thebig，valuablelumpsmustbefartheron，inthethicknessoftherock。We’llcomebacklater;we’llblastthemountain。
　　Ibreakmorestones。Oh，whataqueerthinghasjustcomeloose，allinonepiece！Itisturnedspiral—wise，likecertainflatsnailsthatcomeoutofthecracksofoldwallsinrainyweather。
　　Withitsgnarledsides，itlookslikealittleram’shorn。Shellorhorn，itisverycurious。Howdothingslikethatfindtheirwayintothestone？
　　Treasuresandcuriositiesmakemypocketsbulgewithpebbles。Itislateandthelittleducklingshavehadalltheywanttoeat。
　　Comealong，youngsters，let’sgohome。Myblisteredheelisforgotteninmyexcitement。
　　Thewalkbackisadelight。Avoicesingsinmyear，anuntranslatablevoice，softerthananylanguageandbewilderingasadream。Itspeakstomeforthefirsttimeofthemysteriesofthepond;itglorifiestheheavenlyinsectwhichIhearmovingintheemptysnailshell，itstemporarycage;itwhispersthesecretsoftherock，thegoldfilings，thefacetedjewels，theram’shornturnedtostone。
　　Poorsimpleton，smotheryourjoy！Iarrive。Myparentscatchsightofmybulgingpockets，withtheirdisgracefulloadofstones。Theclothhasgivenwayundertheroughandheavyburden。
　　"Yourascal！"saysfather，atsightofthedamage。"Isendyoutomindtheducksandyouamuseyourselfpickingupstones，asthoughthereweren’tenoughofthemallroundthehouse！Makehasteandthrowthemaway！"
　　Brokenhearted，Iobey。Diamonds，golddust，petrifiedram’shorn，heavenlybeetleareallflungonarubbishheapoutsidethedoor。
　　Motherbewailsherlot:"Anicething，bringingupchildrentoseethemturnoutsobadly！You’llbringmetomygrave。GreenstuffI
　　don’tmind:itdoesfortherabbits。Butstones，whichruinyourpockets;poisonousanimals，which’llstingyourhand:whatgoodaretheytoyou，silly？There’snodoubtaboutit:someonehasthrownaspelloveryou！"
　　Yes，mypoormother，youwereright，inyoursimplicity:aspellhadbeencastuponme;Iadmitittoday。Whenitishardenoughtoearnone’sbitofbread，doesnotimprovingone’smindbutrenderonemoremeetforsuffering？Ofwhatavailisthetormentoflearningtothederelictsoflife？
　　AdealbetteroffamI，atthislatehour，doggedbypovertyandknowingthatthediamondsoftheduckpoolwererockcrystal，thegolddustmica，thestonehornanAmmoniteandthesky—bluebeetleaHoplia！Wepoormenwoulddobettertomistrustthejoysofknowledge:letusdigourfurrowinthefieldsofthecommonplace，fleethetemptationsofthepond，mindourducksandleavetoothers，morefavoredbyfortune，thejobofexplainingtheworld’smechanism，ifthespiritmovesthem。
　　Andyetno！Aloneamonglivingcreatures，manhasthethirstforknowledge;healonepriesintothemysteriesofthings。Theleastamonguswillutterhiswhysandhiswherefores，afinepainunknowntothebrutebeast。Ifthesequestioningscomefromuswithgreaterpersistence，withamoreimperiousauthority，iftheydivertusfromthequestoflucre，life’sonlyobjectintheeyesofmostmen，doesitbecomeustocomplain？Letusbecarefulnottodoso，forthatwouldbedenyingthebestofallourgifts。
　　Letusstrive，onthecontrary，withinthemeasureofourcapacity，toforceagleamoflightfromthevastunknown;letusexamineandquestionand，hereandthere，wrestafewshredsoftruth。Weshallsinkunderthetask;inthepresentillorderedstateofsociety，weshallend，perhaps，intheworkhouse。Letusgoaheadforallthat:ourconsolationshallbethatwehaveincreasedbyoneatomthegeneralmassofknowledge，theincomparabletreasureofmankind。
　　Asthismodestlothasfallentome，Iwillreturntothepond，notwithstandingthewiseadmonitionsandthebittertearswhichI
　　onceowedtoit。Iwillreturntothepond，butnottothatofthesmallducks，thepondaflowerwithillusions:thosepondsdonotoccurtwiceinalifetime。Forlucklikethat，youmustbeinallthenewgloryofyourfirstbreechesandyourfirstideas。
　　ManyanotherhaveIcomeuponsincethatdistanttime，pondsverymuchricherand，moreover，exploredwiththeripenedeyeofexperience。EnthusiasticallyIsearchedthemwiththenet，stirreduptheirmud，ransackedtheirtrailingweeds。Noneinmymemoriescomesuptothefirst，magnifiedinitsdelightsandmortificationsbythemarvelousperspectiveoftheyears。
　　Norwouldanyofthemsuitmyplansoftoday。Theirworldistoovast。Ishouldlosemyselfintheirimmensities，wherelifeswarmsfreelyinthesun。Liketheocean，theyareinfiniteintheirfruitfulness。Andthenanyassiduouswatching，undisturbedbypassersby，isanimpossibilityonthepublicway。WhatIwantisapondonanextremelyreducedscale，sparinglystockedinmyownfashionanartificialpondstandingpermanentlyonmystudytable。