صفحة 200 من 483

"I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to

assist their labours. I found that the youth spent a great part

of each day in collecting wood for the family fire, and during

the night I often took his tools, the use of which I quickly

discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the

consumption of several days.

"I remember, the first time that I did this, the young woman,

when she opened the door in the morning, appeared greatly

astonished on seeing a great pile of wood on the outside. She

uttered some words in a loud voice, and the youth joined her, who

also expressed surprise. I observed, with pleasure, that he did

not go to the forest that day, but spent it in repairing the

cottage and cultivating the garden.