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〃Those who dwelt amidst these lovely natural surroundings groveled in squalor and lived upon potatoes； milk； butter； and cheese。 The only produce that brought in any money was the cheese； which most of them carried in small baskets to Grenoble or its outskirts。 The richer or the more energetic among them sowed buckwheat for home consumption； sometimes they raised a crop of barley or oats； but wheat was unknown。 The only trader in the place was the mayor； who owned a sawmill and bought up timber at a low price to sell again。 In the absence of roads； his tree trunks had to be transported during the summer season； each log was dragged along one at a time； and with no small difficulty； by means of a chain attached to a halter about his horse's neck； and an iron hook at the farther end of the chain； which was driven into the wood。 Any one who went to Grenoble； whether on horseback or afoot； was obliged to follow a track high up on the mountain side； for the valley was quite impassable。 The pretty road between this place and the first village that you reach as you come into the canton （the way along which you must have come） was nothing but a slough at all seasons of the year。
〃Political events and revolutions had never reached this inaccessible countryit lay completely beyond the limits of social stir and change。 Napoleon's name； and his alone； had penetrated hither； he is held in great veneration； thanks to one or two old soldiers who have returned to their native homes； and who of evenings tell marvelous tales about his adventures and his armies for the benefit of these simple folk。 Their coming back is； moreover； a puzzle that no one can explain。 Before I came here； the young men who went into the army all stayed in it for good。 This fact in itself is a sufficient revelation of the wretched condition of the country。 I need not give you a detailed description of it。
〃This； then； was the state of things when I first came to the canton； which has several contented； well…tilled； and fairly prosperous communes belonging to it upon the other side of the mountains。 I will say nothing about the hovels in the town； they were neither more nor less than stables； in which men and animals were indiscriminately huddled together。 As there was no inn in the place； I was obliged to ask the curate for a bed； he being in possession； for the time being； of this house； then offered for sale。 Putting to him question after question； I came to have some slight knowledge of the lamentable condition of the country with the pleasant climate； the fertile soil； and the natural productiveness that had impressed me so much。
〃At that time； sir； I was seeking to shape a future for myself that should be as little as possible like the troubled life that had left me weary； and one of those thoughts came into my mind that God gives us at times； to enable us to take up our burdens and bear them。 I resolved to develop all the resources of this country； just as a tutor develops the capacities of a child。 Do not think too much of my benevolence； the pressing need that I felt for turning my thoughts into fresh channels entered too much into my motives。 I had determined to give up the remainder of my life to some difficult task。 A lifetime would be required to bring about the needful changes in a canton that Nature had made so wealthy； and man so poor； and I was tempted by the practical difficulties that stood in the way。 As soon as I found that I could secure the cure's house and plenty of waste land at a small cost； I solemnly devoted myself to the calling of a country surgeon the very last position that a man aspires to take。 I determined to become the friend of the poor； and to expect no reward of any kind from them。 Oh！ I did not indulge in any illusions as to the nature of the country people； nor as to the hindrances that lie in the way of every attempt to bring about a better state of things among men or their surroundings。 I have never made idyllic pictures of my people； I have taken them at their just worthas poor peasants； neither wholly good nor wholly bad； whose constant toil never allows them to indulge in emotion； though they can feel acutely at times。 Above all things； in fact； I clearly understood that I should do nothing with them except through an appeal to their selfish interests； and by schemes for their immediate well…being。 The peasants are one and all the sons of St。 Thomas； the doubting apostlethey always like words to be supported by visible facts。
〃Perhaps you will laugh at my first start； sir；〃 the doctor went on after a pause。 〃I began my difficult enterprise by introducing the manufacture of baskets。 The poor folks used to buy the wicker mats on which they drain their cheeses； and all the baskets needed for the insignificant trade of the district。 I suggested to an intelligent young fellow that he might take a lease on a good…sized piece of land by the side of the torrent。 Every year the floods deposited a rich alluvial soil on this spot； where there should be no difficulty in growing osiers。 I reckoned out the quantity of wicker…work of various kinds required from time to time by the canton； and went over to Grenoble； where I found a young craftsman； a clever worker； but without any capital。 When I had discovered him； I soon made up my mind to set him up in business here。 I undertook to advance the money for the osiers required for his work until my osier…farmer should be in a position to supply him。 I induced him to sell his baskets at rather lower prices than they asked for them in Grenoble； while； at the same time； they were better made。 He entered into my views completely。 The osier…beds and the basket…making were two business speculations whose results were only appreciated after a lapse of four years。 Of course； you know that osiers must be three years old before they are fit to cut。
〃At the commencement of operations； the basket…maker was boarded and lodged gratuitously。 Before very long he married a woman from Saint Laurent du Pont； who had a little money。 Then he had a house built； in a healthy and very airy situation which I chose； and my advice was followed as to the internal arrangements。 Here was a triumph！ I had created a new industry； and had brought a producer and several workers into the town。 I wonder if you will regard my elations as childish？
〃For the first few days after my basket…maker had set up his business； I never went past his shop but my heart beat somewhat faster。 And when I saw the newly…built house； with the green…painted shutters； the vine beside the doorway； and the bench and bundles of osiers before it； when I saw a tidy； neatly…dressed woman within it； nursing a plump； pink and white baby among the workmen； who were singing merrily and busily plaiting their wicker…work under the superintendence of a man who but lately had looked so pinched and pale； but now had an atmosphere of prosperity about him； when I saw all this； I confess that I could not forego the pleasure of turning basket…maker for a moment； of going into the shop to hear how things went with them； and of giving myself up to a feeling of content that I cannot express in words； for I had all their happiness as well as my own to make me glad。 All my hopes became centered on this house； where the man dwelt who had been the first to put a steady faith in me。 Like the basket… maker's wife； clasping her first nursling to her breast； did not I already fondly cherish the hopes of the future of this poor district？
〃I had to do so many things at once；〃 he went on； 〃I came into collision with other people's notions； and met with violent opposition； fomented by the ignorant mayor to whose office I had succeeded； and whose influence had dwindled away as mine increased。 I determined to make him my deputy and a confederate in my schemes of benevolence。 Yes； in the first place； I endeavored to instil enlightened ideas into the densest of all heads。 Through his self…love and cupidity I gained a hold upon my man。 During six months as we dined together； I took him deeply into my confidence about my projected improvements。 Many people would think this intimacy one of the most painful inflictions in the course of my task； but was he not a tool of the most valuable kind？ Woe to him who despises his axe； or flings it carelessly aside！ Would it not have been very inconsistent； moreover； if I； who wished to improve a district； had shrunk back at the thought of improving one man in it？
〃A road was our first and most pressing need in bringing about a better state of things。 If we could obtain permission from the Municipal Council to make a hard road； so as to put us in communication with the highway to Grenoble； the deputy…mayor would be the first gainer by it； for instead of dragging his timber over rough tracks at a great expense； a good road through the canton would enable him to transport it more easily； and to engage in a traffic on a large scale； in all kinds of wood； that would bring in moneynot a miserable six hundred francs a year； but handsome sums which would mean a certain fortune for him some day。 Convinced at last； he became my proselytizer。
〃Through the whole of one winter the ex…mayor got into the way of explaining to our citizens that a g