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ent 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 good road for wheeled traffic would be a source of wealth to the whole country round； for it would enable every one to do a trade with Grenoble； he held forth on this head at the tavern while drinking with his intimates。 When the Municipal Council had authorized the making of the road； I went to the prefect and obtained some money from the charitable funds at the disposal of the department； in order to pay for the hire of carts； for the Commune was unable to undertake the transport of road metal for lack of wheeled conveyances。 The ignorant began to murmur against me； and to say that I wanted to bring the days of the corvee back again； this made me anxious to finish this important work； that they might speedily appreciate its benefits。 With this end in view； every Sunday during my first year of office I drew the whole population of the township； willing or unwilling； up on to the mountain； where I myself had traced out on a hard bottom the road between our village and the highway to Grenoble。 Materials for making it were fortunately to be had in plenty along the site。
〃The tedious enterprise called for a great deal of patience on my part。 Some who were ignorant of the law would refuse at times to give their contribution of labor； others again； who had not bread to eat； really could not afford to lose a day。 Corn had to be distributed among these last； and the others must be soothed with friendly words。 Yet by the time we had finished two…thirds of the road； which in all is about two leagues in length； the people had so thoroughly recognized its advantages that the remaining third was accomplished with a spirit that surprised me。 I added to the future wealth of the Commune by planting a double row of poplars along the ditch on either side of the way。 The trees are already almost worth a fortune； and they make our road look like a king's highway。 It is almost always dry； by reason of its position； and it was so well made that the annual cost of maintaining it is a bare two hundred francs。 I must show it to you； for you cannot have seen it； you must have come by the picturesque way along the valley bottom； a road which the people decided to make for themselves three years later； so as to connect the various farms that were made there at that time。 In three years ideas had rooted themselves in the common sense of this township； hitherto so lacking in intelligence that a passing traveler would perhaps have thought it hopeless to attempt to instil them。 But to continue。
〃The establishment of the basket…maker was an example set before these poverty…stricken folk that they might profit by it。 And if the road was to be a direct cause of the future wealth of the canton； all the primary forms of industry must be stimulated； or these two germs of a better state of things would come to nothing。 My own work went forward by slow degrees； as I helped my osier farmer and wicker…worker and saw to the making of the road。
〃I had two horses； and the timber merchant； the deputy…mayor； had three。 He could only have them shod whenever he went over to Grenoble； so I induced a farrier to take up his abode