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just the amount of force that is needed； neither more nor less； he
attends to the essential and to nothing beyond。 External perfection he
has no conception of。 An unerring judge of the necessary in all
things； he thoroughly understands degrees of strength； and knows very
well when working for an employer how to give the least possible for
the most he can get。 This contemptible…looking gun will be found to
play a serious part in the life of the family inhabiting this cottage；
and you will presently learn how and why。
Have you now taken in all the many details of this hovel； planted
about five hundred feet away from the pretty gate of Les Aigues？ Do
you see it crouching there； like a beggar beside a palace？ Well； its
roof covered with velvet mosses； its clacking hens； its grunting pig；
its straying heifer； all its rural graces have a horrible meaning。
Fastened to a pole； which was stuck in the ground beside the entrance
through the fence； was a withered bunch of three pine branches and
some old oak…leaves tied together with a rag。 Above the door of the
house a roving artist had painted； probably in return for his
breakfast； a huge capital 〃I〃 in green on a white ground two feet
square； and for the benefit of those who could read； this witty joke
in twelve letters： 〃Au Grand…I…Vert〃 （hiver）。 On the left of the door
was a vulgar sign bearing； in colored letters； 〃Good March beer；〃 and
the picture of a foaming pot of the same； with a woman； in a dress
excessively low…necked； on one side； and an hussar on the other；both
coarsely colored。 Consequently； in spite of the blooming flowers and
the fresh country air； this cottage exhaled the same strong and
nauseous odor of wine and food which assails you in Paris as you pass
the door of the cheap cook…shops of the faubourg。
Now you know the surroundings。 Behold the inhabitants and hear their
history； which contains more than one lesson for philanthropists。
The proprietor of the Grand…I…Vert； named Francois Tonsard； commends
himself to the attention of philosophers by the manner in which he had
solved the problem of an idle life and a busy life； so as to make the
idleness profitable； and occupation nil。
A jack…of…all…trades； he knew how to cultivate the ground； but for
himself only。 For others； he dug ditches； gathered fagots； barked the
trees； or cut them down。 In all such work the employer is at the mercy
of the workman。 Tonsard owned his plot of ground to the generosity of
Mademoiselle Laguerre。 In his early youth he had worked by the day for
the gardener at Les Aigues； and he really had not his equal in
trimming the shrubbery…trees； the hedges； the horn…beams； and the
horse…chestnuts。 His very name shows hereditary talent。 In remote
country…places privileges exist which are obtained and preserved with
as much care as the merchants of a city display in getting theirs。
Mademoiselle Laguerre was one day walking in the garden； when she
overheard Tonsard； then a strapping fellow； say； 〃All I need to live
on； and live happily； is an acre of land。〃 The kind creature；
accustomed to make others happy； gave him the acre of vineyard near
the gate of Blangy； in return for one hundred days' work （a delicate
regard for his feelings which was little understood）； and allowed him
to stay at Les Aigues； where he lived with her servants； who thought
him one of the best fellows in Burgundy。
Poor Tonsard （that is what everybody called him） worked about thirty
days out of the hundred that he owed； the rest of the time he idled
about； talking and laughing with Mademoiselle's women； particularly
with Mademoiselle Cochet； the lady's maid； though she was ugly； like
all confidential maids of handsome actresses。 Laughing with
Mademoiselle Cochet signified so many things that Soudry； the
fortunate gendarme mentioned in Blondet's letter； still looked askance
at Tonsard after the lapse of nearly twenty…five years。 The walnut
wardrobe； the bedstead with the tester and curtains； and the ornaments
about the bedroom were doubtless the result of the said laughter。
Once in possession of his care； Tonsard replied to the first person
who happened to mention that Mademoiselle Laguerre had given it to
him； 〃I've bought it deuced hard； and paid well for it。 Do rich folks
ever give us anything？ Are one hundred days' work nothing？ It has cost
me three hundred francs； and the land is all stones。〃 But that speech
never got beyond the regions of his own class。
Tonsard built his house himself； picking up the materials here and
there as he could；getting a day's work out of this one and that one；
gleaning in the rubbish that was thrown away； often asking for things
and always obtaining them。 A discarded door cut in two for convenience
in carrying away became the door of the stable； the window was the
sash of a green…house。 In short； the rubbish of the chateau； served to
build the fatal cottage。
Saved from the draft by Gaubertin； the steward of Les Aigues； whose
father was prosecuting…attorney of the department； and who； moreover；
could refuse nothing to Mademoiselle Cochet； Tonsard married as soon
as his house was finished and his vines had begun to bear。 A well…
grown fellow of twenty…three； in everybody's good graces at Les
Aigues； on whom Mademoiselle had bestowed an acre of her land； and who
appeared to be a good worker； he had the art to ring the praises of
his negative merits； and so obtained the daughter of a farmer on the
Ronquerolles estate； which lies beyond the forest of Les Aigues。
This farmer held the lease of half a farm； which was going to ruin in
his hands for want of a helpmate。 A widower； and inconsolable for the
loss of his wife； he tried to drown his troubles； like the English； in
wine； and then； when he had put the poor deceased out of his mind； he
found himself married； so the village maliciously declared； to a woman
named Boisson。 From being a farmer he became once more a laborer； but
an idle and drunken laborer； quarrelsome and vindictive； capable of
any ill…deed； like most of his class when they fall from a well…to…do
state of life into poverty。 This man； whose practical information and
knowledge of reading and writing placed him far above his fellow…
workmen； while his vices kept him at the level of pauperism； you have
already seen on the banks of the Avonne； measuring his cleverness with
that of one of the cleverest men in Paris； in a bucolic overlooked by
Virgil。
Pere Fourchon； formerly a schoolmaster at Blangy； lost that place
through misconduct and his singular ideas as to public education。 He
helped the children to make paper boats with their alphabets much
oftener than he taught them how to spell； he scolded them in so
remarkable a manner for pilfering fruit that his lectures might really
have passed for lessons on the best way of scaling the walls。 From
teacher he became a postman。 In this capacity； which serves as a
refuge to many an old soldier； Pere Fo