Yes," added he, with an expression of
joy--"he would scold me, and that would give me pleasure, because he
tried to make his words cross, but he could not do it."
"And what gave you the idea of becoming a water-carrier?"
"He gave me that, also. Do you suppose I have ideas? I began to lose
my grief, but my time hung heavy on my hands. At thirty-two years
old, to be sitting all day in a chair! He then began to instruct me,
as he said, and he told me beautiful stories. The Bible--the history
of an old man, blind like me, named Tobias; the history of Joseph;
the history of David; the history of Jesus Christ. And then he made
me repeat them after him. But my head, it was hard--it was hard; it
was not used to learning, and I was always getting tired in my arms
and my legs."
"And he tormented us to death," said his wife, laughing.
"True, true," replied he, laughing also; "I became cross. He came
again, and said,
"'James, you must go to work.'
"I showed him my poor, burned hands.
"'It is no matter; I have bought you a capital in trade.'
"'Me, Mr. Desgranges?'
"'Yes, James, a capital into which they never put goods, and where
they always find them.'
"'It must have cost you a great deal, sir.'
"'Nothing at all, my lad.'
"'What is then this fund?'
"'The river.
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