stairway whenever I am going out or coming in."

"Well! the heir of the Coccoz family will be able to say, like the
Egg in the village riddle: Ma mere me fit en chantant. ["My mother
sang when she brought me into the world."] The like happened in the
case of Henry IV. When Jeanne d'Albret felt herself about to be
confined she began to sing an old Bearnaise canticle:

"Notre-Dame du bout du pont,
Venez a mon aide en cette heure!
Priez le Dieu du ciel
Qu'il me delivre vite,
Qu'il me donne un garcon!

"It is certainly unreasonable to bring little unfortunates into the
world. But the thing is done every day, my dear Therese and all the
philosophers on earth will never be able to reform the silly custom.
Madame Coccoz has followed it, and she sings. This is creditable at
all events! But, tell me, Therese, have you not put the soup to boil
to-day?"

"Yes, Monsieur; and it is time for me to go and skim it."

"Good! but don't forget, Therese, to take a good bowl of soup out of
the pot and carry it to Madame Coccoz, our attic neighbor."

My housekeeper was on the point of leaving the room when I added,
just in time:

"Therese, before you do anything else, please call your friend the