heerful than the aspect of the
Common Dwelling-house of the workmen. Its slanting roof of red tiles
projected over white walls, divided here and there by broad rows of
bricks, which contrasted agreeably with the green color of the blinds on
the first and second stories.

These buildings, open to the south and east, were surrounded by a large
garden of about ten acres, partly planted with trees, and partly laid
out in fruit and kitchen-garden. Before continuing this description,
which perhaps will appear a little like a fairy-tale, let us begin by
saying, that the wonders, of which we are about to present the sketch,
must not to be considered Utopian dreams; nothing, on the contrary,
could be of a more positive character, and we are able to assert, and
even to prove (what in our time is of great weight and interest),
that these wonders were the result of an excellent speculation, and
represented an investment as lucrative as it was secure. To undertake
a vast, noble, and most useful enterprise; to bestow on a considerable
number of human creatures an ideal prosperity, compared with the
frightful, almost homicidal doom, to which they are generally condemned;
to instruct them, and elevate them in their own esteem; to make them
prefer to the coarse pleasures of the tavern, or rather to the fatal
oblivion which they find there, as an escape from the consciousness
of their deplorable destiny, the pleasures, of the intellect and the
enjoyments of art; in a word, to make men moral by making them happy,
and finally, thanks to this generous example, so easy of imitation, to
take a place amongst the benefactors of humanity--and yet, at the same
time to do, as it were, without knowing it, an excellent stroke of
business--may appear fabulous. And yet this was the secret of the
wonders of which we speak.

Let us enter the interior of the factory. Ignorant of Mother Bunch's
cruel disappearance, Agricola gave himself up to the most happy,
thoughts as he recalled Angela's image, and, having finished dressing
with unusual care, went in search of his betrothed.

Let us say two words on the subject of the lodging, which the smith
occupied in the Common Dwelling-house, at the incredibly low rate
of seventy-five francs per annum like the other bachelors on the
establishment. This lodging, situated on the second story, was comprised
of a capital chamber and bedroom, with a southern aspect, and looking
on the garden; the pine floor was perf