iy <><
THE STONE CUT TER
(1) Already home! And smiling? This morning whe

you went away you cursed the world and now you whistle

like the mocking bird. Swore you would cut no more stone
for your distant master. Bellowed like a bull. No! No more! Not a
stone. Not one more cut. What knows he of cutting? Like an imbe-)
cile you raved. No, I'll not hush. The neighbors heard. It is the village)
talk. How you reviled him. Just for one small block of stone you)
must cut to suit this distant master’s taste and not your own. Too}
exacting, you say. That is no cause why you should curse a ma
you never saw and do not know.” '
“You have something to tell? Let it rest. Perhaps this meal will suit
your taste to-night. For of late your savage whim has quite spoile
your meals. Eat, and after, while I spin, you shall tell me.’’ ““You'v
eaten well. Your mind’s at rest. What? Very well, I'll listen.”
“This morning when I went away I swore I would leave this thank
less trade where a man may work, and find his work in vain, and see
my fortune elsewhere.
“But as I passed by Giovanni's vineyard I found him with a Strange
discoursing on the respective values of the wines of France and Italy
The stranger claimed that the wine of France excelled that of Ital
and plied his point so well that Giovanni yielded to his reason. Yo
say it is the first time. Granted. That man was Giovanni's master.
‘Then Giovanni remarked my visage which would, in spite of me
keep company with my thoughts. I told my tale. The Stranger
sympathising with my lot, said he would like to see the cause of m
grievance. ‘“‘Willingly,’’ said I. ‘“Yet there will be little done to-day.’
Kindly he remonstrated, showing with learning and with logic th
sublimity of labor. The vast importance of my present task.
necessity for accuracy and finish. A discourse our Padre would find t
hard to emulate, with all his Latin phrase. So simple too, our litt
Nicholas could understand.
“Then we, the stranger and I, bidding Giovanni good morning

went down through the village. Here Cerevanio, you know him well
(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIXTY-ONE

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