第4章 AGEN.--JASMIN'S BOYHOOD.(3)

Jasmin proceeds,in his Souvenirs,to describe with great zest and a wonderful richness of local colour,the impromptu fetes in which he bore a part;his raids upon the cherry and plum orchards--for the neighbourhood of Agen is rich in plum-trees,and prunes are one of the principal articles of commerce in the district.Playing at soldiers was one of Jasmin's favourite amusements;and he was usually elected Captain.

"I should need,"he says,"a hundred trumpets to celebrate all my victories."Then he describes the dancing round the bonfires,and the fantastic ceremonies connected with the celebration of St.John's Eve.

Agen is celebrated for its fairs.In the month of June,one of the most important fairs in the South of France is held on the extensive promenade in front of the Gravier.There Jasmin went to pick up any spare sous by holding horses or cattle,or running errands,or performing any trifling commission for the farmers or graziers.When he had filled to a slight extent his little purse,he went home at night and emptied the whole contents into his mother's hand.His heart often sank as she received his earnings with smiles and tears."Poor child,"she would say,"your help comes just in time."Thus the bitter thought of poverty and the evidences of destitution were always near at hand.

In the autumn Jasmin went gleaning in the cornfields,for it was his greatest pleasure to bring home some additional help for the family needs.In September came the vintage--the gathering in and pressing of the grapes previous to their manufacture into wine.The boy was able,with his handy helpfulness,to add a little more money to the home store.Winter followed,and the weather became colder.In the dearth of firewood,Jasmin was fain to preserve his bodily heat,notwithstanding his ragged clothes,by warming himself by the sun in some sheltered nook so long as the day lasted;or he would play with his companions,being still buoyed up with the joy and vigour of youth.

When the stern winter set in,Jasmin spent his evenings in the company of spinning-women and children,principally for the sake of warmth.A score or more of women,with their children,assembled in a large room,lighted by a single antique lamp suspended from the ceiling.The women had distaffs and heavy spindles,by means of which they spun a kind of coarse pack-thread,which the children wound up,sitting on stools at their feet.All the while some old dame would relate the old-world ogreish stories of Blue Beard,the Sorcerer,or the Loup Garou,to fascinate the ears and trouble the dreams of the young folks.It was here,no doubt,that Jasmin gathered much of the traditionary lore which he afterwards wove into his poetical ballads.