The thing to do is to keep well with the rich, and pick up the crumbs that fall from their tables.' That's what I call giving him a good, solid education; and you'll always find the little rascal on the side of the law,--he'll be a good citizen and take care of me." "What do you mean to make of him ?" asked Blondet.
"A servant, to begin with," returned Fourchon, "because then he'll see his masters close by, and learn something; he'll complete his education, I'll warrant you.

Good example will be a fortune to him, with the law on his side like the rest of you.

If M'sieur le comte would only take him in his stables and let him learn to groom the horses, the boy will be mighty pleased, for though I've taught him to fear men, he don't fear animals." "You are a clever fellow, Pere Fourchon," said Blondet; "you know what you are talking about, and there's sense in what you say." "Oh, sense?
no; I left my sense at the Grand-I-Vert when I lost those silver pieces." "How is it that a man of your capacity should have dropped so low?
As things are now, a peasant can only blame himself for his poverty; he is a free man, and he can become a rich one.

It is not as it used to be.

If a peasant lays by his money, he can always buy a bit of land and become his own master." "I've seen the olden time and I've seen the new, my dear wise gentleman," said Fourchon; "the sign over the door has changed, that's true, but the wine is the same,--to-day is the younger brother of yesterday, that's all.