拉封丹

LaFontaine

Acobblerassedhistimeinsingingfrommorningtillnight；itwaswonderfultosee，wonderfultohearhim；hewasmorecontentedinmakingshoesthanwasanyofthesevensages。Hisneighbor，onthecontrary，whowasrollinginwealth，sungbutlittle，andsleeless。Hewasabanker；whenbychancehefellintoadozeatday-break，thecobbler1awokehimwithhissong。ThebankercomlainedsadlythatProvidencehadnotmadesleeasaleable2commodity，likeediblesordrinkables。Havingatlengthsentforthesongster，hesaidtohim，

"Howmucha；yeardoyouearn，MasterGregory?

"

"Howmuchayear，sir?

"saidthemerrycobblerlaughing，

"Ineverreckoninthatway，livingasIdofromonedaytoanother；somehowImanagetoreachtheendoftheyear；eachdaybringsitsmeal。

"

"Wellthen！Howmuchadaydoyouearn，myfriend?

"

"Sometimesmore，sometimesless；buttheworstofitis，and，withoutthatourearningswouldbeverytolerable，anumberofdaysoccurintheyearonwhichweareforbiddentowork；andthecurate，moreover，isconstantlyaddingsomenewsainttothelist。

"

Thebanker，laughingathissimlicity，said，