wind； for want of trees which might arrest them and so obtain their
nourishment。 Merely to plant trees in such a region would be carrying
a gospel to it。 Separated from the nearest town or city by a distance
as insurmountable to poor folk as though a desert lay between them；
with no means of reaching a market for their products （if they
produced anything）； close to an unexplored forest which supplied them
with wood and the uncertain livelihood of poaching； the inhabitants
often suffered from hunger during the winters。 The soil not being
suitable for wheat； and the unfortunate peasantry having neither
cattle of any kind nor farming implements； they lived for the most
part on chestnuts。
Any one who has studied zoological productions in a museum； or become
personally aware of the indescribable depression caused by the brown
tones of all European products； will understand how the constant sight
of these gray； arid plains must have affected the moral nature of the
inhabitants； through the desolate sense of utter barrenness which they
present to the eye。 There； in those dismal regions； is neither
coolness nor brightness； nor shade nor contrast；none of all those
ideas and spectacles of Nature which awaken and rejoice the heart；
even a stunted apple…tree would be hailed as a friend。
A country road； recently made； runs through the centre of this great
plain； and meets the high…road。 Upon it； at a distance of some fifteen
miles from the high…road； stands Montegnac； at the foot of a hill； as
its name designates； the chief town of a canton or district in the
Haute…Vienne。 The hill is part of Montegnac； which thus unites a
mountainous scenery with that of the plains。 This district is a
miniature Scotland； with its lowlands and highlands。 Behind the hill；
at the foot of which lies the village； rises； at a distance of about
three miles； the first peak of the Correze mountains。 The space
between is covered by the great forest of Montegnac； which clothes the
hill； extends over the valley； and along the slopes of the mountain
（though these are bare in some places）； continuing as far as the
highway to Aubusson； where it diminishes to a point near a steep
embankment on that road。 This embankment commands a ravine through
which the post…road between Bordeaux and Lyon passes。 Travellers；
either afoot or in carriages； were often stopped in the depths of this
dangerous gorge by highwaymen； whose deeds of violence went
unpunished； for the site favored them； they could instantly disappear；
by ways known to them alone； into the inaccessible parts of the
forest。
Such a region was naturally out of reach of law。 No one now travelled
through it。 Without circulation； neither commerce； industry； exchange
of ideas； nor any of the means to wealth； can exist； the material
triumphs of civilization are always the result of the application of
primitive ideas。 Thought is invariably the point of departure and the
goal of all social existence。 The history of Montegnac is a proof of
that axiom of social science。 When at last the administration was able
to concern itself with the needs and the material prosperity of this
region of country； it cut down this strip of forest； and stationed a
detachment of gendarmerie near the ravine； which escorted the mail…
coaches between the two relays； but； to the shame of the gendarmerie
be it said； it was the gospel； and not the sword； the rector Monsieur
Bonnet； and not Corporal Chervin； who won a civil victory by changing
the morals of a population。 This priest； filled with Christian
tenderness for the poor； hapless region； attempted to regenerate it；
and succeeded in the attempt。
After travelling for about an hour over these plains； alternately
stony and dusty； where the partridges flocked in tranquil coveys；
their wings whirring with a dull； heavy sound as the carriage came
toward them； the Abbe Gabriel； like all other travellers on the same
road； saw with satisfaction the roofs of Montegnac in the distance。 At
the entrance of the village was one of those curious post…relays which
are seen only in the remote parts of France。 Its sign was an oak board
on which some pretentious postilion had carved the words； /Pauste o
chevos/； blackening the letters with ink； and then nailing the board
by its four corners above the door of a wretched stable in which there
were no horses。 The door； which was nearly always open； had a plank
laid on the soil for its threshold； to protect the stable floor； which
was lower than the road； from inundation when it rained。 The
discouraged traveller could see within worn…out； mildewed； and mended
harnesses； certain to break at a plunge of the horses。 The horses
themselves were hard at work in the fields； or anywhere but in the
stable。 If by any chance they happen to be in their stalls； they are
eating； if they have finished eating； the postilion has gone to see
his aunt or his cousin； or is getting in the hay； or else he is
asleep； no one can say where he is； the traveller has to wait till he
is found； and he never comes till he has finished what he is about。
When he does come he loses an immense amount of time looking for his
jacket and his whip； or putting the collars on his horses。 Near by； at
the door of the post…house； a worthy woman is fuming even more than
the traveller； in order to prevent the latter from complaining loudly。
This is sure to be the wife of the post…master； whose husband is away
in the fields。
The bishop's secretary left his carriage before a post…house of this
kind； the walls of which resembled a geographical map； while the
thatched roof； blooming like a flower…garden； seemed to be giving way
beneath the weight of stone…crop。 After begging the post…mistress to
have everything in readiness for his departure in an hour's time； the
abbe asked the way to the parsonage。 The good woman showed him a lane
which led to the church； telling him the rectory was close beside it。
While the young abbe followed this lane； which was full of stones and
closed on either side by hedges； the post…mistress questioned the
postilion。 Since starting from Limoges each postilion had informed his
successor of the conjectures of the Limoges postilion as to the
mission of the bishop's messenger。 While the inhabitants of the town
were getting out of bed and talking of the coming execution； a rumor
spread among the country people that the bishop had obtained the
pardon of the innocent man； and much was said about the mistakes to
which human justice was liable。 If Jean…Francois was executed later；
it was certain that he was regarded in the country regions as a
martyr。
After taking a few steps along the lane； reddened by the autumn
leaves； and black with mulberries and damsons； the Abbe Gabriel turned
round with the instinctive impulse which leads us all to make
acquaintance with a region which we see for the first time；a sort of
instinctive physical curiosity shared by dogs and horses。
The position of Montegnac was explained to him as his eyes rested on
various little streams flowing down the hillsides and on a little
river； along the bank of which runs the country road which connects
the chief town of the arrondissement with the prefecture。 Like all the
villages of this upland plain； Montegnac is built of earth baked in
the sun and moulded into square blocks。 After a fire a house looks as
if it had been built of brick。 The roofs are of thatch。 Poverty is
everywhere visible。
Before the village lay several fields of potatoes； radishes； and rye；
redeemed from the barren plain。 On the slope of the hill were
irrigated meadows where the inhabitants raised horses； the famous
Limousin breed； which is said to be a legacy of the Arabs when they
descended by the Pyrenees into France and were cut to pieces by the
battle…axes of the Franks under Charles Martel。 The heights are
barren。 A hot； baked； reddish soil shows a region where chestnuts
flourish。 The springs； carefully applied to irrigation； water the
meadows only； nourishing the sweet； crisp grass； so fine and choice；
which produces this race of delicate and high…strung horses；not
over…strong to bear fatigue； but showy； excellent for the country of
their birth； though subject to changes if transplanted。 A few mulberry
trees lately imported showed an intention of cultivating silk…worms。
Like most of the villages in this world Montegnac had but one street；
through which the high road passed。 Nevertheless there was an upper
and a lower Montegnac； reached by lanes going up or going down from
the main street。 A line of houses standing along the brow of the hill
presented the cheerful sight of terraced gardens； which were entered
by flights of steps from the main street。 Some had their steps of
earth； others of pebbles； here and there old women were sitting on
them； knitting or watching children； and keeping up a conversation
from the upper to the lower town across the usually peaceful street of
the little village； thus rumors spread easily and rapidly in
Montegnac。 All the gardens； which were full of fruit…trees； cabbages；
onions； and other vegetables； had bee…hives along their terraces。
Another line of houses； running down from the main street to the
river； the course of which was outlined by thriving little fields of
hemp and the sorts of fruit trees which like moisture； lay parallel
with the upper town； some of the houses； that of the post…house； for
instance； were in a hollow； and were well…situated for certain kinds
of work； such as weaving。 Nearly all of them were shared by walnut…
trees； the tree /par excellence/ of strong soils。
On this side of the main street at the end farthest from the great
plain was a dwelling…house； very much larger and better cared for than
those in other parts of the village； around it were other houses
equally well kept。 This little hamlet； separated from the village by
its gardens； was already called Les Tascherons； a name it keeps to the
present day。
The village itself mounted to very little； but thirty or more outlying
farms belonged to it。 In the valley； leading down to the river；
irrigating channels like those of La Marche and Berry indicated the
flow of water around the villa