erest； but contained a
large number of beautifully preserved frescoes as well。 On the day before our departure； several bus loads of tourists descended on the town。 This was more than we could bear； so we decided to spend our last day exploring the countryside。 Taking a path which led out of the town； we crossed a few fields until we came to a dense wood。 We expected the path to end abruptly； but we found that it traced its way through the trees。 We tramped through the wood for over two hours until we arrived at a deep stream。 We could see that the path continued on the other side； but we had no idea how we could get across the stream。 Suddenly my wife spotted a boat moored to the bank。 In it there was a boatman fast asleep。 We gently woke him up and asked him to ferry us to the other side。 Though he was reluctant to do so at first； we eventually persuaded him to take us。 The path led to a tiny village perched on the steep sides of a mountain。 The place consisted of a straggling unmade road which was lined on either side by small houses。 Even under a clear blue sky； the village looked forbidding； as all the houses were built of grey mud bricks。 The village seemed deserted； the only sign of life being an ugly…looking black goat tied to a tree on a short length of
rope in a field nearby。 Sitting down on a dilapidated wooden fence near the field； we opened a couple of tins of sardines and had a picnic lunch。 All at once； I noticed that my wife seemed to be filled with alarm。 Looking up I saw that we were surrounded by children in rags who were looking at us silently as we ate。 We offered them food and spoke to them kindly； but they remained motionless。 I concluded that they were simply shy of strangers。 When we later walked down the main street of the village； we were followed by a silent procession of children。 The village which had seemed deserted； immediately came to life。 Faces appeared at windows。 Men in shirt sleeves stood outside their houses and glared at us。 Old women in black shawls peered at us from door…ways。 The most frightening thing of all was that not a sound could be heard。 There was no doubt that we were unwelcome visitors。 We needed no further warning。 Turning back down the main street； we quickened our pace and made our way rapidly towards the stream where we hoped the boatman was waiting。
Lesson49 The Ideal Servant
It is a good thing my aunt Harriet died years ago。 If she were alive today she would not be able to air her views on her favourite topic of conversation： domestic servants。 Aunt Harriet lived in that
leisurely age when servants were employed to do housework。 She had a huge； rambling country house called 'The Gables'。 She was sentimentally attached to this house； for even though it was far
too big for her needs； she persisted in living there long after her husband's death。 Before she grew old； aunt Harriet used to entertain lavishly。 I often visited The Gables when I was a boy。 No matter
how many guests were present； the great house was always immaculate。 The parquet floors shone like mirrors； highly polished silver was displayed in gleaming glass cabinets； even my uncle's huge collection of books was kept miraculously free from dust。 Aunt Harriet presided over an invisible army of servants that continuously scrubbed； cleaned； and polished。 She always referred to them as' the shifting population'； for they came and went with such frequency that I never even got a chance to learn their names； Though my aunt pursued what was； in those days； an enlightened policy in that she never allowed her domestic staff to work more than eight hours a day； she was extremely difficult to please。 While she always decried the fickleness of human nature； she carried on an unrelenting search for the ideal servant to the end of her days； even after she had been sadly disillusioned by Bessie。 Bessie worked for aunt Harriet for three years。 During that time she so gained my aunt's confidence； that she was put in charge of the domestic staff。
Aunt Hariet could not find words to praise Bessie's industry and efficiency。 In addition to all her other qualifications； Bessie was an expert cook。 She acted the role of the perfect servant for three years before aunt Harriet discovered her 'little weakness'。 After being absent from The Gables for a week； my aunt unexpectedly returned one afternoon with a party of guests and instructed Bessie to prepare dinner。 Not only was the meal well below the usual standard； but Bessie seemed unable to walk steadily。 She bumped into the furniture and kept mumbling about the guests。 When she came in with the last course鈥攁 huge pudding…she tripped on the carpet and the pudding went flying through the air； narrowly missed my aunt； and crashed on the dining table with considerable force。 Though this occasioned great mirth among the guests； aunt Harriet was horrified。 She reluctantly came to the conclusion that Bessie was drunk。 The guests had； of course； realized this from the moment Bessie opened the door for them and； long before the final catastrophe； had had a difficult time trying to conceal their amusement。 The poor girl was dismissed instantly。 After her departure； aunt Harriet discovered that there were piles of empty wine bottles of all shapes and sizes neatly stacked in what had once been Bessie's wardrobe。 They had mysteriously found their way there from the wine…cellar！
Lesson50 New Year Resolutions
The New Year is a time for resolutions。 Mentally； at least； most of us could compile formidable lists of ' do's' and' don'ts '。 The same old favourites recur year in year out with monotonous regularity。 We resolve to get up earlier each morning； eat less； find more time to play with the children； do a thousand and one jobs about the house； be nice to people we don't like； drive carefully； and take the dog for a walk every day。 Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment。 If we remain inveterate smokers； it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure。 Most of us fail in our efforts at self…improvement because our schemes are too ambitious and we never have time to carry them out。 We also make the fundamental error of announcing our resolutions to everybody so that we look even more foolish when we slip back into our bad old ways。 Aware of these pitfalls； this year I attempted to keep my resolutions to myself。 I limited myself to two modest ambitions： to do physical exercises every morning and to read more of an evening。 An all…night party on New Year's Eve； provided me with a good excuse for not carrying out either of these new resolutions on the first day of the year； but on the second； I applied myself assiduously to the task。 The daily exercises lasted only eleven minutes and I proposed to do them early in the morning before anyone had got up。 The self…discipline required to drag myself out of bed eleven minutes earlier than usual was considerable。 Nevertheless； I managed to creep down into the living…room for two days before anyone found me out。 After jumping about on the carpet and twisting the human frame into uncomfortable positions； I sat down at the breakfast table in an exhausted condition。 It was this that betrayed me。 The next morning the whole family trooped in to watch the performance。 That was really unsettling but I fended off the taunts and jibes of the family good…humouredly and soon everybody got used to the idea。 However； my enthusiasm waned。 The time I spent at exercises gradually diminished。 Little by little the eleven minutes fell to zero。 By January 10th； I was back to where I had started from。 I argued that if I spent less time exhausting myself at exercises in the morning I would keep my mind fresh for reading when I got home from work。 Resisting the hypnotizing effect of television； I sat in my room for a few evenings with my eyes glued to a book； one night； however； feeling cold and lonely； I went downstairs and sat in front of the television pretending to read。 That proved to be my undoing； for I soon got back to my old bad habit of dozing off in front of the screen。 I still haven't given up my resolution to do more reading。 In fact； I have just bought a book entitled 'How to