A WAY TO BE HAPPY. 133

 

was forced back by the idea of living at
his ease ; of being able to come and go just
as it suited his fancy; to have no care” of
business, nor any of its perplexities and
anxieties. This thought was delightful.

“Tf I were you, I would go into the coun-
try and employ myself on a little farm,”
said a friend to the hatter. “ You will find
it dull work in town, with nothing on your
hands to do.”

The hatter shook his head. ‘No, no,”
said he, “I have no taste for farming; it is
too much trouble. I am tired of work, and
want a little rest during the remainder of
my life.”

Freedom from labour was the golden
idea in his mind, and nothing else could
find an entrance. For a few days after he
had fully and finally got clear from all busi-
ness, and was, to use his own words, a free
man, he drank of liberty almost to in-
toxication. Sometimes he would sit at his
window, looking out upon the hurrying
crowd, and marking with pity the care