LE COTILLON DE RACHÉ CATEL. The evils that may result from being over particular, and the wisdom of letting well alone, are exemplified by the story of Rachel Câtel and her petticoat. This respectable matron or spinster--for tradition gives us no clue to her state in life--was engaged in fashioning a petticoat. She cut it out, and found it somewhat too long. She cut again, and now it was too short. When, therefore, a thing has been spoilt by too much care or meddling, old people will shake their heads and say:--“_Ch’est coum le cotillon de Râché Câtel. A’ le copit et il était trop long. A’ le copit derechef, et il était trop court._” THE CAT AND THE FOX. A FABLE. One day a cat and a fox were travelling together and chatting of one thing and another as they jogged on their way. At last says the cat to the fox: “You are always talking of your cleverness. How many cunning devices have you to escape from your numerous enemies?” “Oh!” answered the fox, “_j’en ai une pouquie_, (I carry a whole sack full,) but you, Mistress Puss, pray tell me, how many have you?” “Alas,” replied the cat, “I can boast but of one.” Shortly after this conversation they saw a large fierce-looking dog advancing towards them. It was but the affair of a minute for puss to climb into the nearest tree and hide herself among the branches, while Reynard took refuge in the entrance of a drain that was close at hand. Unluckily the drain narrowed so suddenly that his body only was concealed, and his long bushy tail was left exposed. The dog seized on this, and caused poor Reynard to cry out pitifully for help. Puss, from her safe retreat among the branches, looked down, and called out to her unfortunate companion: “Now’s the time to make use of your many devices, _délie donc ta pouque_!” (“Why don’t you untie your sack?”)[224] [224] From John Rougier, Esq. See also _Revue des Traditions Populaires_, Vol. I., p. 201. THE FARM SERVANT AND THE WEEDS. The Guernsey workman is industrious and thrifty, working hard when it is on his own account, but apt to be slow and disinclined to do more work than what is absolutely necessary to save his credit, when employed by others. There is a certain amount of calculation in this. Idleness or laziness are not the only motives. He knows that so long as the job in hand lasts, he will be paid his day’s wages, and therefore he is not in a hurry to get it finished. His calculations go even a little beyond this; for a master workman to whom an indifferent person made the remark that the work he was executing was not of a quality to last many years, made the ingenuous reply, “Do you suppose I would willingly take the bread out of my children’s mouths?” implying that if the work were done in too substantial or durable a manner, there would be nothing left for those who were to come after him to gain their living by. [Illustration: Old Mill, Talbots.]