I think that the world, as well as schools, is cursed with too much legislation. Statutes, laws, regulations, restrictions, prohibitions at every turn, are enough to make us all sinners. I often think of that old fable of Eve and the apple, that if the Lord had told her to go out and gather all the apples in the garden and eat as many as she wanted, she would have said that she did not like apples, and never did from the time she was born, they were too acidulated, and she would not have tasted even one; but when she was told not to touch any of them she was bound to break the rule, even if she broke her neck and the necks of all of us, her children. I cannot leave this without noticing a question that has often bothered me, because I am no theologist and yet cannot take everything by faith on the mere say so of man or men—and that is, since the Lord foreknew what Eve would do, why did He place the apples in the garden and then forbid her to take them? Did He not lead her into temptation? That is, if the story about her is true. If, knowing the predilections of my bearer for appropriating my property, and particularly for his dislike of seeing silver and copper coin lying around unused, why should I freely place them about in his sight to excite his desire of reciprocity, in order to tempt him and so bring punishment upon himself and upon his children? Would not I, an educated fore-thinking sahib be more to blame for what I did, than what he a poor ignorant man did? Though I have studied much, and thought a little, yet I am often puzzled by such simple questions. It is the little things of life that bother us the most. Poor Johnny could take a flogging that raised great welts on his body without a squeal, but he could not kneel to say his prayers when the other boys could see him. I have ridden an elephant, a noble tusker, all day in the forest after tigers and he never flinched, but in the evening when he was hobbled to a tree, one little mosquito buzzing about his ears would set him frantic with rage. It is the mean, petty annoyances that make life a burden, and it is not strange when they become frequent, that many take tickets of-leave for parts unknown. CHAPTER VII.