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village schoolmaster； 〃at once barber； bellringer； and singer in the
choir。〃 Rembrandt； Teniers； nor Van Ostade never painted anything more
picturesque than the room which served at the same time as kitchen；
refectory； and bedroom； with 〃halfpenny prints papering the walls〃 and 〃a
huge chimney； for which each had to bring his log of a morning in order to
enjoy the right to a place at the fireside。〃
He was never to forget these beloved places； blessed scenes of his
childhood； amid which he grew up like a little savage； and through all his
material sufferings； all his hours of bitterness； and even in the
resignation of age； their idyllic memory sufficed to make his life
fragrant。 He would always see the humble paternal garden； the brook where
he used to surprise the crayfish； the ash…tree in which he found his first
goldfinch's nest； and 〃the flat stone on which he heard； for the first
time； the mellow ringing of the bellringer frog。〃 （1/4。） Later； when
writing to his brother； he was to recall the good days of still careless
life； when 〃he would sprawl； the sun on his belly； on the mosses of the
wood of Vezins； eating his black bread and cream〃 or 〃ring the bells of
Saint…Léons〃 and 〃pull the tails of the bulls of Lavaysse。〃 （1/5。）
For Henri had a brother； Frédéric； barely two years younger than he；
equally meditative by nature； and of a serious； upright mind； but his
tastes inclined rather to matters of administration and the understanding
of business； so that where Frédéric was bored； Henri was more than content；
thirstily drinking in science and poetry 〃among the blue campanulas of the
hills； the pink heather of the mountains； the golden buttercups of the
meadows； and the odorous bracken of the woods。〃 （1/6。） Apart from this the
two brothers 〃were one〃； they understood one another in a marvellous
fashion； and always loved one another。 Henri never failed to watch over
Frédéric with a wholly fatherly solicitude； he was prodigal of advice；
helpful with his experience； doing his best to smooth away all
difficulties； encouraging him to walk in his footsteps and make his way
through the world behind him。 He was his confidant； giving an ear to all
that befell him of good or ill； to his fears； his disappointments； his
hopes； and all his thoughts； and he took the keenest interest in his
studies and researches。 On the other hand； he had no more sure and devoted
friend； none more proud of his first success； and in later days no more
enthusiastic admirer； and none more eager for his fame。 （1/7。）
He was twelve years old when his father； 〃the first of all his line； was
tempted by the town；〃 and led all his family to Rodez； there to keep a
café。 The future naturalist entered the school of this town； where he
served Mass on Sunday； in the chapel； in order to pay his fees。 There again
he was interested in the animal creation above all。 When he began to
construe Virgil the only thing that charmed him； and which he remembered；
was the landscape in which the persons of the poem move； in which are so
many 〃exquisite details concerning the cicada； the goat； and the laburnum。〃
Thus four years went by： but then his parents were constrained to seek
their fortune elsewhere； and transported their household to Toulouse； where
again the father kept a café。 The young Henri was admitted gratuitously to
the seminary of the Esquille； where he managed to complete his fifth year。
Unfortunately his progress was soon interrupted by a new exodus on the part
of his family； which emigrated this time to Montpellier； where he was
haunted for a time by dreams of medicine； to which he seemed notably
adapted。 Finally； a run of bad luck persisting； he had to bid farewell to
his studies and gain his bread as best he could。 We see him set out along
the wide white roads： lost； almost a wanderer； seeking his living by the
sweat of his brow； one day selling lemons at the fair of Beaucaire； under
the arcades of the market or before the barracks of the Pré； another day
enlisting in a gang of labourers who were working on the line from
Beaucaire to N？mes； which was then in process of construction。 He knew
gloomy days； lonely and despairing。 What was he doing？ of what was he
dreaming？ The love of nature and the passion for learning sustained him in
spite of all； and often served him as nourishment； as on the day when he
dined on a few grapes； plucked furtively at the edge of a field； after
exchanging the poor remnant of his last halfpence for a little volume of
Reboul's poems； soothing his hunger by reciting the verses of the gentle
baker…poet。 Often some creature kept him company； some insect never seen
before was often his greatest pleasure； such as the pine…chafer； which he
encountered then for the first time； that superb beetle； whose black or
chestnut coat is sprinkled with specks of white velvet； which squeaks when
captured； emitting a slight complaining sound； like the vibration of a pane
of glass rubbed with the tip of a moistened finger。 （1/8。）
Already this young mind； romantic and classic at once； full of the ideal；
and so positive that it seemed to seek support in an intense grasp of
things and beingstwo gifts well…nigh incompatible； and often mutually
destructivealready it knew； not only the love of study and a passion for
the truth； but the sovereign delight of feeling everything and
understanding everything。
It was under these conditionsthat is； amid the rudest privationsthat he
ventured to enter a competitive examination for a bursary at the école
Normale Primaire of Avignon； and his will…power realized this first miracle
of his careerhe straightway obtained the highest place。
In those days； when education had barely reached the lower classes； the
instruction given in the primary normal school was still of the most
summary。 Spelling； arithmetic； and geometry practically exhausted its
resources。 As for natural history； a poor despised science； almost unknown；
no one dreamed of it； and no one learned or taught it； the syllabus ignored
it； because it led to nothing。 For Fabre only； notwithstanding； it was his
fixed idea； his constant preoccupation； and 〃while the dictation class was
busy around him； he would examine； in the secrecy of his desk； the sting of
a wasp or the fruit of the oleander；〃 and intoxicate himself with poetry。
（1/9。） His pedagogic studies suffered thereby； and the first part of his
stay at the normal school was by no means extremely brilliant。 In the
middle of his second year he was declared idle； and even marked as an
insufficient pupil and of mediocre intelligence。 Stung to the quick； he
begged as a favour that he should be given the opportunity of following the
third year's course in the six months that remained； and he made such an
effort that at the end of the year he victoriously won his superior
certificate。 （1/10。）
A year in advance of the regulation studies； his curiosity might now
exercise itself freely in eve