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 given to travel in foreign parts, never gave himself any trouble at all about repairing it; so that, owing to his neglect, it went by degrees so much to rack and ruin, that two servants, who had been left in it, thought it unsafe to continue in it, and accordingly quitted it.

"Well, in process of time, the unthrifty master of this old chateau died; and never having been married, it fell to a distant relation, who was delighted (as you may well think) to have the fine estate surrounding it become his: he was neither given to squandering nor gadding; and knowing what the comforts of a good home were, he directly ordered the ruin to be pulled down, that he might have another house built in its place. This you may be sure was a joyful order for the tenants; for 'tis the life of the poor souls to have a rich landlord live amongst them, particularly one that is generous and good, as was the gentleman I am speaking of. They set merrily to work, and soon demolished most of the building; for 'tis a true saying,