Début dans la Vie

But the middle-class people? They have enough. They are in good health. They sleep well at night. Even kings would want to be born in the middle class. The wise men of old times said it too. They just wanted enough. That's what you have, my son.

I was touched by what he said. What son would not be? I decided to stay at home. I would forget the sea. I would make my father happy. But my decision did not last. After some days I wanted to leave again.

I waited some weeks. Then I spoke to my mother. I thought that she would be easier to convince than my father. "Mother," I said, "I am now eighteen years old. I cannot stop thinking about travels. If I stay here I will be unhappy forever."

"Please, speak to father," I continued. "Ask him to let me do just one trip. If I do not like it I will come back home. I promise. I will work two times harder to make up for the lost time." But my mother became very angry.