"THE LOIRE VALLEY CLOGMAKER" "In autumn, when the week begins, it's the same routine." "He gets up first, because today, she can take her time." "He knows that Joussomme won't wait:" "he must be ready for the first toot." "And in this season, it always sounds at 7. 10 am." "It's been like that for years." "In the clearing off the village, he'll join his mates, the clog-makers." "There's David, Clémence's husband." "Brétecher, called the Dodger because he was discharged in 1914." "And Barré who'd left for town but got home-sick." "There's also Victorien's assistant who, as a rule, always comes last." "He's been told and told again, they put back the hour." "Nothing doing." "He's still late but they put up with him because he's friendly and the hardest working of all;" "he can cut up a poplar in no time." "She prefers when he's around." "She can hear his step and she needs it." "The thump of the mallet is a comfort." "Here, he feels happy." "He pauses, for he's getting older and he's in no hurry." "He thinks of her, upstairs." "He has loved her so." "She was good-Iooking, nice and hardworking." "So, he told her:" ""We could get together." ""I know my job pretty well." ""And you..." "you'd do what women must do."" "She'd said "yes"." "He'd felt sad though, because she couldn't have a child." "But she'd warned him beforehand." "So, he'd replied that, after all, they could still love each other." "And things might improve." "And so they did." "They brought up Claude, an orphan." "He didn't like the land and clogmaking was not for a young man." "So he learned sewing." "He works at Gallon's and brings home the news from town." "This afternoon, he met P. Séguinon who told him Old Joubert wouldn't last the week." "He even added:" ""At 75, it's in the nature of things."" "The nature of things!" "Of course." "But all the same, when those things happen..." "Today is a hard day for her." "She must walk to the Loire to rinse the washing." "Each time, she swears it's the last, for it's a long way and the wheelbarrow is wobbly." "He knows what's wrong with it:" "it's worn away." "They need a new one." "He's seen one in town, in steel, with a rubber wheel." "They could do with one, but not now." "Maybe in Spring... maybe." "A wheelbarrow, that's many clogs." "And after all, they can do without one." "It was bound to happen." "Old Joubert died this morning." "It may be inevitable, but it comes as a shock." "One after the other, all your mates go." "He knows he won't last long if his old woman goes." "And if he goes first, he won't wait long for her." "The funerals are in 3 days." "He's not too keen to sit up all night." "But he feels obliged." "Joubert didn't have many friends." "He was rather shy." "Rather shy..." "He had reason to be." "He lived with Thérèse, and his daugh ter-in-law who made his life difficult." "He gave up." "Last week, when he was brought back from the fields, he knew it was the end." "He no longer had the strength to fight." "He was put to bed." "Then he asked Thérèse for a glass of Baco wine." "The bitch refused." ""The doctor says no." she answered" ""To the hell with him!" "You think he doesn't drink?"" ""Give me some Baco!"" ""And in a nice glass."" "He drank." ""It's delicious." he added." "He closed his eyes." "He was dead." "Joubert was buried this morning." "Day after day, he went his way, painfully." "He drank his last glass as if to say:" ""Cheers, mates." "I'm sorted out."" "He liked Old Joubert." "They had a good time together." "Long ago." "Back from threshing, they'd chase girls." "Just for fun, of course." "They were shy." "They weren't too bold." "So long ago." "Long ago." "Well, no use getting worked up about it." "Let's enjoy the present." "It's simple." "Joy comes after grief." "One day after another, and Sunday too." "He realises that time has come, that his wife is getting too old, she must take care of herself." "And soon, they will be alone, for the son is getting restless." "He won't let them down, of course." "But things will be different." "The son hasn't come." "It's the first time, on a Sunday." "Usually, he brought with him some work he had to finish." "This too had to be so." "And tomorrow, things will start again." "For in autumn, it's him that gets up first." "He's ready for the first toot, and in autumn, the first toot sounds about 7.10 in the morning."