Well, he is the happier for it, and so am I.That fellow was partly the cause of his mother's death.

He chose to be a commercial traveller; and the trade just suited him, for he was no sooner in the house than he wanted to be out of it; he couldn't keep in one place, and he wouldn't learn anything.

All I ask of God is that I may die before he dishonors my name.

Those who have no children lose many pleasures, but they escape great sufferings." "And these men are fathers!" thought Agathe, weeping anew.
"What I am trying to show you, my dear Madame Bridau, is that you had better let your boy be a painter; if not, you will only waste your time." "If you were able to coerce him," said the sour Desroches, "I should advise you to oppose his tastes; but weak as I see you are, you had better let him daub if he likes." "Console yourself, Agathe," said Madame Descoings, "Joseph will turn out a great man." After this discussion, which was like all discussions, the widow's friends united in giving her one and the same advice; which advice did not in the least relieve her anxieties.

They advised her to let Joseph follow his bent.
"If he doesn't turn out a genius," said Du Bruel, who always tried to please Agathe, "you can then get him into some government office." When Madame Descoings accompanied the old clerks to the door she assured them, at the head of the stairs, that they were "Grecian sages." "Madame Bridau ought to be glad her son is willing to do anything," said Claparon.
"Besides," said Desroches, "if God preserves the Emperor, Joseph will always be looked after.