howmuchlanddoesamanneedHOWMUCHLANDDOESAMANNEED？
ANeldersistercametovisitheryoungersisterinthecountry。Theelderwasmarriedtoatradesmanintown，theyoungertoapeasantinthevillage。Asthesisterssatovertheirteatalking，theelderbegantoboastoftheadvantagesoftownlife:sayinghowcomfortablytheylivedthere，howwelltheydressed，whatfineclothesherchildrenworewhatgoodthingstheyateanddrank，andhowshewenttothetheatre，promenades，andentertainments。
Theyoungersisterwaspiqued，andinturndisparagethelifeofatradesman，andstoodupforthatofapeasant。
’Iwouldnotchangemywayoflifeforyours，’saidshe。Wemayliveroughly，butatleastwearefreefromanxiety。Youliveinbetterstylethanwedobutthoughyouoftenearnmorethanyouneed，youareverylikelytoloseallyouhave。Youknowtheproverb，“Lossandgainarebrotherstwain。“Itoftenhappensthatpeoplewhoarewealthyonedayarebeggingtheirbreadthenext。Ourwayissafer。Thoughapeasant’slifeisnotafatone，itisalongone。Weshallnevergrowrich，butweshallalwayshaveenoughtoeat。’
Theeldersistersaidsneeringly: