protected function getContents(/*# string */ $path)/*# string */
    {
        // read in file
        $contents = @file_get_contents($path);

        // failed
        if (false === $contents) {
            throw new NotFoundException(
                Message::get(Message::CONFIG_FILE_NOTFOUND, $path),
                Message::CONFIG_FILE_NOTFOUND
            );
        }
        return $contents;
    }