ARTES
LIBRARY
1837
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
US UNUM
LE PLURIBUS
QURMA
TUEBOR
SI-QUARIS PENINSULAM-AMⱭNAM.
CIRCUMSPICE
AAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAWAS
GIFT OF
REGENT LLHUBBARD
ROBINSON
THE
YOUNGER
*
BY
Mr. CAM PE.
FROM THE GERMAN.
HAMBURGH,
printed for C. E. BOHN.
178 I,
Preface.
If the different views I had in
compoſing theſe ſheets, do not all
mifcarry, the book which I here pre
fent to the public, will be ufeful in
more than one reſpect. What theſe
views were? I'll mention in a few
words, that every one may be enabled,
to confront them with the execution;
and this will befides have the advan→
tage, to ſhew novices in the art of edu
cating the ufe, which according to
my wiſhes ſhould be made of this
book.
In
a a
IV.
1
In the first place, I intended to en-
tertain my young readers, in as
agreeable a manner as poffibly I
could; well knowing, that the hearts
of children are ever moſt ready to
receive uſeful inſtructions, when they
are pleafed and chearful: nor do I
doubt, but I have tolerably attained
this my firſt defign.
In the fecond place, I defigned to an-
nex to the thread of the narration,
which forms the bafis of this book,
fo much elemental knowledge, as
was confiftent with my firft view. By
elemental knowledge I do not ſo
much mean literary elements, as
that which ought to precede lite-
rary
V
rary or ſcientific elements; viz, all
thoſe initial ideas of things accurring
in domeftic life, in nature, and in
the extenſive circle of ordinary hu-
man activity, without which every
other inſtruction reſembles a build-
ing without foundation.
Thirdly, I intended occafionally
to infert many neceffary rudiments
of natural hiſtory, becauſe I found
them in my way. For, why inſtead
of the fictions, with which the origi-
nal hiſtory of ROBINSON is crammed,
might I not rather take true objects,
true productions and phoenomena
relative to the part of
of nature
the world in queſtion
as I could
a 3
have
VI
•
have them both at the fame price,
and they anfwer'd to the fame pur-
pofe? This is one reaſon, why I could
make no great uſe of old ROBINSON'S
history, in compofing mine. Many
more will be found hereafter.
My fourth and moſt important de-
fign was, to arrange the circumftances
and adventures fo, as to be productive
of many moral remarks, and natural
occafions for pious and religious ſen-
fations, adapted to the underſtanding
and hearts of children. This often
put me under a neceffity, to create
materials, and to deviate from the
original hiſtory,
To
VII
To uſe this book therefore only
as an exerciſe in reading for young
children, (which generally is not
their moſt agreeable occupation)
would greatly fruftrate my moſt fan-
guine wifhes; viz, to fow the feeds
of virtue, piety and refignation in
the ways of divine providence, into
the hearts of children. Grown people,
that love the converfation of children, arcto
read it to them, and give it into the bands
of those children only, as have already
acquired a competent fluency in reading.
My fifth view had reference to
the now raging epidemick, mental
diseafe, which for fome years has
cauſed fuch dreadful depredations on
a 4
all
VIII
;
all our bodily and mental faculties,
to the viſible diminution of the fum
of human joys in life. I mean that
fatal fentimental fever. Though
heaven be praiſed for it! - the rage
of this moral diſeaſe has fo far abat-
ed, as to be no longer a peftilence
that deftroys at noon day, becauſe no
one dares any longer wear that ſhield
of affected fenfibility openly. But
nevertheleſs it remains to this very
day, a diftemper lurking in the dark,
and like other fhameful diftempers,
ooter piller
is preying on the health of the human
foul. Nothing affected me more than
to fee, how fome were endeavouring
to infuſe the ſweet flattering poifon
of this fickneſs into our offfpring,
def and on race
which
IX
**
which would have render'd the next
generation just as fickly in mind and
body, as enervated, as diffatisfied with
themſelves, with the world, and with
heaven, as the prefent. Whilft I
was confidering what might prove
the moſt efficacious antidote againſt
this contagion, my mind was ftruck
with the idea of a book, that might
be an antipode to the over affected
fentimental books of our times; a
book that might reclaim the minds
of children from that chimerical ar-
cadia, which exifts no where, and to
which they are allured by fome and
bring them back to that world we real-
ly live in, and from thence to the origi-
nal ſtate of humanity, from which we
have
་་
a 5
X
dissuad
have deviated; a book, which might
awaken and ſtrengthen many a dor-
mant, phyfical and moral faculty of
man; a book, indeed as entertaining
and attractive as any other, though
not like fo many others, merely for
idle contemplations and trifling emo-
tions, but what led to immediate acti-
vity; a book, that might direct the in-
clination which young children have
to imitate every thing they fee or
hear, (which inclination is the firſt
that arifes in us) ftract to thoſe ob
jects, which properly belong to our
deftination, I mean to inventions
and occupations to fupply our natural
wants; a book, which fhew'd the con-
traft between theſe natural wants of
man,
XI
gaiſir
man, and thofe that are artificial and
imaginary only, between the true re,
lations, things bear to our happi-
neſs, and thoſe that are merely fan-
taſtic and chimerical; a book, in fine,
in which young and old might lay
hold of the felicity of focial life as it
were with their hands, notwith-
ſtanding all its wants and unavoida
ble limitations; a book, which might
encourage every one to be fatisfied
with his condition, to exert every
focial virtue, and to fhow his inmoft
gratitude to divine providence.
Whilft I was thinking on the ex-
cellent ideal of fuch a book, and an-
xiously looking about for a man that
might
XII
might give it us; I recollected, that
Rouſſeau (peace be with his great de-
parted foul!) once wifhed for fuch a
book and how did my pulfe beat!-
had partly diſcovered it. Inftantly I
ran for the fecond volume of his
Emile, looked for the agreeable hint,
and found it again in theſe words:
,,Should there not be fome means;
to concentrate fo many precepts, di-
fperfed in fo many different books,
and to unite them under one common
fubject, which were eafy to look over,
uſeful to purſue, and which might
eperon
ferve as a fpur, even to the prefent
age? If a fitúation could be found,
in which all the natural wants of man,
were
XIII
were diſplayed and feen in a manner,
fuitable and adapted to the infant
mind, and in which the means to
ſupply theſe wants were by inge-
Trouver
nuity and a lively imagination hit
rencontra
upon and diſcovered; the natural and
animated defcription of ſuch a fitua-
tion would give a child occafion to
exert the power of his imagination.,,
„Zealous philofopher, I fee your
imagination already inflamed; don't
put yourſelf to any expence; this
fituation is found, is defcribed al-
ready, and without depreciating your
merit, much better than you would
have done, at leaſt with more truth
and fimplicity. As we muſt needs
have
XEV
K
have books, there exilts one, which
in my opinion, is the most fuccefs ful
treatiſe of a natural education. This
ſhall be the firſt book for my Emile to
read in; it will for a long time be his
whole library and always have a con--
fiderable place in it. It will be the
text, to which all our converfations
of natural fciences will ferve as expla-
nations and comments. It will ferve
as a touch-ftone to our imagination,
and as long as our taſte be uncorrupt-
ed, the reading of it will always
pleaſe us. Which then,
wonderful book be? -
is it Pliny, is it Buffon?
ROBINSON CRusoe.,,
may this
Is it Ariftotle,
No, it is
Ro-
XV
<1
ROBINSON CRUSOE, alone in his
ifland, without the leaſt aſſiſtance of
every inftrument of Art "), is never-
theleſs buſy in providing for his ſub-
fiftence, for his prefervation, and
even procures to himſelf a very com-
fortable ftate of life. This is an im-
portant object for every age, and
there are a thouſand means of ren-
dering it agreeable to children: im-
perceptibly, we give a real exiſtence
to the deſert iſland, which at firſt
ferved me as a compariſon only.
This
Old
Julie, instrument
In this Mr. Rouſſeau is miſtaken.
Robinfon had fayed a number of tools
from the wreck, wheras our younger
Robinson had nothing but his hands
and his head, to procure himſelf fubfi
ftence.
1
XVI
This fituation, I confefs, is not that
of a ſocial man; and probably will
never be Emile's: but he is to take a
true eſtimate of all other fituations
from that helpleſs condition. The
fureft means of raifing one's felfabovė
any prejudice, and of framing one's
judgment according to the true
proportions of things, is to place
one's felf in the fituation of an in-
dividual, and to judge of every thing
fo, as fuch a man would have done
in regard to his own intereft.,,
,,This novel then,, difencumbered
babie, caquet
of all its fuperfluous chat, beginning
at ROBINSON's fhipwreck near his
inland, and ending with the arrival
of
XVII
chure
of the fhip he embarks in, will du
ring the time in queftion here, be
Emile's amufement and inftruction.
I'll have his head turn giddy with it,
fee him busy with his caftle, goats
and plantations, I'll have him learn
minutely, not from books, but from
the things themſelves, what to do in
the like cafe. Let him fancy himſelf
in ROBINSON's place, cloathed, like
him, in ſkins, wearing a great cap,
a broad fword at his fide, with all the
odd equipage of the picture, even to
the umbrella, which he'll never want.
I'll have him be anxious about the
meaſures he is to take, in cafe he
fhould come to want one or the other
of theſe things; I'll have him exa-
mine
b
XVIII
mine the conduct of his hero,
examine whether he has not ne-
glected any thing; whether he might
not have ordered fome things bet-
ter; I'll have him be a ſtrict ob-
ferver of all ROBINSON'S faults, and
learn how to avoid them, were he in
the fame fituation. For there is not
the leaft doubt of his forming fuch a
plan to himſelf. This is the true
caſtle in the air, of that, happy age,
in which no other happineſs is known,
than to poffefs what is neceffary and
to enjoy freedom.
What refources this fiction af-
fords an able man, who invented it
only for the moft laudable purpoſes!
The
.
XIX
The child, forced to make a ſtore,
houfe for his ifland, will be more
eager in learning, than his maſter in
teaching. He will be defirous of
knowing all what is and may be uſe-
ful, and defire no more. There will
be no need of leading him any longer,
but only to check him in his way. -
The performance of the natural arts,
to which one man alone will be fuf-
master 100 quintion
ficient, leads to the inveſtigation of
thofe arts of induſtry and ſkill,
which require the affiftance of many
hands.,,
Thus far Rouffeau.
And has this wonderful book, we
hitherto feemed to want, been in the
b 2
world
XX
world theſe many years?
Yes!
and no! According as either the
chief idea, or the intire execution of
fuch a book be meant. The for-
mer (which Rouffeau fpeaks of,)
does exift, has long exifted, and
its title is ROBINSON CRUSOE; but
alas the latter is ftill wanting. For I
think it is needlefs to obferve, that
fo much prolix, fuperfluous chat,
strain, faire des efforts s'affer
that fullfome overſtrained ſtyle, andar
regoulant I a
hors & usuga
that obfolete and often faulty lan-
guage of our old german tranflations,
are in no wife defirable qualities, of
a book for children, no more than
its defects in regard to morality.
Befides this, we find fomething in
the hiſtory of old ROBINSON, which
de,
XXI
deftroys one of the chief advantages,
that might have been attained by that
hiſtory; I mean ROBINSON's being
provided, with all the neceffary euro-
pean inftruments to procure him
many of thoſe conveniencies, which
focial life affords among civilized
people. By this, the great advan-
tage of giving a young reader a
ftriking picture of all the wants of a
folitary man, and of the many bleffings
of fociety, is entirely loft. This is
another reaſon, why I thought fit to
deviate from the original Robinſon,
I therefore devided the whole hi-
ſtory of my young ROBINSON's ſtay
in his iſland, into three periods. In
b 3
the
:
XXII
the first, I would have him quite
alone, without any of the european.
ang, Handhaltung führen.
utenfils, ſhifting for himſelf, by the
only means of his underſtanding and
hands, to fhow how helpless a folitary
man is; and then, how much think-
ing and continued endeavours are
able to contribute to the amendment
of our fituation. In the fecond I
gave
him a companion, to fhew, how much
the fituation of man, may be im
proved by fociety alone. Finally in
the third, an european fhip is caft
away upon his ſhore, to provide him
with utenfils and moft, of the necef-
oncherr
faries of life, to enhance the value
of fo many things, which we con-
fider as trifles, becauſe we never felt
the
XXIII
the want of them. This first volume
then, contains the folitary life of
young ROBINSON, and the fecond the
continuation and conclufion of the
hiſtory.
Before I leave my readers, I take
the liberty to make young pedago-
gues attentive to a fecondary inten-
tion, which in the execution of this
work feemed very important to me,
viz: to give commencing tutors, by
true family ſcenes, an interefting
example of the relation between pa-
rents and children, and which ought
likewife to fubfift between the in-
ftructor and his pupil. This relation,
once well etablifhed, many of thofe
ob-
XXIV
obftacles, ufually attending on edu-
cation will vaniſh of themſelves: but
where it is not, well, then re-
courſe muſt be had to the compaſs
of education, the deviations of which
are fo manifold, and not yet all fuf-
ficiently fixed by obfervations.
Laftly, this is the reafon, why I
rather choſe to introduce real than
fictious perfons, and to tranfcribe real
than compofe artificial dialogues.
Ro-
Robinson
1
the Younger.
Th
here lived once a numerous family, con-
fifting of little folks and grown people.
Thefe were clofely united together,
partly by the ties of nature and partly by mu-
tual love. The father and mother of the fa-
mily loved them all as their own children,
tho' Charlotte alone, the leaft of them, was
their real daughter; and two friends of the
houfe, R. and B., did the fame. They lived
in the country, not far from the gates of
Hamburgh.
The motto of this family was: Pray and
work! and none of them knew any other hap-
pineſs of life, but what flowed from the ac-
complishment of this precept. But during
their daily work and after it was done,
every one of them wifhed to hear fomething,
that might contribute to render them more
fenfible, wifer and better; then the father
would tell them hiftories, tales &c. and the
little folks hearkened to him with great at-
tention.
A
The
2
1
The following hiftory of ROBINSON THE
YOUNGER, is one of thofe evening tales.
As it was probable, there might be more
good children, who defired to hear, or to
read this remarkable hiftory: he wrote it
down and two thoufand copies of it were
printed.
The book, my good child, you now have
in your hands, is one of them, and you may
therefore directly begin at the following page,
if you chufe it.
""
But I had like to have forgot what prece-
ded, this narration! Won't you tell us
fomething now, father?,, faid Theophilus,
on a fine fummer's evening. ,,Moft wil-
lingly!,, was the anfwer;,,but it were a pity,
to pass fuch a fine evening in doing nothing,
but looking through the windows. Come, let
us fit down on the green!,,
Oh that's fine, very fine! they all cried,
running out of doors as fast as they could.
FIRST
3
************00000000000000000000
FIRST EVENING.
Here Papa?
THEOPHILUS.
FATHER.
Ay, here under this apple-tree.
1
Oh excellent!
NICOLAS.
ALL.
Excellent! most excellent!
(Jumping about, and clapping their hands.)
FATHER.
But what do you think to do, whilſt I am
telling you a ftory, fure you won't chufe, to
fit there quite idle?
JOHN.
Ay, if we had but fomething to do.
poio MOTHER,
hanios.
Here are peafe to fhell! Here are french
Banner de, contes
beans to ſtring; who will have any?
ALL.
I! I! I! I!
THEOPHILUS.
I and my Charlotte, and you Frederic, will
fhell peafe, fhan't we?
A 2
CHAR-
4
CHARLOTTE.
No, by your leave, I muft first make the
braidftitch, Mama fhewed me.
THEOPHILUS.
Well, we two then! Come Frederic, fit
you down.
FRIEND R.
I'll work with you.
(Sitting down by them on the graſs.)
FRIEND B.
And I with you; ſhan't I?
DICK.
Oh yes! yes! here is room enough yet. That's
excellent! Now we'll fee, who can ſtring moſt!
FATHER.
Place yourſelves fo, that you may fee the
fun go down, it will be a glorious fight this
evening. (all fit down and begin their work.)
FATHER.
Now my children, I will tell you a very
wonderful ftory, at times, your hair will ftand
on end, and then your hearts will exult again
with delight.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh but don't let it be too mournful!
CHARLOTTE.
No, not too mournful; d'ye hear, Papa?
otherwiſe it will certainly make us weep, and
then we can't help it.
JOHN.
S
JOHN.
Well, have done! Papa will know what he
is about.
FATHER.
Fear nothing, my children; I'll make it fo,
that it fhall not be too mournful.
There lived once a man in the city of Ham-
burgh, whose name was ROBINSON. He had
three fons, The eldest of which was fond
of a military life, got himſelf enliftened, and
was killed in a battle againſt the french.
The fecond applied to learning; one day
being overheated, he drank a cold draught,
got a confumption and died of it.
he
Now there only remained the youngest, called
CRUSOE, I don't know why. On him Mr. and
Mrs. Robinfon placed all their hopes
rada
being now their only child; they doated on
him to excefs, but their love was not con-
fiftent with reafon.
THEOPHILUS.
What's the meaning of that, Papa?
FATHER.
You fhall hear. We love you alfo, you
know; but for that very reafon we encourage
you to work, and teach you many agreeable and
ufeful things, because we know, it will ren-
der you good and happy. But CRUSOE's parents
did not fo. Their darling fon had his own will
in every thing he did, and now, as he rather
A 3
choſe
chofe to play, than work and learn, he was
allowed to play almoft the whole day and fo he
learned little or nothing. This is, what fen-
fible people call unreafonable love.
THEOPHILUS.
Ay! now I underſtand.
FATHER.
Thus, young ROBINSON grew up, and no-
body knew, what he would be good for. His
father wished he might apply to trade, but he
had no liking to it. He faid, he would rather
travel through the wide world, that he might
fee and hear many new things every day.
But this was foolishly fpoken of the young
man. Nay, if he had been diligent in learning,
it would have done! But what could an igno-
rant boy, like this CRUSOE, do in the wide
world? If a man intends to make his fortune
in foreign countries, he must first acquire a
great deal of knowledge, and that was, what
he had not yet thought of.
He was now already feventeen years
af
age,
and had spent most of his time with running
about. Every day he tormented his father to
give him leave to travel; his father anſwered
he was a fool, and that he would hear nothing
of it. Son! fon! his mother would cry, ftay
in thy country and get an honeft livelyhood.
One day
CHAR-
7
CHARLOTTE.
Now! we fhall have it!
NICOLAS.
Oh be quiet now!
FATHER.
задина,
One day, when according to his custom, he
was loitering about the port, he met with one of *.
his comrades, who was fon to a captain of a gaudon
fhip, and just ready to go with his father to
London.
In a coach?
FREDERIC.
DICK.
No, Frederic, to go to London they must
crofs a large water, on board of a ship, which
water is called the North - Sea.
Papa?
FATHER.
Well
if he would go
His comrade aſked him
along with him? With all my heart, anfwered
CRUSOE, but my parents will not let me! Why,
faid the other, come along with us, for fport's
fake! We shall be back again in three week's
time, and you may fend word to your parents
what's become of you.
,,But I have no money about me!,, faid
CRUSOE,,That does not fignify,,, anfwered
the other;,,I'll pay your expences.,,
Young ROBINSON hefitated a few moments;
then took his comrade by the hand and cried
A 4
out:
1
Loull rayon.
8
out:,,Done! I'll go with you, my boy! come
let's quickly on board!,, He then got fome
body, to tell his father fome hours after: that
4.broncade, he had only taken a trip over to England and
Lang pas, gliff would foon return. And now these two friends
went together on board.
+.
JOHN.
Fy: I don't like this ROBINSON.
1
NICOLAS.
}
Nor I neither.
FRIEND B.
JOHN.
But why not, pray?
Why, becauſe he can go away from his pa-
rents, without their leave.
FRIEND B.
You are right, John, it was indeed very
ftupid of him; and we muft pity his ftupidity.
It is well, there are not many young folks,
fo ftupid as not to know their duty to their
parents.
NICOLAS.
Are there any more fuch, think you.
FRIEND B.
1, for my part, never met with any but this
I know for certain, that fuch young fimple
fellows, who forget what they owe to their
parents, can never profper in the world.
JOHN.
JOHN.
Well, let us hear, what happened to Ro-
binſon.
FATHER.
The failors. or the ſhip's crew weighed, die höhe
anchor, and hoifted the fails, and when the wind fb, zi, ing
filled them, the captain took his leave of the
ú.d.y.
town by firing fix guns. Young ROBINSON,
being on deck with his friend, was almoft be-
fide himself with joy, that he was at laſt going
to fee the world.
The day was very fine, and the wind fo
favourable, that in a fhort time they loft fight
of the city of Hamburgh. The next day, they
arrived off Ritzebuttle, where the Elb falls into
the fea, and now they entered into the open fea.
How ROBINSON ftared, when he faw
nothing but the fky and water before him!
The land, he came from, began to difap-
pear by degrees. Now he could fee nothing
more of it but the large beacon, which Ham-
burgh entertains on the island of Helgoland.
This alfo difappeared in a fhort time, and
now he faw nothing but the fky above him
and water on all fides.
THEOPHILUS.
What a fight that must be!
FRIEND R.
May be you'll fee it in a fhort time.
A S
THEO
IO
1
THEOPHILUS.
Oh fhall we go and fee it?
FRIEND R.
If you be very attentive in your geographi-
cal leffons, and learn, what roads to keep, in
going from one place to another
FATHER.
Ay, and if by working and temperance in
eating and drinking you harden your conftitu-
tions every day, fo, that you may be able to
bear fuch a journey, we may one day or other
take a tour to Travemund on the baltic-fea -
Oh! Oh!
ALL.
FATHER.
There we go on board a fhip, and fail a
couple of Miles out at fea.
(Here they all jumped up from the ground, embraced
the father's neck, arms and, knees, exprelling
their joy by careffes, clapping with their hands,
hopping and jumping about.)
MOTHER.
Won't you take me along with you?
CHARLOTTE.
Ay, if you can walk fo far!
very far is n't it, Papa?
But it is
perhaps farther
than Wansbeck, where Mr. Claudius lives,
and another, who has a large houfe and
garden- oh fo large, fo large! much larger
than
II
than our garden; I have been there already,
have n't I, Papa? when we were looking about
the fields, for fine colour'd ftones and
FATHER.
glauf'I
Where we faw how the people plough'd.-
CHARLOTTE.
Ay, and where we went into the fmith's-
fhop, by the road-fide-
FATHER.
Ay, and where we mounted up to the
windmill
hat
CHARLOTTE.
Ah, yes! where the wind carried away my
FATHER. aller quérir
Which the miller's boy fetch'd back for you.
CHARLOTTE.
That was a very good boy, was n't he,
Papa?
FATHER.
A very good boy, indeed, who was fo ready
to do us a favour, altho' he' had never feen us
before!
CHARLOTTE.
You gave him fomething, didn't you, Papa?--
FATHER,
To be fure, I did! Every one likes to oblige
and reward good people, who behave kindly
towards us But we are forgetting our Ro-
BINSON; we muſt make hafte to overtake him,
other-
12
otherwife we fhall lofe fight of him. For his
fhip fails exceedingly faft!
Weather and wind continued fine and fa-
vourable for two days. On the third the ſky
became cloudy. It grew dark and ftill darker,
and the wind began to blow moft violently.
Now it lightened fo, as if the whole ky
was on fire; then it grew again as dark as at
midnight and the thunder did not ceafe to
roar. The rain rushed down like a torrent,
and a moft dreadful ftorm agitated the fea in
fuch a manner, that the waves rofe higher
than houſes.
There you fhould have feen, how the fhip
rolled up and down! One wave carried her up
to the fky, another precipitated her again as it
were into an abyfs; a while fhe lay on one
fide, then again on the other
agrfito
Such a noife in the rigging! Such a cracking
in the whole thip! The people were obliged
to hold themſelves, for fear of falling every
moment. ROBINSON not ufed.to all this, grew
dizzy, began to puke and grew fo fick, that
he thought he fhould have died. This they
call fea - fick.
avoir quire de vorur
JOHN.
Now he got his deferts!
FATHER.
,, Oh my dear parents! my poor parents!,,
he now cried by turns,,,you will never fee
me
13
!
me again! Oh what a wretch I was, to afflict
you fo!,, Crack! crack! went the fhip all of
a fudden. ,, Heaven have mercy upon us!,,
cried the failors, turning pale as death, and
wringing their hands in defpair. What's the
matter?,, cried ROBINSON, almoft frightened
to death.
>>
,,Alas! we are loft!,, they cried,,,a flaſh of
lightning has split our foremaft, and our main-
maft is quite loofe too, fo that it must be cut
down and flung over board.
""
laum
,,We are loft!,, cried another voice, from the fore cale.
hold, the hip has fprung a leak, and there
is already four foot water in the hold!,,
ROBINSON who fat in the cabin on the floor,
at these words, fell into a fit. All hands ran
to the pumps, if poflible, to keep the ſhip above
water. At laft a failor came to him and gave
him a hearty flake and cried: What! will you
alone lie idle here, while all the reft of us are
working themselves to death?
He then got up, weak as he was, and went
to one of the pumps. In the mean time the
captain ordered fome guns to be fired, to give
the fignal of diftrefs to any veffel, that might
happen to be near. ROBINSON, who knew
not the reafon of it, thought the hip had
burft, and fainted away again. A failor, who
took his place, kicked him afide and left him
for dead.
donner un coup de pict
They
14
They pumped with all their might; but
the water in the hold encreafed fo much,
that every moment it was thought, the ship
wou'd founder. In order to lighten her, they
flung every thing they could ſpare over
board, as: guns, bales, cafks &c. but all to
no purpoſe.
In the mean time another fhip had heard
the fignal of diftrefs, and fent a boat, to fave
the crew, if poffible. But the boat could not
come near the fhip, becauſe the waves went
too high, by which it was fo violently toft
about, that it was in the greatest danger of
being overfet, yet thefe good-natured people
chofe rather to venture their own lives, than
leave their fellow-creatures without any affi-
ftance.
NICLAS.
Theſe people were certainly from Hamburg
too?
FATHER.
What makes you think fo?
NICLAS.
Because they were fo ready to affift this
Hamburg-Veffel, and even ventured their lives
for her fake!
FATHER.
Muft we then affift our country-men only?,
fure, that is not your meaning, dear Niclas!
fuppofe a man from America fhould juſt now
fall
15
étang
fall into our pond: fhould we ſtand and ak
him firft, where he came from? fhould not
we all jump up rather to fave him? Well.
the people in the boat had the fame humanity,
tho' they were neither Hamburgers, nor
Europeans, nor Chriſtians, but turks from
Smirna, which city is fituated in Afia.
JOHN.
I did not think turks had been fuch good
people?
FATHER.
Dear John, you will learn more and more.
There are good people among all nations and
in all countries, the fame as there has now
and then been a wicked fellow among all nations
and in all countries!
+1
ве
Thefe brave people ftrove a long while in vain
against thoſe high rolling mountains of water,
which every moment threaten'd to free them
and their boat. At laſt however, they came
fo near a fern, that by means of a rope, they pouppe,
hauled the boat to the fhip, and then every que & un
one of the ship's company jumped in; ROBIN-rir ou d'un
SON, unable to ftand, was thrown in by fome loup.
compaffionate failors.mur. das große Thou boo dißt are 120
They had ſcarce rowed four cables length leapten lang.
from the fhip, when they faw her founder.
Happily for them, the ftorm began now to
abate a little elfe the boat with all the people
in it would certainly have been swallowed
Fuß
up
16
up by the waves. At laft, after many
dangers, they reached the fhip, where they
were all taken on board.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh I am very glad, the poor people are
not drowned!
FREDERIC.
I was in great fear for them.
CHARLOTTE.
This will teach mafter ROBINSON, to be
more prudent for the future.
MOTHER.
I think fo too; now he will grow wifer.
DICK.
But what became of him, now he was on
board of the other fhip?
FATHER.
The fhip, which had taken him and all his
comrades on board, was bound for London.
Four days after they made the mouth of the
Thames and foon after they came to an anchor at
London.
FREDERIC.
Pray what is the mouth of the Thames?
FRIEND R.
The Thames is a river, like our Elb, falling
into the fea not far from London. The place,
where a river falls into the fea, is called the
mouth of that river.
FATHER.
A
17
FATHER.
They now all went afhore, and every one
was greatly rejoiced to have come off fo
well.
ROBINSON'S chief buſineſs now was, to fee
the great city of London, and he was fo taken
with it, that he forgot the paft and the future.
At laft his ftomach put him in mind, that to
live in the great city of London, he muſt alſo
eat and drink. He therefore went to his
captain and begged his leave to dine with
him.
This man received him with great hofpita-
lity. Whilft they were at table, he aſked our
ROBINSON the proper reafon of his coming
to London, and what he now intended to do
there?
ROBINSON then frankly told him, that he
was only come for pleafure, and even without
the knowledge of his parents, and that he
knew not what to do now.
"Without the Knowledge of your parents,,,
cried the captain in a fright, whilft the knife
dropt from his hand. ,,Good God, why was
not I fooner aprifed of this!,,,,Believe me,
thoughtless young man,,, continued he,,,had
I known this, at Hamburgh, I would not have
taken you on board, tho' you had offered me a
million for your paffage!,,
B
•
AL
18
All this while ROBINSON fat quite afhamed,
his eyes caft down.
The honeft captain continued to reprefent
to him the great wrongs, he had done, faying:
he was affured that he could never profper,
till he mended and had the forgiveness of
bis parents. ROBINSON fhed bitter tears.
But what can I do now? faid he at laſt, ſub-
bing anglotter
,,Do?,, anſwered the captain; ,,why!
you muſt return to your parents, embrace their
knees, and with filial repentance, beg their
pardon for your inconfiderate behaviour.,,
CHARLOTTE.
That was a brave and honeft man, that cap-
tain; was n't he, Papa?
FATHER.
#1
He did what every one ought to do, when
#/vom unifty he fees his fellow-creature go aftray; he re-
Ming nulfred minded the young man of his duty.
,,Will you take me back with you, to Ham-
bro' again?,, faid ROBINSON.
,,I?,, anfwered the captain ;,,have you then
forgot, that my fhip is loft? I fhall not return
before I have got another, and this will takė
up more time than you are allowed to ſtay here.
You muſt return to Hamburgh, by the very
firft veffel, that fails thither, and that the foo-
ner the better. "
,,But I have no money!,, faid ROBINSON.
,,Here,,,
19
„Here,,, anſwered the captain,,,are fome
guineas for you - „,
THEOPHILUS.
Pray, what are guineas?
FATHER.
Engliſh money, my dear; Gold-coin, like
our Lewisd'ors, of about fix dollars value; l'u
fhow you one, when we go in.
JOHN.
Oh but let us continue!
FATHER.
,,Here,,, answered the brave captain,,,are
fome guineas for you, which I'll lend you, tho'
I am in great need of money myſelf. Take
them and go to the harbour, and befpeak a
place on board a fhip. If you fincerely re-
pent, God will grant you a fafer return, than
our voyage hither has been.
Upon which
he ſhook him heartily by the hand, and wiſhed
him a fafe return.
ROBINSON Went away
NICOLAS.
""
Oh now he is returning home again? I
thought we were to have fome adventures firſt !
MOTHER.
Are n't you glad, dear Nicolas, to ſee him
returning home to his parents, who probably
are in great trouble for him?
B 2
FRIEND
20
FRIEND R.
And don't you rejoice to fee him repent of
his wrongs and that he promiſes to mend?
NICOLAS.
O yes, I do; but I thought the moft enter-
taining part was yet to come.
FATHER.
He is not yet at home; let us hear, what-
further happened to him!
""
On his way to the harbour, an hundred
thoughts ran thro' his head. What will my
parents fay?,, thought he,,,when I come.
home again. They will certainly correct me,
for having run away! And as to my comrades
and play-fellows, how will they laugh at my
returning fo foon, when I have feen no more
than a couple of ſtreets in London!,,
He stopt fhort in his walk, his head filled
with thoughts.
He now thought, he would not return yet;
but then he recollected again, what the captain
had told him: that he would never profper,
unleſs he returned to his parents and obtained
their pardon. He was for a long while in
fufpence, what to do? At last however, he
went to the harbour.
There he heard, to his inexpreffible joy,
that there was then no fhip in loading for
Hamburgh. The man, who informed him of
this, belonged to a Guinea-trader
சர்
FRE-
KAKO
ái
1
FREDERIC.
What is a Guinea-trader?
FATHER.
Let Dick tell you, he'll know, what it is.
DICK.
Don't you remember, there is a country, called
Africa? well, one fea-coaft of it.
Coaft!
FREDERIC.
DICK.
Ay, or the land cloſe to the fea - Lookee,
I have juft my little maps about me! This
tract of land here, winding down this way,
is called the coaft of Guinea.
FATHER.
And the fhips, that fail thither, are Guinea-
Men. And the Man, Robinfon fpoke with, was
captain of fuch a fhip.
This Captain liked ROBINSON's converfation,
and invited him to drink a diſh of tea with him
an board; which Robinfon confented to.
+1
JOHN.
Could that captain fpeak German then?
FATHER.
I forgot to tell you, that ROBINSON had got x./ mir going
afmattering of the english already inHamburgh,
von
unsched
which now, he being in England, was very hard.
ufeful to him.
The captain hearing of his great inclination
to travel, and that he was loath to returne. #) Avoir a-
B 3
home version pour
glet:
22
J
home fo foon, made him the propofal, to fail
with him to Guinea. ROBINSON at firſt ſtarted
at the thought of it. But when the captain.
affured him, that the voyage was very agreea-
ble, and that he fhould go as a companion
with him, without paying any thing, and that
poffibly he might be a gainer by this voyage;
the blood rushed into his face, and his defire
of travelling became fo violent, that he
forgot all the good counfel, which the honeft
Hamburgh captain had given him, and what
a few minutes before he himfelf had refolved
to do.
,,But,,, faid hê, after having paufed a lit-
tle,,,I have but three guineas. What can
I buy for fo little money, to trade with at the
place we are going to?,
23
22
anfwered
I'll lend you fix guineas more,
the captain.,, For this Money you may buy fo
many goods, as will be fufficient for you to
become a rich man in Guinea; if fortune fa-
vours us ever fo little.
„And what ſhall I then buy for my nine
guineas?,, faid ROBINSON.
all
And
The captain anfwered: mere trifles,
forts of toys, glafsbeads, knives, ciffors,"
#hatchets, ribbands, firelocks &c. -
wehr. Theß the blacks of Guinea are fo fond of all theſe
Schloß
am Brunnge things, that they will give you an hundred
Feuringer
times the Value of them in gold-duft, ivory
and other valuable things.,,
али
историю
Now
23
Now Robinſon could refift no longer, he
forgot his parents, friends and country, and
joyfully cried out:,,I'll go with you, captain.,,
,,Done!,, anfwered the other; and fo they
ſtruck hands, and the voyage was refolved upon.
JOHN.
Well! now I'll have no more compaffion
with this ftupid ROBINSON, tho' he ſhould be
ever fo miferable.
FATHER.
No compaffion, John.
JOHN.
No, Papa; why is he fo ftupid, as to forget
his duty to his parents again. God almighty
muft certainly punifh him again for fuch wicked-
nefs.
FATHER.
And don't you think that fuch an unlucky
perfon, who can fo forget his parents, and
whom God-Almighty muft correct by punish-
ments, deſerves no compaffion? I allow, that
he is the caufe of all he is going to fuffer
again, but is he not the more unfortunate for
it? Oh my fon, God preferve you and us all,
from the most dreadful of all fufferings, which
is: to be confcious of having been the caufe of
one's own mifery! But when ever we hear of
fuch a wretch, we will reflect, that he is our
brother, our poor deluded brother, and we
will fhed a tear of compaffion and brotherly
interceffion to heaven for him.
B 4
All
24
All were filent for fome moments, when the
father continued as follows
ROBINSON made now all poffible hafte to town.
with his nine 'guineas, for which he bought
the things, the captain had adviſed him, and
fent them on board.
Some days after, the wind proving favou-
rable, the captain ordered the anchor to be
weighed, and thus they failed away from
London.
DICK.
What way were they then to take, in
order to fail for Guinea?
FATHER.
You have your little maps by you there;
come I'll fhew you! D'ye fee here, from Lon-
don they fail down the Thames, into the North.
fea; then they fteer weftward thro' the ftraits
of Calais into the channel. From this, they
enter the Atlantic - Ocean and continue their
voyage, fteering here by the Canaries and
there by Cape Verd islands, till at laft they come
to this coaft here, below which is that of
Guinea.
DICK.
But what place will they land at?
FATHER.
Perhaps there, near Cape- Corfe, which be-
longs to the Engliſh.
/ Mo-
25
MOTHER.
But I think, it is alfo time for us to fail,
and to fteer towards the table. The fun has
been down a good while.
THEOPHILUS.
I am not at all hungry yet.
CHARLOTTE.
I would rather hear the ftory continued.
FATHER.
To morrow, to morrow, my children, you
fhall hear what further happened to our Ro
Now to ſupper!
BINSON.
ALL.
To fupper! to fuppert
B 5
SE-
26
00:000000:0:0:00
SECOND EVENING.
The
he next evening, when all the company
had affembled and were again feated in
the fame place, the Father refumed his ftory
as follows:
This new voyage of our ROBINSON again
proved very profperous at first. They had
already without any accident paffed the ftraits
of Calais and the Channel and were now in
the Atlantic-Ocean. Here the Wind blew for
many days, fo contrary, that they were conti-
nually driven towards America.
Lookee, Children, I have brought a large
map with me, on this you can ſee more di-
ftinctly than upon a little one, what way the
fhip was to take, and whither fhe was driven
by contrary winds. Here down this way they
intended to fail, but the wind being contrary,
they were, againſt their will, driven to where
you fee America. I'll fix the map againſt that
tree, fo that, if neceffary, we may eafily caft
an eye upon it.
One evening the mate cried, that he faw a
fire at a great diſtance, and at the fame time,
they heard fome guns fired. All ran now upon
deck, faw the fire at a distance, and likewife
heard the report of feveral guns more.
The
captain
27
captain examined his fea-map, and found, that
there could be no land at a hundred miles di-
ftance; therefore they all were of opinion
that it was a fhip on fire.
They immediately refolved to lend thefel
unfortunate people all poffible affiſtance, and
directed their courfe towards them. They
could foon very diftinétly fee, what they at
first had fuppofed; for they now perceived a
large veffel all in a blaze.
The captain ordered five guns to be inftantly
fired, to acquaint thefe poor fufferers, that a
fhip was near, and haftening to their relief.
The guns were fcarce fired, when, with terror,
they beheld the burning fhip fly up into the
air, with a dreadful report, and foon after all
was funk, and the fire extinguiſh'd: for the
flame had got to the powder-room of the fhip.
What was become of the unhappy people,
was yet a fecret. It was poffible, that they
had faved themſelves in their boats, before
the fhip blew up; therefore the captain con-
tinued firing his guns all night, to let the
poor people know, where about the fhip was,
that wished to relieve them. He alfo ordered
all the Lanthorns to be hung out, that they
might fee the fhip At break of day they
actually discovered by means of their teleſcope,
two boats full of people, toffed up and down
by the waves, rowing towards the fhip with
all their might, the wind blowing in their
teeth.
28.
teeth. The captain immediately ordered a flag
to be hoifted as a fignal of their being feen by
the fhip, which haftened to their relief, and
making all the fail they could, joined them in
half an hour.
+
These unhappy people confifting of fixty
perfons, men, women and children were all
taken on board. It was a moving fcene to
behold thefe poor people, when they faw them-
felves in fafety! Some wept aloud for joy;
others roared for fear, as if the danger was
but beginning; fome were feen jumping about
the deck like madmen; others. pale as death,
were wringing their hands; fome were
4/ kogubly,
rably laughing, dancing and fouting ke crazy
in Roeſe
people; others on the contrary, ftood dumb
and lifelefs, and were unable to utter one
word.
bull.
Now fome of them fell on their knees, lifting
up their hands to heaven, and thanked God
Almighty aloud, whofe providence had fo
miraculouſly preferved them.
Then they jumped up again, hopped about
like children, tore their cloaths, wept, fainted
away and could fcarce be recalled into life.
Even the most unfeeling failor could not help
f'hedding a ſympathifing tear at this fight.
Amongſt theſe unfortunate people there was
alfo a clergyman, who of all others behaved
moft manly and with dignity. At his firft
fiep upon deck, he laid himself flat down upon
his
29
his face, and feemed quite lifelefs.
The
captain, believing him in a fit, ftept up to
him, to lend him affiftance; but the clergyman
'mpil
with the greateſt compofure thanked him for al tranquilità
his compaffion, and faid:,, Give me leave to
thank my creator firft for our prefervation;
and then I fhall alfo tell you how much I
acknowledge your compaffion with the warmeft
thanks.,, The captaing refpectfully ftept back.
Having remained for fome minutes in that
pofture, he chearfully arofe, went up to the
captain and heartly thanked him too. Here
upon he turned to his companions, exhorting
them to make their minds eafy, that they
might the better raife their thoughts unto the
Lord, as their bountiful preferver, to whom
they owed the unexpected prefervation of
their lives; and his exhortations had a good
effect on many of them.
He then related, who they were, and what
had happened to them.
Their fhip had been a large french merchant-
man, bound for Quebeck look here for
this place in America The firé had broke
out in the fteerage, and had burnt with fuch
violence, that is was impoffible for them to ex-
tinguifh it; they even had fearce had time
enough to fire fome guns, and to fave them-
felves into their boats.
In this fituation none of them had known
what would be-their fate at laft. It was moft
probable,
30
probable, they fhould all be buried in the
waves by the leaſt ſtorm, or be ftarved for
want of provifions, because they had only
bad time to provide themfelves with bread
and water from the burning ſhip, for a couple
of days.
FREDERIC.
What need had they to take in water, being
furrounded with it on all fides?
FATHER.
You have forgot, dear Frederic, that fea-
water is fo falt and bitter that no body can
drink it.
Ay! Ay!
FREDERIC.
FATHER.
In this dreadful fituation they had heard the
guns fired from the englifh fhip, and foon
after perceived the lanthorns hung up. They
had spent this whole, dismal night between
fear and hope, being continually driven farther
away from the fhip, in fpite of the utmost
exertion of their united ſtrength, to come
nearer up with her. At laft the long wiſhed
for day-light ended their miſery.
ROBINSON all this while ftrugled with ter-
rible thoughts. ,, Heavens!,, thought he,
,, if theſe people, among whom there are
certainly many good fouls muft fuffer fuch
misfortunes, what am I, who have been fo
ungrate
J
SL
ungrateful to my parents, to expect for the
future!,, This thought lay like a heavy burthen
on his heart; he fat pale and fpeechlefs, like
one tormented by a bad confcience, in a corner,
wringing his hands, fcarce daring to pray,
becauſe he thought it impoffible for God to
love him any longer.
MOTHER.
See, what it is to be confcious of wicked
actions! Then we find no comfort in God;
then we always fear the worst, because we
feel, that we deferve to be miferable.
that is a woeful condition.
FATHER.
Oh!
Very woeful indeed! God preferve us from
it and all our fellow-creatures.
When theſe poor fufferers, who were
greatly fatigued, had refreshed themfelves
with victuals and drink, the chief of them
went up to the captain, holding a large
purfe of money in his hand, telling him: this
was all they had been able to fave from the
fhip; and offered it to him as a ſmall token
of the gratitude, they all owed him, for ſaving
their lives.
""
God forbid,,, cried the captain,,, I ſhould
accept of your prefent! I have done no more,
than what humanity prompted me to, and
what I am very well affured, you yourſelves
would
32
would have done in our behalf, had you been
in our place and we in yours.,,
In vain did the grateful man prefs the captain,
to accept of his prefent, he perfifted in his
refufal and begged him to fay no more of it.-
After this, the queftion was: where theſe
preferved people could be fet on fhore? To take
*/ gounin, bo them along to Guinea was not advifeable for
baut, drückly, two obvious reafons. For, in the first place,
why ſhould theſe people make a voyage to fo
'diftant a country and where they had nothing
to do? and then, they had not provifions.
enough on board for fo many people to live on,
in fuch a long voyage.
At laft our brave captain refolved to fail
back a hundred leagues and more, for the fake
of theſe poor people, to New - foundland,
where they might eafily find an opportunity
of returning to france by fome veffel or other
employed in the codfifheny.
CHARLOTTE
What fort of fiſh are they?
JOHN.
Have you forgot, what Papa told us about cod,
how they come down from the frozen-fea,
to the banks of Newfoundland, where they are
caught in fuch great quantities?
CHARLOTTE.
Ay, now I remember.
י
1
JOHN.
· 33
JOHNa
Lookee, this is Newfoundland here above
cloſe by America, and thofe points there fignify
the fand banks! well now the people that
catch them, are called codfishers.
FATHER.
Thither they fteered, and it being just then
the fishing feafon, there were many french
veffels, who gladly took thefe poor wretches
on board, and their gratitude towards the good
captain is not to be deſcribed by words.
As foon as they were delivered into good
hands, the captain returned with a fair wind
and continued his voyage for guinea. The
veffel cut the waves with more rapidity than
á bird does the air, and in a fhort time they
had again made fome hundred miles. Now
this was an unspeakable pleaſure for our ROBIN-
SON, who could never go faft enough, becaufe
his mind was never at reſt!
After they had been fteering for fome days
weftward, they fuddenly diſcovered a large
weffel making towards them. Soon after they
heard fome guns fired, as in diftrefs, and then
perceived ſhe had loft her foremaft and bowsprit. buge grit.
NICOLAS.
Bowfprit?
FATHER.
Sure you know, what that is?
1
C
NICO-
34
a). trekken,
autleby.
NICOLAS.
Oh yes, I remember, it is the final maft,
that does not ſtand erect like the reft, but
lies down on the fore part of the veſſel ſticking
out like a beak. Pich. fmitte.
FATHER.
Very right. They now likewife fteered to-
wards this dammaged hip, and when they
were near enough to be heard, the people
on board of her fcreamed out to them, with
uplifted hands and lamentable looks:
,,Oh good folks, fave a fhip full of people,
who must all perish, if you have no compaf-
fion on them.,,
Upon which, they were afked of what na-
ture their misfortune was, when one of them
gave the following account:
,,We are engliſhmen, bound for the island of
Jamaica; (lookee children, here in the middle of
America) to fetch a cargo of fig Whilft we
were there at an anchor and juſt ready to take
in our loading, our captain and first mate went
on fhore, upon fome bufinefs. But in their
abſence there arofe fuch a violent ſtorm, that
our cable broke, and we were driven out at
fea. The hurricane
THEOPHILUS.
What is a hurricane?
FATHER.
35
FATHER.
A moft violent whirling ftorm, which arifes,
from the vehemence of feveral winds, blowing
from different quarters against each another -
,,The hurricane raged for three days and
three nights; we loft our mafts and were dri-
ven away many hundred miles. Unhappily for
us, we have not one man on board that under-
ftands navigation; fo that we have been toffed
about theſe nine weeks, without knowing
where we are, or what will become of us.
All our provifions are confumed, and moft of
us half starved.,,
The good captain immediately order'd the
boat to be hoifted out, and having taken in
fome provifions, he and ROBINSON went on
board of the diftreffed fhip.
There they found the whole crew in the most
wretched fituation. All their faces looking pale
and ſtarved, and many were unable to ftand.
But when they entered the cabin God!
what a dreadful fight! there lay a mother with
her fon and a young maid fervant, in all ap-
pearance ftarved to death. The mother fat
ftaring and ftiff on the ground, between two
chairs faftened together, with her head leaning
against the fhip's fide; the maid lay by her at
full length, clafping one foot of a table round zufachen,
with one of her arms; but the young man lay festen.
on a bed, with a piece of a leathern glove in as handschich
his mouth, which he had been gnawing. nger.
C 2
CHAR-
n
f
}
36
CHARLOTTE.
Oh dear Papa! why do you make it fo mourn-
ful?
FATHER.
You are right; I forgot that you don't like
to hear fuch things, fo I'll e'en paſs over this
part of ROBINSON's hiſtory
ALL.
Oh no! no! dear Papa, let's have it all, pray!
FATHER.
But pre-
Well if you chufe to have it
viouſly I muſt tell you, who theſe poor people
were, that lay there in fuch a dreadful fituation.
They were paffengers, who were come with
this veffel from England to Jamaica, and had
been obliged to remain on board for fome days,
becauſe the young man's mother was taken ill.
The whole crew faid, they were very good
fort of people. The mother had loved her fon
to fuch an excefs, that fhe would no longer
eat a bit, but fpared it for her beloved fon.
And that dutiful fon had done the fame again
for his dear mother. Even the faithful maid-
fervant had been more concerned and anxious
for her Miftrefs and Maſter than for her own-
felf.
Every one thought, they were really dead
all the three, but on a nearer examination fome
life was diſcovered in them. For after having
al tray. Papoured a few drops of broth into their Mouths,
their
37
their eyes began to open by degrees. But
alas! the mother was too far gone to fwallow
any thing, and after having intimated by figns
to take all poffible care of her fon, fhe really
expired.
The young man and the maid were, by
proper medicines, brought to themſelves again,
and being yet young, the captain fucceeded in
his endeavours to fave their lives. But when
the
young man caft his eyes upon his mother,
and perceived that she was dead, he was fo
affected, that he relapfed into a fwoon, from
which he was recovered with great difficulty;
however, by wholeſome remedies and proper
care, he as well as the maid were perfectly
reftored to life again.
The captain then provided them with as
many provifions as he could fpare; his car-
penters repaired the broken mafts as well as
they could; he alfo inftructed them how to
fteer in order to make the neareft land, which
were the canaries. He now directed his courfe
the fame way, in order to take in frefh pro-
vifions.
One of them you know is Madeira.
DICK.
Ay, that belongs to the Portugueſe.
JOHN.
Where the fine Madeira - Wine grows!
C 3
THEO
38
THEOPHILUS.
i
And the Sugar canes!
CHARLOTTE.
And where there are fo many canary birds!
are n't there, Papa?
FATHER.
Very right. At this iſland then, the captain
landed, and ROBINSON went on fhore with him.
He could not fatiate his eyes at the glorious
profpect, which this fertile iſland afforded. As
far as his eyes could reach, he faw the mountains
all covered with vines. How his mouth wa-
tered after the delicious grapes he faw hanging
4) Trank there in thick clufter's! and what a feast for
him, when the captain had procured him leave,
to eat his belly full of them!
From the people in the Vine - Yards, they
learned, that the wine was not made there,
by means of a prefs as they do in other coun-
tries.
THEOPHILUS.
And how then, pray?
FATHER.
They put the grapes into a large wooden
veffel, and then they either tread the juice out
with their feet, or ftamp it out with their
elbows.
CHARLOTTE.
Fie! Ifhould n't like to drink Madeira-wine!
1
JOHN.
39
JOHN.
Nor I though it were properly preffed out.
FREDERIC.
But why not, pray?
JOHN.
Oh you was not here yet, when Papa ex-
plained to us, that wine was not good for
young people. You would be furpriſed to
hear what harm it does.
FREDERIC.
Is that true, Papa?
FATHER.
It is indeed fo, my dear Frederic. Children
who often drink wine and other ftrong liquors
grow weak and ftupid.
FREDERIC.
Fie! then I fhall never drink any.
FATHER.
You will do very well, child.
The captain being obliged to stay here fome
time, to refit his ihip, which had fuffered a
little; our ROBINSON grew tired of the place
in a few days. Again did his uneafy mind
long for new fcenes, and he wished to have
wings that he might be able to fly through
the world.
Mean while a portugueſe fhip arrived from,
Lisbon, bound for the Brafils in America.
C 4
DICK.
}
40
•
DICK. (Pointing to the map.)
To this country here, belonging to the
portugueſe, where fo much Gold-duft and dia-
monds are found; is it not true, Papa?
FATHER.
The very fame ROBINSON got acquainted
with the captain of that fhip, and when
he heard of gold and diamonds, he would for
his life have gone to the Brafils, there to fill
his pockets with fuch fine things.
NICOLAS.
Then he had never heard, I fuppofe, that
no body is allowed to pick up any gold or
diamonds there, becauſe they all belong to
the king of Portugal.
FATHER.
The reafon of this is, becauſe he did not
like to be inſtructed, when he was young
Now when he found the portugueſe captain
was willing to take him there gratis, and that
the engliſh ſhip would at leaſt ſtay a fortnight
longer, he could not withstand the temptation,
and plainly told his friend the engliſh captain,
that he was going to leave him, in order to
fail for the Brafils. This brave man, who but
lately had heard from Robinſon himself, that
he was travelling without his parents leave,
was glad to get rid of him; he made him a
prefent of the money he had lent him in Eng-
land,
4*
land, and gave him many good leffons into
the bargain.
Having taken his leave of the engliſh captain,
Robinſon went on board of the portugueſe veſ-
fel, and they preſently got under fail for Brafil.
They fteered by Teneriff, on which they faw
the high conick mountain.
CHARLOTTE.
I thought they called it the pico of Teneriff?
JOHN.
Why, that is all one, pico is a conick hill-
Well Papa!
FATHER.
It was a glorious fight in the evening, long
after fun fet, and the fea all overfpread with
darknefs, to fee the top of this mountain, one
of the highest in all the world, ftill glowing
with funbeams as if on fire.
Some days after they faw another very
agreeable fpectacle at fea. A great number
of flying fifh arofe above the furface of the
water, that fone like polifhed filver, fo that
they cauſed a luftre like that of a burning candle.
FREDERIC.
Are there any fish, that can fly?
FATHER.
O yes, I think that one day me faw one
ourfelyes.
C 5
THEO-
1
#2
THEOPHILUS.
Oh yes, when we were lately in town, but
that had neither feathers nor wings.
FATHER.
rugerine
But it had long fins, thefe they ufe like wings,
and foar with them above the water.
·
Their voyage was very profperous for many
days together. But fuddenly there arofe a vio-
lent form, from fouth east. The foaming
gry billows role as high as mountains, whilft the
ſhip was toffed up and down by them. This
dreadful ftorm lafted fix days and nights with-
out any intermiffion, and the thip was fo far
driven from her courfe, that the Mate and
Captain knew no more where they were; how-
ever they thought themſelves to be near the
Caribbee-islands (hereabouts)
*
On the feventh day, juft when it began to
dawn, one of the failors cried out Land! to
the great joy of all the company.
MOTHER.
Land! Land! The fupper is ready, to mor-
row you fhall hear more.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh dear mama, let us firft hear, how they
went on fhore, and what happened to them
there! I would willingly put up with a piece.
of bread, if we could but ftay here, and papa
would pleaſe to continue his story.
FA-
43
{
'།
FATHER.
I think fo too, my dear, we had beſt eat our
fupper here on the grafs.
MOTHER.
E'en as you pleafe; fo children let me not
detain you from liftening to your story, while
I am preparing things for fupper.
ALL.
• Oh that's charming, that's excellent!
FATHER.
Now they all ran on deck, to ſee what land
they had made, but that fame moment their
joy changed into the greatest terror.
The fhip began to crack, and all thofe that
were on deck, got fuch a violent fhock, that
they fell flat down.
JOHN.
What was the matter then?
FATHER.
The fhip had ftruck upon a fandbank, and
in that moment ftuck fo faft in it, as if ſhe had
been nailed to the ground. Preſently after
the foaming waves poured fo much water upon
deck, that they all ran to the ſteerage and
cabin, to avoid being waſhed over board.
Now there were fuch lamentations heard
among the fhip's crew, as would have excited
compaffion in the hardeft heart! Some were
praying, others crying, fome were wringing
their hands as in a fit of deſpair, others ftood
stiff
ABC
44
ے والا
ftiff and fo inmoveable, as if they had been
dead. ROBINSON was among the latter, more
dead than alive.
All of a fudden they cried, the ship had
fplit! which dreadful news recalled all into
life. They quickly returned upon deck, hoifted
out the boat, and in the greatest hurry got
all into it.
But their number was fo great, that, after
they were all in, the boat was fearce five in-
ches above water.
They were yet at a great diſtance from the
land, and the ftorm was fo violent, that every
body thought it almoſt an impoffibility to reach
the shore. However they plied their oars,
with the utmost diligence, and very lukily had
the wind with them.
Preſently they faw a wave as high as a moun-
tain rolling after them. At this dreadful fight,
they all ſtiffen'd with terror, and dropt their
oars. Now the frightful moment aproached!
The monstrous wave reached the boat, overfet
it and they all funk down into the raging
fea!
(Here the father ſtopt; the whole company képt
their feats in filence, and many of them heaved
a figh of compaffion. At lait the mother ap-
peared with a rural fupper, and put a end to
thefe moving fenfations.).
THIRD
45
****:00:cocooooo
THIRD EVENING.
THEOPHILUS.
Is then Robinfon now really dead, dear papa?
FATHER.
We left him last night in the most eminent
danger of his life. When the boat was over-
fet, he and all his companions went to the
bottom of the fea. But the fame monstrous
wave that had fwallowed them, bore him along
towards the fhore, and caft him with fuch
violence upon a rock, that the pain of it rouſed
him from the flumbers of death, which had
already feized on him. He opened his eyes,
and finding himself, contrary to what he ex-
pected, on dry land, he ufed all his efforts
to fcramble on fhore.
He fucceeded, and being then quite exhauſted,
he fank down and remained a good while on
the ground without knowing any thing of
himfelf.
At laſt however his eyes opened again, and
he arofe to look about him. Good God, what
a fight! There was nothing to be feen, neither
the fhip, the boat, nor his companions, ex-
cept fome planks, which the waves had caft
on fhore. He, only he, had efcaped death.
Trem-
46
Trembling with joy and terror he fell on his
knees, lifted up his hands to heaven, and
with a lond voice and a flood of tears, he thanked
the Lord of heaven and earth, who fo mira-
culously had faved him. -
JOHN.
But why did God Almighty preferve Ro-
BINSON alone, and why did he fuffer all the
reft to be drown'd.
FATHER.
Dear John, are you always able to diſcover.
the reafons, why we grown people, who
love you heartily, make you fometimes do one
thing and fometimes an other?
No!
JOHN.
FATHER.
For inftance lately, when the weather was
fo fine, and we all fo defirous to make an ex-
curfion to the Four-lands, *) what did I then?
JOHN.
Why, then poor Nicolas was obliged to
ftay at home, and the rest of us went to
Wansbeck, and not to the Four - lands, as we
wifhed.
FATHER.
}
And why was I then fo fevere upon poor
Nicolas, that I would not fuffer him to go
along with us? ·
A fertile plain fome miles from Hamburg.
NI-
47
NICOLAS.
Oh that I know very well! Bromley, our
clerk, came foon after to attend me to my
parents, whom I had not feen a good while.
FATHER.
And was not that a greater pleaſure for you,
than going to the Four-lands?
NICOLAS.
O much greater, much greater!
เ
FATHER.
I knew before hand, that Bromley was to
come and attend you to your parents, and
therefore defired you to stay. -
And you
John, whom did you meet with in Warsbeck?
JOHN.
My dear papa and mama, who were gone
thither.
FATHER.
+
Of this alfo I was informed, and for that
very reafon, defired you to go to Wansbeck,
and not to the Four-lands. My difpofition
then did not pleafe you; becaufe you did not
know my reaſons. But why did not I tell
them you?
JOHN.
L
To make us an unexpected pleafure, by
meeting with our parents without knowing
any thing of it before.
FA-
48
Very right;
FATHER.
Now my children, don't
you think that God Almighty loves his
children, that is, all mankind, as much as
we love you?
THEOPHILUS.
O much more, furely!
FATHER.
And have you not long fince known, that
God underſtands every thing much better, than
we poor fhort-fighted mortals do, who fo
feldom know, what is proper and good for us?
JOHN.
t
O ay! God is omnifcient, and knows all
what is to come; and that's what we cannot!,
FATHER.
Thus God Almighty, loving all mankind fo
tenderly, and being at the fame time fo wife,
that he alone knows what is proper for us:
fhould he not always do the beſt for us?
THEOPHILUS.
O yes, moft certainly!
FATHER.
But can we always know, why God difpofes
of us this way or that way, and not other-
wife?
脊
​JOHN.
If we knew that, we fhould be as omni-
fcient and as allwife as he is himſelf!
FA-
GNCKO
49
FATHER.
Now dear John, have you a mind to repeat
your laft queftion once more?
!
Which, pray?
JOHN.
FATHER.
Why God did preferve ROBINSON alone, and
fuffered all the rest to perish?
JOHN.
No, Papa.
FATHER.
Why not?
JOHN.
Becauſe I now perceive, that it was an un-
reafonable question.
FATHER.
Why unreasonable?
:
JOHN.
Becaufe, God knows beft, why he does a
thing, and that we cannot know!
FATHER.
Undoubtedly then, God almighty had his wife
and good reafons, why he fuffered the whole
crew to perish, and only preferved the life of
ROBINSON; but we cannot conceive thefe rea-
fons. We may indeed form fome conjectures, but
we must never imagine to have hit upon them.
God might, for instance, forefee, that living lich, nache
any longer, would have been more hurtful füdlich,
than profitable to thofe people, he fuffered to fail.
be drowned; that they would fall into great
D
mi-
50
mifery, or even become vicious and wicked;
and therefore he might cut them off from this
world, and take their immortal fouls into a place,-
where their condition is better than here on
earth. He probably let ROBINSON live, that he
might be mended by fufferings and mifery. For
as he is always a very kind father, he endeavours
to mend us by fufferings, if we will not do fo,:
of our own accord, when he is bountiful and
indulgent to us.
Be mindful of this, my good children, and
always think of it, when in your future days
any misfortune befalls you, and when you
cannot conceive, why your good heavenly
father has ordered it fo! Then recollect, that
God beſt knows, what is good for us, and fuffer
willingly, what he has ordained! He certainly
makes us fuffer, to make us better than we
are; we will therefore fuffer patiently and God
will let us fee happier days again.
DICK.
Did ROBINSON think fo now?
FATHER.
Yes, now he was faved from the great dan-
ger of lofing his life, and that he faw himfelf
without the affiftance of any human creature.
Now he felt, from the inmoft of his heart, the
wrong he had done; now he fell on his knees
and begged pardon of God for the fins he had
committed; he now firmly refolved to amend
and
51
and never to do any thing again, which he
knew to be wrong.
NICOLAS.
But, what did he do now?
FATHER.
Hobſeid. sich sehr.
After the joy for his prefervation had fube zu dich sollen;
fided, he began to think of his prefent fitua-zu Grunt ſicht.
tion; he looked about him, but he difcovered
nothing but bufhes and trees without fruit!
He faw nothing from which he could conclude
that this country was inhabited.
This was indeed a frightful thought to him,
that he should now live quite alone in an un-
known country. But his hair ſtood on end,
when he reflected how he ſhould live? If there
fhould be any wild beafts or favages, for whom
he could not be fafe one moment.
FREDERIC.
But are there really any favages?
JOHN.
Why, yes! did you never hear of that? there
áre, far, very far from here, men, who are as
wild as brutes!
THEOPHILUS.
Who go almoft naked, only think o'that,
Frederic.
DICK.
Ay, and who have no knowledge at all;
who can built no houfes, plant no gardens,
and cultivate no fields!
D 2
CHAR-
52
1
CHARLOTTE.
And who eat raw flesh, and raw fish; I
remember it very well, don't I, Papa? didn't you
tell us fo?
JOHN.
Ay! and what d'ye think, thefe poor people
don't even know, who created them, becaufe
they never had an instructor to tell them fo?
DICK.
For that very reafon, they are fo barbarous?
only think, fome of them even eat Man'sflefh!
FREDERIC.
Fie, what nafty people.
FATHER.
What unhappy people, you would fay! These
poor wretches are unhappy enough, to have
grown up in fuch ftupidity and brutiihnefs!
FREDERIC.
Do any of them ever come here?
FATHER.
No; the countries, where theſe poor
people live, are fo distant from here, that
none of them ever come to us. Their number
alfo leffens, becauſe other civilized people,
who go to their country, take pains, to render
them wife and polite.
DICK.
But pray, were there any in that country,
where ROBINSON now was?
FA-
53
FATHER.
That he could not know as yet. But having
once heard, that there lived fuch people in
the islands of this part of the Globe; he thought
it probable, there might be fome, and this put
him ſo much in fear, that all his limbs trembled.
THEOPHILUS.
That I believe, there would have been no
joking, if there had been any!
FATHER.
At firſt he had not the courage to ftir from
his place, for fear and terror. The leaft noiſe
frightened and ftartled him.
At last he grew fo thirfty, that he could
bear it no longer. He therefore faw himfelf
forced to look about for fome fpring or brook; pagh
and very luckily he found a fine clear fpring,
from which he might flack his thirt, tanis
lampa
heart's defire. Oh what bleffing is a draught
of fresh Water for him, that fuffers thirſt!
ROBINSON thanked God for it, and now hoped,
that he would alſo fend him fomething to eat.
He that feeds the Birds in the air, thought he,
will not fuffer me to perith with hunger! Indeed
he was not yet very hungry, becaute fear and
terror had taken away his ftomach; but he
longed the more for reft. He was fo worn out
with all he had fuffered of late, that he had
fearce ftrength enough left, to stand on his legs.
D 3
But
}
54
But where fhould he now pafs the night. On
the ground under the canopy of Heaven?·
But then, favages and wild beafts might come
and devour him! As far as his eyes could reach,
he faw neither houfe, hut or cave. He stood
a while quite comfortlefs and knew not what
to do.
At laft he refolved to pass the night on a
tree like a bird. He foon found one, the
branches of which were thick enough, that he
might commodioufy fit upon one and lean his
back againſt ſome others. He climbed up into it,
made his fervent prayers to God, placed him-
felf as well as he could and fell afleep directly.
In his feep he dreamt of all he had fuffered
the day before. He thought he faw his parents,
weeping, fighing, wringing their hands for
him, in the greateſt affliction and their hearts
almoft broken, and all on his account! A cold
fweat broke out at every pore. He cried aloud:
Here I am! Here I am, my dear parents! and
thus crying, he was going to throw himfelf
into his parents arms, made a motion in his
feep, and fell miferably down from his tree,
CHARLOTTE,
Oh poor Robinfon!
THEOPHILUS.
Now he is dead, I fuppofe?
FATHER.
55
FATHER.
To his good fortune, he had not been very
high, and the ground underneath was fo over-
grown with grafs, that he did not fall very
hard. He only felt a little pain in that fide,
on which he had fallen; which, and as he had
fuffered much more in his dream, he did not
value much. He then got up again on his
tree, and remained there till fun- rife.
He now began to reflect, where he might
get fomething to eat. He had none of thofe
eatables we have in Europe. He had no bread,
no meat, no greens, no milk;, and tho' he had
had any of theſe things to bol or roaft, he yet
wanted fire, a fpit and pots. All the trees he
had hitherto feen were what they call Cam-
pechio-trees, bearing nothing but leaves.
JOHN.
What fort of trees are they?
/
FATHER.
Trees, the wood of which the dyers make ufe
of for different purpofes. They grow in fome
parts of America, and are brought in great
abundance to Europe." This wood, when
boiled, gives the water a dark-red colour, and
this the dyers ufe, to fhade other colours
.with.
But let us return to our ROBINSON!
He got down from his tree, without know-
ing what to do. As he had ate nothing all
D 4
the
$6
•
*
the day before, he began to feel a moft violent
hunger, which made him run about fome thou-
fand ſteps, to fee whether he might not diſcover
fome eatable things, but all to no purpofe, he
found nothing but unfruitful trees and grafs.
Being now in the greatest anxiety, he cried
out, I fhall ſtarve with hunger, and wept aloud
to heaven. Neceffity however gave him
ftrength and courage to run along the fhore
in order to fee if it were not poffible to find
Tome eatables at laft,
But all in vain! nothing but Campe-
chio trees, nothing but grafs and fand
every where! Tired and enfeebled he flung
himfelf with his face to the ground, cried
aloud, and wifhed he had been drowned rather
than to perifh now fo miferably with hunger!
He had already refolved, to wait for a flow
and dreadful death in this diftrefsful fituation,
when turning accidentally his eyes upwards,
4)xurur he discovered a gull flying with a fifh thro'
Morquayy, the air. He inftantly recollected to have read
fomewhere: ,,That God who feeds the ravens,
will not fuffer man to ftarve.,, He now blamed
himfelf, for having had fo little confidence in
God's providence; he then jumped up from the
ground, with a firm refolution, to walk and
feek about as long as his ftrength would let
him. So he now continued walking along the
fhore and looking about on all fides for fome-
thing to eat.
At
57
1
At laft he found fome Oyfter-fhells lying on
the ground. He eagerly ran and carefully exa-
nined them in hopes of finding fome real
Oyſters, and to his unspeakable joy he found
fome.
JOHN.
Do Oyfters lie fo on the ground?
FATHER.
Berbau.
It is not their proper place. Their abode is in
the fea, where they cling to one another againſt
+) an etwas
the fides of rocks, fo as to form timall hills, which fangen wer
are called an Oyſterbanks, but many of them are
washed away by the waves, and carried on
fhore by the tide, and when the fea begins
to ebb they remain on the dry land.
FREDERIC.
Pray, what is the tide?
CHARLOTTE.
Don't you know? why, when the water
rifes and falls again.
FREDERIC.
What water, pray?
CHARLOTTE.
Why, the water of the fea!
FRIEND R.
Frederic, let your brother John explain
that to you, he will be able to give you an
idea of it.
D 5
JOHN.
58
!
JOHN.
·Who? I! Well, I'll fee! Have you never
obferved, that the water in the elbe fometimes
rifes higher than utual, and fometime after.
falls again, fo that you may then walk, where
the water was before.
FREDERIC. 1
O yes, that I have feen very often!
JOHN.
Well, now when the water fwells fo, as
to cover the fhore, they call it high water;
but when it runs off again fo as to leave the
fhore dry, they call it ebb or low water.
FATHER.
ว
15
Now I muft. tell you Frederic, that the
water in the fea thus rifes and falls twice in
twenty four hours. It continues fwelling on
ingrade, ungleichge
for fix hours and fome odd minutes
finking again for fix hours and fome odd mi-
'nutes. The former they call high and the
latter low water, d'ye comprehend it now?-
FREDERIC.
I do, but pray, what makes the water fwell
and fink again?
THEOPHILUS.
Oh that I know very well. Is is the moon,
that attracts the water fo as to make it rife.
NICOLAS.
Oh that we have heard fo often! pray let
papa continue his ſtory.
FATHER.
59
FATHER.
Another time, Frederic, I'll tell you more
of this matter.
ROBINSON was now befide himſelf with
joy, at having found fomething to allay the
violence of his hunger. It is true, the oysters
he found were not fufficient to fatisfy him
fully, but however he was glad to have found
Lomething.
His greateſt concern now was, where he
fhould live for the future, fo as to be fecured
against favages and wild beaft. His first night's
lodging had been attended with fo many in-
conveniencies, that the very thought of it
made him fhudder.
THEOPHILUS.
I know very well, what I should have done.
FATHER.
Well, and what would you have done,
pray?
THEOPHILUS.
Why, I would have built me a houſe,
with very thick walls and thick iron doors.
I would have made a ditch round about it
with a draw-bridge, which I would have drawn
up every night; and then I am fure, the favages
could not have hurt me in my fleep.
&refecte kopling, hurter,
FATHER.
Oh clever! It is great pity you were not
there to affift poor ROBINSON with your good
ad-
60
advice!
but Now I think of it; did you
ever obferve with any attention, how carpenters
and bricklayers fet about building houfes.
Maline
THEOPHILUS.
F talk
equarter, quairer
Oh yes! very often. The bricklayers firft
prepare the lime, and mix it with fand; they
then lay one brick upon the other, and with
their trowels put the mortar between, fo as to
make them hold faft to one another. This
done, the carpenters fquare the beams with
their hatchets and make them fit together.
Wind, Rolls
After this they draw up the beams by pully
and fix them upon the brickwork. Then they
Giving back. Faw boards and laths which they nail upon the
rafters to fix the tiles upon; and then
Genning
FATHER.
I fee very well, you have been a very at-
tentive obſerver of houſe-building. But as
the bricklayers want lime, trowels, bricks or
ſtones, which muſt firſt be fquared, and as the
carpenters Want hatchets, faws, gilets, behoor
nails, fquares and hammers; where would you
have got all theſe things, had you been in
ROBINSON'S place?
THEOPHILUS.
Nay, that I don't know.
FATHER.
Nor ROBINSON neither, and tho' his incli-
nation, to built himſelf a proper houfe was very
great, he was obliged to give it up. He had no
other tools but his two hands, and with them
alone
водона
61
1
alone he could not built fuch a houfe as we
live in.
NICOLAS.
Why, then he might at leaſt have made
himſelf a hut of branches,
eafily break from the trees.
FATHER.
which he might
And could fuch a hut of branches have fe-
cured him againſt ferpents, wolves, panthers,
tygers, lions and other wild animals?
JOHN.
Oh! poor Robinfon, what will now become
of you.
NICOLAS.
But could he not fhoot them?
FATHER..
Oh yes! if he had had powder and ball! But
the poor fellow, we know, had nothing of
all this; nothing at all, except his two hands!
Reflecting now on his helpler's fituation, higi
again relapfed into his former defpondency."
What does it avail me, thought he, that I
have efcaped dying of hunger, when I am
likely to be devoured by wild beast over night.
Nay, thefe afflicting thoughts work'd fo
forcibly upon him, that he really thought, he
faw a fierce tyger ftanding before him, with
his jaws open and fhewing his large pointed
teeth, then falling upon him and feizing him
by the throat. In this terrible fright he cried
out:
62
out: Oh my poor parents! and then funk
motionleſs to the ground.
Having lain a while in this fit of anxiety
and defpair, he recollected, what he had often
heard his pious mother fing, when any fad acci-
dent had befalln her. The hymn begins thus:
,,Whoever places all his truft
,,And confidence on God the Lord,
,,When he is fuff'ring in the duft,
The Lord will him relief afford;
Whoever trufts his mighty hand,
,,Has not his hope built on the Sand.
}
This was a real cordial for him! He repeated
this fine hymn twice or thrice, with inward
feeling, then he fang it aloud; rifing at the
fame time from the ground, to look about for
fome cavern, that might afford him a fecure.
habitation.
whether on
Where he properly was,
the continent or an i land of America? he
did not know as yet.... But feeing a hill at
fome distance, he went towards it.
On his way, he made the melancholy ob-1
fervation, that this country bore nothing but
unfruitful trees and grafs. You may easily.
guefs, what were his reflections on feeing
fuch a barren place.
With great difficulty he at laft climbed up
this pretty high hill, and then took a view
of
1
639
of the country for many miles round him.
He then faw with terror, that he was upon an
illand, and as far as his eyes could reach, he
faw no land at all, except fome fmall iflands
which lay at fome diftance.
22
1
Forlorn creature, forlorn creature!,, he
cried, his hand anxioufly folded and lifted up
to heaven! Is it then true, that I am fe-
parated from all mankind, forfaken by all, and
no hopes left me of ever being deliverd from
this dreary defart? Oh my poor afflicted parents!
Am I then never to fee you again! fhall F
never be able to beg your pardon for my tranf
greffions! Shall I never hear again the comfor
table voice of a friend, of a man! But I am
rightly ferved,,, continued he. ,,Oh lord, thou
dealeft justly with me! I have no right to
complain. My fate is fuch as 1 deferve!)
,,
Abforbed in thoughts and as in a dream he
remained motionlefs in the fame place, his
ftaring eyes fixed on the ground. Forfaken
by God and men,,, was all he could utter-
Happily for him he at laft recollected another)
verfe of the fame beautiful hymn:
,,When preft with grief do not deſpair,
,,Nor think God has forfaken thee;
"
Or that he's God's peculiar care
Who liveth in profperity!
,,Time often changes here our fate
,,And limits grief, however great!·
With
64
With fervent zeal he now fell on his knees
before God, promifed patience and refignation.
in his fufferings, and begged for ftrength to
bear them.
CHARLOTTE.
It was very lucky for ROBINSON to know
fuch fine hymns, that could comfort him now
in his diftrefs.
FATHER..
It was indeed very lucky! What would now
have become of him, if he had not known,
that God is the merciful, almighty and omni-
prefent father of all mankind. He wou'd have
perished with anguish and deſpair, if he had
not been taught, to think fo of God. But
this very thought of his heavenly father, ever
gave him comfort and courage, when his mi-
fery feemed to encreafe.
*
CHARLOTTE.
1
Pray, Papa, will you give me fome more
inftructions about God Almighty, as you have
done to others?
FATHER.
With great pleafure, my dear Girl! I fhall
not fail, to tell you more and more of our Al-
mighty God every day,
fenfible. You know, I am
than when I speak of him,
great and fo kind.
"
as you grow more
never more pleafed,
who is ſo good, ſo
CHAR-
!
65
g
CHARLOTTE.
Oh fine; and I never have any greater plea-
fure, than when you entertain us of God Al-
mighty. I really long to hear you talk of him
again.
FATHER.
You have good reafon for it, Charlotte! For
when you come to be better acquainted with
God, you will double your endeavours to be.
come good, and you will then enjoy much grea,
ter delight, than what you do now.
ROBINSON now
ftrengthened, and began to feramble about the
hill. His endeavours to find out fome fecure re-
treat, for a long time, proved unſucceſsful. At
laft he got to a finall hill, the fide of which was as
mil fteep as a wall. Upon a nearer examination
of that fide, he found a hole in it, the entrance
of which was pretty narrow. ſychiodal. Mrüße
felt himfelf greatly and fragten.
Had he poffeffed a pickaxe, a chifel or any
other iron inftruments, nothing would have
been easier than to work out this hollow place,
which was partly a rock, to widen it, and
make it convenient for him to live in. But
alas, he had none of thefe inftruments! Now
the queſtion was, what to do to fupply their
place.
embarasser, mettre in paine
After having puzzled his head a long while
about it, he faid to himfelf:,,The trees I here
fee reffemble the willows of my own country,
which
Saule E
1
66
which may eafily be tranfplanted. I will dig
up a great many of thofe young trees, with
my hands, and plant them round about this hole,
fo close together as to form a wall of them; and
when they grow thicker and higher, I fhall
then be as fafe within them, as if I were in an
houfe. For from behind I fhall be fheltered
by the ſteep rock; and theſe trees will fecure
me on the other fide.,,
"
He was greatly rejoiced at this lucky thought,
and directly ran to put it in execution. To his
great delight, he perceived a clear fpring, bub-
bling out of the rock juft by this place; he
made up to it in order to quench his thirft,
being very dry from the fcorching heat of the
fun and his running and ferambling about the
hill.
THEOPHILUS.
Was it then fo very hot, in his ifland, pray?
FATHER.
That you may eafily imagine! See here
(pointing to the map) are the Carybbee Iſlands, of
which that, ROBINSON now lived in, was
probably one. Now you fee, thefe iflands are
not very far from what is called the line, where
the fun ftands. fometimes perpendicularly over
the peoples heads. It must therefore be very
hot in thofe places.
With a deal of trouble, he at laft got our
fome young trees from the ground with his
hands,
1
67
hands, and carried them to the place he had
chofen for his habitation. Here he was again
obliged to. dig holes, with his hands, in order
to plant them; and as his work went on but
very flowly, night came on, when he had
planted no more, than five or fix of his trees.
Urged by hunger, he again returned to the
fea-fhore, to look for fome oyfters. But un-
luckily for him, it was now high water, and
confequently he found none, and was obliged,
to lay himself down that night with an empty
ftomach.
And where could he lye down? He had
refolved, to continue to fleep on the tree, 'till
he had made himfelf a fecurer habitation.
Thither he now went.
But to prevent the fame unlucky accident,that
happened to him the night before, he faftened
himſelf with his garters, to that branch, againſt
which he leaned with his back, and having
recommended himſelf to his creator, he fell
aſleep.
JOHN.
That was well done!
FATHER.
Neceffity teaches us a great deal, which in
other circumſtances, we should never have the
leaſt idea of. For that fame reaſon God has or→
dered the world and ourſelves ſo, that we have
imany wants, which we are obliged to fupply, by
2
re-
68
For,
reflection and ingenuity. And thefe very
wants make us wifer and more fenfible.
if we found every thing ready made and pre-
pared; if houſes, beds, clothes, victuals, drink
and all the reft we want for the prefervation
and conveniency of life, grew of themfelves,
ready made and prepared, out of the earth;
we certainly should do nothing but eat, drink
and fleep, and then we fhould remain as ftupid
as brutes to the day of our deaths.
NICOLAS.
God Almigthy has then done very wifely,
not to let every thing grow thus ready made
and prepared out of the earth.
FATHER.
Juft as he ordered every thing troughout the
whole creation, all good, and wifely! But
behold! yonder the beautiful evening ftar!
how friendly it ſparkles above us. This too,
our heavenly father has created, and we will
go and give him our hearty thanks for the
agreeable day he has granted us - Come, chil-
dren! let us hand in hand walk to yon Arbour!
Arbor. Somnglaube.
FOURTH
69
00000000000000000000000000000
ား
FOURTH EVENING.
1
FATHER.
Well, my good children, where did we
leave our ROBINSON laſt night?
}
JOHN.
Hé had got up to his tree again to fleep there,
and --
FATHER.
Very right, I have it! -
This time he
fared better; he did not fall down again, but
flept quietly untill the next morning.
1
At break of day he firſt ran to the fea-ſhore,
to look for fome oysters, and then he went to
'his work again. This time he took another
way, and had the pleaſure to diſcover a tree
with large fruits. It is true, he did not know
what fruits they were; but he flattered himſelf
Swith the hopes, that they would be eatable,
and in that confidence knock'd off one of them.
It was a triangular nut, as big as a child's-
head. The outward thell was fibrous, as if
made of hemp. The fecond fhell on the con- tucheltuit.
trary, was as folid and as hard as a turtle fhell;
and Robinfon foon conceived that he might
ufe it as a bowl. This fhell being fo fpacious
that a certain little american Ape, called Sacca-
4) bowl, boll. Bucher, E 3
Schinſel, Boßlägel.
winka,
mayfield hist
70
1
awson amande
winka, can live in it together with his long
queue. The Kernel was exceedingly juicy and
taſted like ſweet Almonds, and in the middle
of it, which was hollow, he found fome fweet
juice, which was very refreſhing. This juice
may be let out by means of three holes,
nature formed in them, without breaking the
hard inner fhell; a very wife contrivance,
without which, moft of the juice, which is
very conducive to health, would be fpilled, expander
was a very delicious meal for our half farved
Robiníon! His empty ftomach was not fatisfied
with one nut only; he therefore knocked off
a fecond and a third, which he ate with as
good an appetite, as he had done the firft.
A grateful tear ftarted in his eyes; for joy, nat
this difcovery. 1.7
1
1
}
This
The tree was pretty high, and without bran-
ches, like the palm-trees; but only a crown
confifting of long leaves in the form of a broad-
fword.
THEOPHILUS.
!
And pray, what fort of tree might that be?
There are none fuch here.
FATHER,
It was a Cocoa-Tree, which are chiefly found
in the east-indies, and here in the inlands. of
the fouth-fea; how this tree might come into
ROBINSON'S Inland, I cannot tell; it is not ufual
to find them in the American iflands..
JOHN.
zr
JOHN.
I fhould be glad to fee a Cocoa - nut!
FATHER.
>
Should you? Well, ftay; I can fhow you
fomething that 'looks very much like one.
(The father luckily got one as a prefent a fhort time
before. He went, to fetch it. At his return with
the large nut in his hand, they all flew to him
with exclamations of furprise, not knowing,
whether they fhould believe their own eyes.)
•
FATHER.
1
Well, what do you think this thing to be?
JOHN.
Why, I fuppofe this is a real Cocoa- nut!
LFATHER.
olso feal a one, as ever grew in the Indies.
So
Indeed!.
ALL.
ཉི་
r
NICOLAS.
And, pray Papa, where did you get it?
FATHER.
M
You all know, I have not been to the eaſt-
indies and that there are none to be ſold here
in Hamburgh. "Now if I had not had fome
friend to get me one, we fhould not have
the pleaſure to fee this remarkable fruit, fo
rare in this country.
X
MOTHER.
Look ye now, how good it is, that people
do not mind their own pleaſure only, but are
E 4
like-
72
likewife folicitous for that of others! If the
good gentleman, who gave us this, had only
minded himself, he would have eaten it, and
we ſhould not have feen it. But now he has
generouſly ſpared it from his own mouth, to
pleafe us, moſt of whom he never faw.
THEOPHILUS.
And who is this good gentleman?
FATHER..
Our friend Captain Muller, whom the big-
geft of you faw, two years ago, when we
were at Stade.
NICOLAS.
A
Oh! aye! the good-natured gentleman, who
came to fee us at York?'
The fame!
FATHER.
!
May this evening be as
agreeable to him as he made it us; we will
in the mean time fec, if we can not open
the shell.
Deine, brusil, tinta mare
(After much ado, the outward fibrous fhell was
opened, to take out the nut. Upon which one of
the three ſmall holes in the inner hard fḥell was
opened with a knife, and a whole tea-cup full of
juice ran out. This juice was not found fo agreeable
as it is generally deſcribed; perhaps, becauſe the
nut was too old or had been taken from the tree
before it was quite ripe. At laſt the nut was cut
open with a faw, to get to the white kernel, which
every one found more agreeable, than the fweeteſt
hazel-nut. This was a delicious feaft for the young
folks.)
DICK.
KICKO
73
DICK..
Blefs me! what a deal of trouble it muſt have
coft poor Robinfon, to open that hard ſhell!
i.
FATHER.
That you may now judge, having feen how
much trouble it coft us, tho' we have sharp knives
and a faw, which Robinfon had not. But what
difficulty can be great for a hungry man, who
has the hopes of eating his fill
+
Tho' Robinfon had now fatisfied his hun
ger, yet he ran to the fea-fhore, to fee,
if he cou'd find any oyfters. He indeed
found fome, but not enough to make a good
meal of. He had therefore good reaſon to be
Thankful to God Almighty, for letting him find
another kind of food; and this he really did
with an affected heart."
•
1
>
...
The pyfters, he had found, he took along
with him for his dinner; and now he returned
with renewed courage to his work...
On the fhore he had found a large muſcle
fhell, which he ufed inftead of a ſpade, and
this rendered his work much easier! A fhort
~
Stungel,
time after he diſcovered a plant, the stalk of ghe, Jahn-
which was fibrous like flax of hemp. At any ham minn
other time he would not have minded this;
but now nothing was indifferent to him; he
examined every thing, and confidered, whether
he might not turn it to fome ufe or other.
£5
In
[
W
inkont
74
*.1 zish.
Posed
.) Soake
In hopes, that this plant might be worked
3like flaxior hemp, he pulled out a great deal
of it tied it up in finall bundles and laid them
川
​1) course, good in water. Some days after, when he perceived
that the coarfe part of the talk, was foaked
enough, he took the pundles out again, and
Spread their abroad in the fan As Toon
they were fufficiently dry, he made an 'effay,
whether it might not be broke like flax, which
he tried to do with a great fick. And lo he
facde.dedi hai won bad adinti milj. Schr
A
After this he triedito twift thin ropes.of
this flax which he get It is true he
could not make them formas thofe made
by our ope-makers besarfe de neither had a
Alteatri garsany other fance, However
they were straig enough to tie hislarge. mufole
fhell to a ſtick, by which means he gotian
inftrument, pot much unlike a fpade.
}
He now continued his work with all poble
diligence, and planted his trees clofe together
till at laft He had incompared the mall pace
Before dris fucufer dwelling But as one Gow
of thin trees olid not fee a fufficient shelter
for him, he took the trouble to plant a fecord.
Thefe two rows he afterwards interwove with
green twigs, and at last he conceived the idea,
of filling up the space between them with
earth. This now formed fo ftrong a wall,
which to break through, would have requiredi
great›fœengikiu
"
4.
* 91
Every
75
Every morning and evening he watered his
little plantation, from the neighbouring spring.
His cocao-fhell ferved him inftead of a watering
督
​pot. He foon had the pleaſure, to fee that his ladyz knitzy
young trees began to bud, and become, green
the fight of which greatly delighted him.
•
Having now almost finished his hedge, he
employed a whole, day, in twifting ropes, and
making himself a ladder of them, as well as he
could. the
{
f
A
⠀⠀⠀
DICK,jouw
And for what purpose, pray?
FATHER
1
1
} >
I
17
: #modu ot
You fhall hear He intended to have mo
door at all to his habitation, but even to fill
up with trees the opening the had left.
DICK
4
But How could he get in and out then?
Blues out FATHER, DA
bunt,
nicht now
man.
By means of this ladder. The rock above his
habitation, was about two fhomes high. On the
top of it there was a tree, to this he fastened
his ladder, and let it hang down to the ground
Then he tried, whether it was ftrong enough
for him to get up and down, and it fucceeded
to his with.
Having finished all this, he began to commit mine
fider, by what means he might fcoop out the
hollow within the hill, in order to make it
order to nunc egg alle t
large enough for his habitation. His bare
***
the hu
hands
hands wou'dn't do, that he forefaw! but what
then cou'd he do? He was obliged to look
about him for fome thing to ferve his purpofe.
With this view he went to a place where
he had feen a great many green ftones that
were very hard. Whilft he was very care
Fully looking among them, he found one, the
fight of which made his heart beat for joy.
This ftone was exactly fhaped like a hatchet,
one end of it quite fharp, and on the other there
was a hole, in which he might faften a handle.
ROBINSON inſtantly faw, that he Hould be able
to make a tolerable hatchet of it, if he could
only make the hole a little-langor. This after
much labour, he at laft happily effected by
means of another ftone; he then faftened it
to a ſtrong handle, and tied it fó tight with
ropes of his own making, as tho, it had been
nailed to it.
1
Then he tried, whether he could hot cut
down a young tree, with it which fucceeded
to his unspeakable joy. You might have
offered him a thousand dollars for this hatchet
and he would not have taken thein, fuch was
the great ufe he expected from it!
Looking again among thefe ftones, he found
two more, that likewife promifed to be of
great ufe to him. One had the form of a
*) Menuifi mallet fuch as mafons and joiners ufe, the
Mafue other fhaped like a fhort club, and fharp at
Coin Amicone end like a wedge. ROBINSON full of joy,
took
4
77
took'em both, and ran to his habitation, whare.
he directly fell to work.
He fucceeded moft excellently. He placed
his ſtone-wedge against the rock, ftruck on it
with his mallet and by that means getting off
one piece after the other, he enlarged his
cavern. In a few days he was fo far advanced,
that he thought it fpacious enough to ferve
him as a habitation to fleep in.
He had, fometime before this, been pulling
out a great deal of grafs with his hands and
fpread in the fun to dry. This grafs, being
now dry enough, he carried into his cavern
and made himſelf a commodious bed of it.
And now nothing hindered him from fleeping
again as a human creature, viz. lying. After
having paſt above eight nights perched upon
a tree like a bird. Oh what comfort it was for
him, to ſtretch his wearied limbs upon a foft
bed of hay. He thanked God for it, and
thought within himfelf: Oh did my countrymen
in Europe but know, what it is to pafs fo
many nights fitting on a hard branch; fure!
they would think themfelves very happy,
becauſe they can ſtretch themſelves on a foft
and fecure bed, and they would not forget every
night to return thanks to God Almighty for
this benefit.
The next day was a funday, which ROBINSON
devoted to reft, to prayers and reflections on
himfelf. He lay whole hours on his knees,
..
his
78
1
"
his eyes fult of tears lifted up to heaven,
praying: God Almighty would pleafe to pardon
his manifold fins, and blefs and comfort his
poor parents. Then he thanked God with
tears of joy, for the miraculous, affiſtance, he
had granted him in his forlorn condition, and.
yowed to amend daily and promifed filial
obedience.for ever.
1
CHARLOTTE.
Now ROBINSON is become much better, than
He was before!
$
- FATHER.
God Almighty knew very well, that he would
mend, when he should come to be in diftrefs,
and therefore made him fuffer. The ways of
our heavenly father are always fuch with us.
He makes us fometimes fuffer, not from anger
but from love, and becauſe he knows, that we
fhould not 'nfend otherwife.
Now ROBINSON bethought himſelf of making
an Almanack, that he might not forget the
fucceffion of days and when it was funday.
An Almanack!,
JOHN.
FATHER.
It was indeed not one fo exactly printed upon
paper, as thofe made ufe of in Europe, but
one which enabled him to count the days.
JOHN.
And how did he make it, pray?
FATHER
$9
FATHER.
As he had no paper, nor any other ma-
terials for writing, he pitched upon four
trees that had a ſmooth bark, and stood
together In the largeft of them, he made a
notch every evening with a ftone to fignify
that a day was paft. Now, every time he had
made feven notches, a week was ended, and
then he made an other notch in the next tree,
to fignify a week was paft. Whenever he had
made four notches in the fecond tree, he made
one in the third, to fignify that a whole month
was paft. And when he had at last made twelve
of theſe monthly notches, he made one in the
fourth tree, to fignify that a whole year, was
ended.
+
DICK.
But the months are not all of equal length!
Some have thirty, and fome have one and
thirty days. How did he then know, how
many days every month has?
FATHER.
That he could count on his fingers,
On his fingers!
JOHN.
FATHER.
Aye; and if you will, Fl fhew you how?
ALL.
Oh yes! yes! dear Papa!
FATHER.
80
+1 Knöchel,
Дивний
Gebrud
FATHER.
Now mind me! Lookee, he clofed his
hand in this manner, then he pointed with
one finger of his right hand to the first knuckle
of his left, then in the hollow between this
and the next knuckle, and fo naming the
months in their fucceffive order. Every month,
that falls on a knuckle, has one and thirty
days, and thoſe months, that fall between,
have only thirty, February excepted, which
has never thirty, but only twenty eight, and
every fourth Year twenty nine; thus pointing
to the knuckle of the forefinger of his left
hand, he named January as the firſt month of
the year, and how many days has that month?
JOHN.
One and thirty.
FATHER.
Now, I will continue to count the months
in this manner, and you Jacky, you may tell us
the number of the days,
place: February! -
JOHN.
fo, in the fecond
Should have thirty, but has only twenty
eight, and fometimes twenty nine.
FATHER.
March.
JOHN.
One and thirty.
*
FATHER.
8I
I
FATHER.
April.
JOHN.
Thirty.
FATHER.
May.
JOHN.
One and thirty.
FATHER.
June.
JOHN.
Thirty.
FATHER.
July.
JOHN.
One and thirty.
FATHER.
Auguft.
(Pointing to the knuckle of the thumb.)
JOHN,
Thirty one.
FATHER.
September.
JOHN.
Į
Thirty.
FATHER.
October
JOHN.
Thirty one.
F
FATHER.
82
November.
Thirty.
December.
FATHER.
JOHN.
FATHER.
JOHN.
FATHER.
One and thirty days.
Did you obferve in the Almanack, if it was
right?
DICK.
Yes, Sir, I did; it was all juſt to an hair!
FATHER.
Such things as thefe ought to be well ob-
ferved, becaufe we have not always an Alma-
nack about us, and yet it may fometimes be
of importance for us, to know how many days
every month has.
JOHN.
Oh! I fhall not forget it again.
DICK.
Nor I; I have taken good notice of it!
FATHER.
In this manner ROBINSON took care, not to
lofe his account of time, that he might always
know, which day was funday, and celebrate
it like a chriftian.
Now he had eaten the greateſt part of the
cocao-nuts of his fingle tree, and the fea afforded
him
83
him fo few oyſters, that he could not fubfift
on them alone. He therefore began again to
be concerned, on account of his future fuite-
nance.
For fear of meeting with wild beaſts or favo
ges,
he had hitherto not dared to venture far
from his habitation. But now neceflity forced
him, to take courage, and to look a little farther
about him in the island, in order to difcover new
provifions. With this view he refolved in
the name of God, to take a journey the day
following the a couvert
To fcreen himfelf from the fcorching heat
of the fun, he employed that evening, to
make himself an umbrella. parafol.
NICOLAS.
And where did he get the linen and the
whalebone for it?
да
FATHER. cos. Matich richie
og Mofich,
He had neither, linen, nor whalebone, nor
knife, nor fciffars, feither needle nor thread,
how d'ye think he did, to inake
and yet
himfelf an umbrella?
NICOLAS.
Nay, that I don't know!
FATHER.
He took fome willow twigs and twiſted them
into a kind of a roof, in the middle of which
لسل السله
he put a stick, which he falten'd with packs fiulle.
F 2
thread
84
}
alles queris.
thread of his own making; then he fetch'd
fome cocao-leaves, thefe he fastened over
his twisted roof with pins.
1
k
JOHN.,
With pins! And pray, where did he get
them?
Can't you guess?
FATHER.
CHARLOTTE.
Oh I know! he certainly had found themi
among the fweepings, and between the boards
on the floor; there I find fome very often!
JOHN.
Oh you have hit it finely! As if pins were
to be found, where none were ever loft! And
how could ROBINSON have any boards or fwee-
pings in his cavern?
FATHER.
Well, who can gueſs it?
How would
you have done, if you had had any thing to
faften as with pins, and you had none?
I fhould ufe
Pickles of thorns.
+
THEOPHILUS.
groffille
And I thofe of goofeberry bushes.
FATHER.
That's fomething! However I must tell you
that ROBINSON ufed neither the one nor the
other,
85
13 ourri
other, because he had not found any thorns
or goofeberry buſhes in his ifland,
JOHN.
Well, and what did he ufe then, pray?
FATHER.
Fish-bones. The fea now and then throws
dead fish on fhore; and after they were either
rotten or eaten by birds of prey, the bones
remained on the fhore. Of thefe, ROBINSON
had chofen the ftrongest and most pointed,
to use them instead of pins.
By means of thefe bones, he made himfelf
fo firm an umbrella, as the fun beams could
not penetrate. Whenever he fucceeded in
any of the like undertakings, he felt an incx-
preffible joy, and then he used to fay to him-
felf: ,,What a fool was I in my youth, to
fpend most of my time in Idlenefs! Oh, if I
were now in Europe and had thofe inſtruments,
which are fo eafily to be had there! How many
things would I not make! What a joy it would
be for me, to make maft of the things I wan-
ted myſelf!,,
As it was not yet very late, it came into his
head to try, whether he fhould not be able, to
cosmocke free
Make
make himself a kind of a pouch, to carry Tome
provifions along with him, and to bring back,
whatever eatables he fhould by chance dif-
cover. Having confidered a while upon the
means, he was at laft fo happy as to find them.
F 3
A
As
86
As he had already a good provifion of pack-
thread, he refolved to make a net of it, and
then to form it into a hunter's-pouch.
This he did in the following manner. He
faftened his pack-thread to two trees, about
Maßräthe,
a yard diſtance from each other, and every
fee, Tyre. thread as clofe as poffible under the other;
ſonge, or Rat
Jong, on this was to be the Wharp, as the weavers call
insunliche Auth.t. This done, he began to faften and to tie
his threads from the top to the bottom very
clofe making a knot on every cross thread he
met, juft as the net-makers do. Theſe threads
+. Trame. Un going up and down were confequently the
Woof. And thus he foon made himſelf a net,
Mag. für not unlike a fishing-net. He then loofed the
frag mind go ends from the tree, faftened them together on
нервово
one fide and at the bottom, leaving the up-
per part open. And thus, he had a kind of
a hunter's-pouch, which he flung about his
neck, with a final cord made of pack - thread,
Faftened to the upper end of it.
He could hardly fleep that whole night, for
joy at the happy fuccefs of his undertaking.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh, I should like to make myſelf ſuch a
pouch too.
NICOLAS.
And To would 1; if we had but pack-
thread.
MOTHER.
87
F
MOTHER.
To be fo delighted with your work, as Ro-
BINSON was with his, you must make the pack-
thread yourſelves, and alfo prepare the flax
and hemp with your own hands. But as this
is not ripe enough yet, I'll give you fome
pack-thread.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh, will you, dear Mama!
MOTHER.
Moft willingly; if you defire it. Come
along, we'll go and fetch fome.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh, that's excellent!
CHARLOTTE.
You do very well, to imitate theſe things.
For if you should happen one day or other to
come to fuch an uninhabited Inland, you will
know, what to do. Is n't it true, Papa?
FATHER.
Very right, do fo! Now we will let
our ROBINSON fleep till-to-morrow!
In the
mean time I'll fee, if I can not learn of him
the art of making an umbrella.
FIFTH
F 4
88
The
хожска
FIFTH EVENING.
he next evening, when the company were
again affembled in their ufual place, Ni-
colas appear'd with a huntsman's-pouch of his
own making, by which he drew the eyes of all
prefent upon him. Inftead of an umbrella, he
had borrowed a fieve from the cook, which he
carried on a ftick above his head. His whole
deportment was grave and majeftic.
·
MOTHER.
Bravo, Nicolas! that's well done. I had
like to have taken you for ROBINSON himfelf.
JOHN.
I could not get my pouch ready, otherwife
you should have feen me fo too!
THPOPHILUS.
This is just my cafe.
FATHER.
It is very well, that one of you got ready
however; now we fee, that it is poffible, to
make fuch things. But your umbrella, Nicolas,
is good for nothing!
NICOLAS.
Nay, I only wanted to have one for to day,
and I could not have a better one in fo fhort
a time!
FATHER.
89
FATHER.
(taking one of his own making, from behind the hedge.)
What do you fay to this, Friend Robin-
fon?
NICOLAS,
Oh, that's a fine one!
FATHER.
I'll keep it, till we end our ftorv, and he,
who then can make most of thoſe things, that
ROBINSON made, fhall be our Robinion and
have this umbrella.
THEOPHILUS.
hutte, abune.
Muft he alfo make himself a hut?
Why not?
FATHER
ALL.
Oh, that's excellent! Oh, pretty!
FATHER.
ROBINSON could fearce wait till day-break
he rofe before the fun, and prepared himſelf
for his journey. He put his pouch about his
shoulders, girded a rope around his waift,
hung his hatchet in it, inftead of a fword,
then took his umbrella on his ſhoulder, and
walked off very cheerfully.
He firft went to his cocao-tree, to get one
or two nuts into his pouch; then to the fea-
fhore, to get fome Oyfters, and having pro-
vided himself with both and taken a draught
F 5
af
90
of freſh water for his breakfast, he fet out on
his journey.
It was a charming morning, the fun was
rifing in all his luftre as from the fea, and
gilded the tops of the mountains and trees. A
thoufand finall birds of various colours were
now finging their morning lays, and rejoiced
in the new day. The Air was fo pure and fo
refreshing, as if it had just come out of the
hands of the creator; and all the herbs and
flowers diffuſed their ſweeteſt odours.
ROBINSON'S heart dilated with joy and gra-
titude to his God. Here again,,, faid he to
himſelf,,,God fhews himself as the moſt boun-
tiful!,,
He then mixed his voice with
thofe of the birds, and fung with a loud voice
as follows:
My ftrengthen'd foul be thy firſt care
To praife the mighty Lord;
To praife thy God my foul prepare,
Thy feng is not unheard.
To guard myſelf too weak indeed,
I flept in peace reclin'd;
Then who protected me in need?
Whofe power lull'd my mind?
min Merein Kind in Schlaf ungen.
Twas
91
'Twas thou, o Lord, 'twas thou alone,
We move alone in thee;
Thou faveft all, and thou haft fhewn
Thy mercy new to me.
Praiſed be thou, o Lord of might,
Thy guardian care be praif'd,
That has protected me all night,
And now from fleep has raif'd.
Give me thy choiceft bleflings ftill
And guide me in thy way;
Teach thou me Lord thy holy will,
And teach me to obey.
A
Deign thou my life here to regard;
My foul on thee does call;
Ein Minderjähriger, eier Weiſse:
die Müche. Schonwanache.
In danger deign to be my ward,
My helper when I fall.
20
relig. Rit
Tune thou my heart to godlinefs,
Let me love all mankind;
Let my heart ſtill true happineſs
In goodly actions find.
That
92
That I as thy obedient child
May virtue's path explore;
And not with ftormy paffions wild
My foul to vice reſtore.
}
That I may to all men be kind;
To help them ne'er be flow;
Let others' wellfare warm my mind,
Their virtues make it glow.
That while I ftill enjoy life's ſpace
May thankfully amend;
And that, at thy decree my race
With chearfulnefs may end,
THEOPHILUS.
Dear Papa, won't you give me a copy of
that hymn, that I may read it every morning,
when I get up?
Moft willingly!
FATHER.
FRIEND R.
1
And I will teach you the tune to it: and
then we may fing it before morning prayers.
NICOLAS.
Oh that's fine, it is a very excellent hymn!
FATHER.
93
4
FATHER.
As ROBINSON was ftill greatly afraid of wild
beafts and favages, he avoided clofe woods
and buſhes as much as poffible during the courfe
of his journey, and rather chofe thofe parts
of the island, where he had a free profpec
on all fides. But thefe were the moft unfruit-
ful places in all the ifiand. He therefore had
gone a great way, without difcovering any
thing to his purpoſe.
Lan,
At laft he fpied a plant, which he thought
deferved a clofer examination. Thefe plants
ſtood together in finall lufters, forming a kind
finalle right the in fans bryg.
Some had reddish, others whitish
of fhrubery.
bicffoms, and others again bore fmall green
apples, about the fize of a cherry.cris.
pulled
He immediately die off, and tafted
it, but found it not at all catable, with in-
dignation he then pulled a whole bufh out of
the ground and was going to fling it away,
when, to his great aftonifhment, he difco-
vered a great number of large and fmall round
bulbs at the root of it. He inftantly fuppofed
thefe to be properly the fruit of the plant,
and began to examine them a little nearer.
He put one between his teeth, and when
he found it hard and taftelefs, was going to
fling it away, but happily he recollected, that
they might be good for fomething, though he
could not directly difcover for what. So he
ally.
Puc
94
put fome of them into his pouch and proceeded.
on his journey.
JOHN.
I know, what they were.
FATHER.
Well! and what then?
JOHN.
Why, Potatoes! "they grow juſt ſo as you
defcribed them.
DICK.
And originally they come from America!
THEOPHILUS.
Why, aye! Sir Francis Drake brought them
from thence! But ROBINSON was very ftupid,
not to know them.
Ånd
FATHER.
pray! how come you to know them?
THEOPHILUS.
Why, because I have often ſeen and ate
them; they are my favourite diſh!
FATHER.
But Robinſon did never fee or eat any before.
No?
THEOPHILUS.
FATHER.
No; becauſe in his time they were not
at all known in Germany. They came to us
about forty years ago, and it is above two
hundred years, fince our Robinſon lived.
THEO
95
Nay then.
THEOPHILUS.
FATHER.
Do ye fee, dear Theophilus, that it is wrong
to cenfure other people fo inconfiderately? We
must first put ourselves intirely into their pla-
ces, and confider, whether we ſhould have
acted better than they? Had you never feen
any potatoes, and never heard how they are
dreffed, you would not know, what to do
with them, no more than ROBINSON. Let this
caution you for the future, never to think your-
felf wifer than other people.
THEOPHILUS.
Kifs me, dear Papa, I fhall never do fo
any more.
FATHER.
ROBINSON continued his journey, but fowly
and with precaution. The leaft rustling of the
wind in the trees and buſhes frightened him,
and made him lay hold of his hatchet,.
to defend himſelf in cafe of need; but to his
great joy, he always found he had been ter-
rified without caufe.
Maisteru
At laft he came to a brook, where he deter-
mined to take his dinner. Here he fat himſelf
down under a thick fhady tree, and had al-
ready begun to eat very heartily when all
of a fudden, he was terribly frighten'd by a
diftant noife. He looked fearfully about him,
and at laſt diſcovered a whole drove
་
trousseau
NICO-
96-
:
NICOLAS.
Of favages, to be fure!
THEOPHILUS.
Or Lyons and tygers.
FATHER.
i
Neither of them! but a whole drove of wild
animals, bearing fome refemblance to our deer,
except that their necks were much longer,
which gave them fome refemblance with ca-
mels, and their heads fomething like our hor-
fes, as for the reft, they were not much larger
than our theep.
If you defire to know, what animals they
were, and how they are called, I will tell it
you.
JOHN.
Oh yes, do, pray!
FATHER,
They are called Lama's, and fometimes Gua
noka's. Their proper country is this part of
America, (pointing to the map) which belongs
to Spain, and is called Peru; therefore they
are alſo called peruvian fheep, tho' they have
nothing common with the fheep, except the
wool. The americans here, before they were
difcovered by the europeans, had tamed this
animal, and uſed it like an afs, to carry bur-
thens. Of their wool they uſed to make them-
felves ftuffs for cloaths.
JOHN.
97
JOHN.
The Peruvians then must not have been fo
favage as the other inhabitants of America
were.
FATHER.
Not, by a great deal! They, as well as thé
Mexicans, (here in North-America) lived in
houtes regularly built, had magnificent tém
ples, and were governed by kings.
THEOPHILUS.
Is not that the country, from which the
fpaniards get fo much gold and filver, and
fend it home in their galeons, as you have
told us?
FATHER.
The very fame! When ROBINSON faw
thefe animals, which we alfo will call Lama's,
he felt a great appetite for a piece of roaſt
meat, which he had not tafted a good while,
and he greatly wished, to kill one of them.
To this end he placed himself behind a tree
with his ftone-hatchet, in hopes, that one or
other of them would come near enough, fo that
he might knock it on the head and kill it,
He fucceeded. Thefe harmlefs animals,
which, no doubt, had never been difturbed
here, paffed the tree, behind which ROBINSON
had hid himself, without any fear, and one
of them, a young one, coming within his
reach, he gave it fuch a violent blow on the
G
neck
98
:.
1.
neck with his hatchet, that it immediately fell
dead on the ground.
CHARLOTTE.
Oh fie! How could he do fo? The poor
little ſheep!
MOTHER.
And why fhould n't he, pray?
CHARLOTTE.
Why, the little animal had done him no
harın; and fo he ought not to have killed
it!
MOTHER.
But he wanted the flesh of this animal, to
live upon; and don't you know, that God has
allowed us, to make ufe of animals, to what-
ever purpofe we need them?
FATHER.
To kill or torment a poor innocent animal,
without neceffity, would be cruel in us; and
no good man will ever do it. But we are al-
lowed to uſe them, what they are good for,
and to eat their flefh. Have you forgot, what
I once explained to you, that it is even good
for animals, that we use them fo.
JOHN.
Oh, aye! And if we did not make ufe of
animals, we should not take the trouble, to
provide for them neither, and then they would
not be near fo well off, as they are now, and
many of them would be ftarved in winter.
DICK.
فلا
99
DICK.
Aye, and they would fuffer a great deal
more, if we did not kill them, and they
died of fickness and age; becauſe they are
not able to help each other, as men can.
FATHER.
And then we must not think, that our way
of killing animals is fo painful to them, as it
feems to us. They never know before hand,
that they are going to be killed, and fo are
very. eafy and contented to their laſt moment.
And as to the fenfation of pain, while they
are killed, that is no fooner felt, than it is over.
As foon as ROBINSON had knocked down the
Lama, he began to confider, how he should
be able to drefs its flefh?
CHARLOTTE.
Why, could n't he boil or roaft it?
FATHER.
That he would moft willingly have done;
but unluckily for him, he wanted all the ne-
ceffaries for this purpofe. He had neither pot
nor fpit, and what was ſtill worſe he even
had no fire.
*
CHARLOTTE.
No fire! why, could n't he make fome?
FATHER.
To be fure, he might, if he had had a ſteal
and tinder, a flint and matches! But, alas! he
had nothing of âll this !• .
G 2
Јони.
100
JOHN.
I know very well, what I should have done?
་
FATHER.
And what, pray?
JOHN.
J.
I should have Tubbed two pieces of dry
wood together, till they had taken fire at aft;
as we read one day in the hiftory of travels,
that the favages did.
FATHER.
Our ROBINSON recollected the fame method;
he therefore took his dead Lama on his fhoul-
ders, and made the best of his way back to
his habitation.
On his return he made another difcovery,
no less agreeable to him; for he met with fix
or eight lemmon-trees, under which he found
fome ripe lémmons, that were fallen off from
the trees, thefe he carefully gathered, marked
the place and then, with great fatisfaction,
haftened back to his dwelling.
Being arrived there, his firft bufinefs was,
to fkin the young lama. This he did, by
means of a sharp stone, which he uſed inſtead of
a knife. He fpread the fkin, as well as he could,
in the fun to dry it, becauſe he forefaw, it
would one time or other, be very useful to
him.
JOHN.
And pray, what could he do with it?
FATHER.
101
1
FATHER.
He might ufe it feveral ways! In the first
place, his fhoes and stockings began to wear
out; and he thought in cafe of need, he might
make himfelf foles of that fkin, and tie them
round his feet; that he might not be quite
barefoot. Then he was alſo greatly afraid of
the winter, and therefore very glad, that he
had found a means, to provide himſelf with
furs, and not to die of cold..
It is true, his fear was needlefs, becaufe,
there never is any winter in this country.
THEOPHILUS.
Never any winter?
FATHER
No! There is never any winter in all thoſe
hot climates here between the tropicks, which
I lately explained to you. But inftead of that,
there are long continuing rains, for a couple
of months in theſe countries. But ROBINSON
knew nothing of all this, becauſe he had never
been properly inſtructed in his youth.
JOHN.
But, Papa, I think we once read, that the
Pico of Teneriffa, and the Cordilleras in Peru,
are always covered with fhow? There confe-
quently it muft always be winter, and yet they
are all fituated between the tropicks.
G3
FATHER,
102
FATHER.
You are right, my dear John, very high
mountainous countries are exceptions. For
the tops of fuch high mountains are always
covered with fnow. Do you still remember,
what I told you of fome countries in the Eaft-
Indies, when we lately took a voyage thither
on the map?
JOHN.
Oh yes! That in fome parts there, fummer
and winter are only a few miles afunder! As on
the iſle of Ceylon, which belongs to the Dutch,
and where pray, where was it?
FATHER.
On the foremost peninfula. When it is
winter on this fide of the Gate-mountains on
the coaft of Malabar, it is fummer on the
other fide of the mountains, on the coaſt of
Coromandle, and fo the reverfe. They fay,
that the fame is obferved in the inland of
Zeram, one of the molucca's, and there one
needs only go three miles, to come from the
cold of winter into the heat of fummer, and
again from a hot into a cold country.
But we are again very far from our ROBIN-
SON, Only fee how our mind can in a trice
tranfport itself into countries and places, many
thousand miles diftant from one another!
From America we flew to Afia and now
mind me! hush, and lo! we are back
again
103
again to America, in our friend ROBINSON'S
iland. Isn't that wonderful?
Having thus fkinned his Lamas and taken
out the guts, he cut off a hind quarter to roast
it, and then his next care was to make a fpit.
For this purpoſe he took a very young ftrait
tree, ftript it of the bark, and tharpened it
at one end. Then he looked for a couple of
forky branches, to lay his fpit on. Thefe he
alfo fharpened, and knocked them into the
ground, oppofite to each other, fpitted his
meat, placed the fpit on the forks, and was
not a little rejoiced, to fee how well he could
turn it.
Now the most neceffary of all was ftill wan-
ting, that is fire. To produce which, by
friction, he cut two pieces of wood from a
withered tree, and fell a working directly. He
rubbed till the ſweat rolled down in great drops
from his face, but all to no purpoſe, for juft
when the wood was fo hot that it fmoaked,
he found himself fo tired, that he was obliged,
to stop a little, in order to gather new ftrength,
in which time the wood always grew cold
again, and all his labour proved in vain..
+
He now again felt, in the moft fenfible man-
ner, the helpleſs condition of a folitary life,
and the many advantages, afforded to us by
the foeiety of men. Had he had but one, to
Continue rubbing, when he was tired, he
would certainly have made the wood burn.
G 4
But
1
104
GNCK
But being quite alone, it was impoffible for
him.
JOHN.
But yet I think, the favages make fire by
rubbing the wood in the manner you fay.
FATHER.
So they do. But thofe favages are generally
ftronger, than we Europeans are, we are
too tenderly brought up; and then they know
much better, how to fet about fuch things.
They commonly take two pieces of wood of
different kinds, one hard and the other foft.
The former they rub with great quickness
againſt the latter, which takes fire. Or elfe
they make a hole in one, and ſticking the
other into it, turn it fo very quickly in their
hands, till it takes fire at laft.
Now ROBINSON knew nothing of this me-
thod, and therefore could not fucceed.
Quite dejected at laft, he flung the two pieces.
of wood down to the ground, and laid himſelf
on his couch. There he lay in a very melan-
choly mood; his head leaned on his hand, and
with a deep figh he often caft a look on the
fine piece of meat, which, for want of fire,
he could n't eat, and when he reflected on
the approaching winter, and what then would
become of him, if he had no fire, he fell into
fuch an agony of grief, that he jumped up
from
}
105
from his couch and walked about; to recover
himſelf a little.
As his blood was now in a great agitation,
he grew very dry and went to the fpring to
fetch a draught of freſh water in his cocoa-
fhell. This water he mixed with fome lem-
mon-juice, which made it a fine cooling drink,
and was very acceptable to him in this fitua-
tion.
But ftill his mouth watered after a piece of
roast meat, of which he would gladly have
eaten a flice. At last he recollected to have
once heard: that the Tartars, human creatures
as well as himſelf, put the flesh, they intend
to eat, under their faddles, and then ride on
it 'till it is tender. This he thought might
poffibly be done in another manner, and he
refolved to fet about it inftantly. To this end
he went and fetched two pretty fmooth broad
flat ftones, of the fame kind his hatchet was
of; between thefe he laid fome meat, without
bones, and began to ftrike vigouroufly on the
upper ftone with his mallet. He had fearce
done fo, for ten minutes, when the ftone
began to grow hot, and now he redoubled
his blows, and in lefs than half an hour the
meat was become fo tender, by the heat of
the ftones, caufed by his inceffant beating
upon it, that it was become perfectly eatable.
True it is, that it did not taſte quite ſo well,
as if it had been properly roafted. But for
Ro-
G 5
106
។
ROBINSON, who in fo long a time had tafted
no meat at all, it was a great delicacy.
,,Oh ye nice countrymen of mine!,, cried he,
,,who fo often loath. the best victuals, be
caufe they do not fait your dainty palates. were
you but for eight days in my place, you would
be very well pleafed afterwards with any
victuals, God Almighty is pleafed to fend you!
You would take care, never to be again un-
grateful to the all nourishing hand of provi-
dence! ""
In order to highten the relifh of this dish,
he fqueezed fome lemmon-juice upon it, and
then made fuch a meal, as he had not done a
long while. Neither did he forget, to addrefs
his very fervent thanks to the giver of all
good things.
+
When his dinner was ended, he began to
confider, what was now the moſt needful occu-
pation for him to do? His fear of the winter,
which this day had grown fo ftrong within
him, made him refolve, to spend fome days
in killing a great many Lamas, and make a
provifion of their fkins. As they feemed to
be fo very tame, he was in hopes, to obtain
his with without much trouble.
Full of thefe hopes he went to bed, and,a
foft refreshing fleep richly rewarded him for
all the trouble of that day.
3.
SIXTH
107
**:00:00:00/
ဗား
SIXTH EVENING.
Ou
(The father continues.)
ur ROBINSON Лlept that time, till the day
was far advanced. When he awoke, he
was furprized to find it was already fo late,
and haftily jumped up in order to fet out, to
feek after lamas. But heaven had ordained it
otherwife.
For juſt when he had put his head out of
his hole, he was forced to draw it quickly back
again.
:
And why fo?
CHARLOTTE.
FATHER.
The rain poured down with fuch violence,
that it was not poffible for him to walk out;
he therefore refolved to stay, till the fhower
was over.
But the rain did not abate, on the contrary,
it ftill increaſed with violence. At times there
came fuch flashes of lightning, that his dark
cavern feemed to be all on fire; and then fuch
violent claps of thunder followed, as he had
never heard before. The earth trembled of
the terrible rumbling, and the mountain fent
forth
108
forth fuch manyfold echoes, that the frightful
noife feemed unending.
AS ROBINSON had had a bad education, he
was prepoffeffed with a foolish fear of light--
ning.
THEOPHILUS.
Of thunder and lightning!
FATHER.
Yes, they frightened him fo much, that
he did not know, what to do with himself
for fear.
THEOPHILUS.
That is fomething fo majestic why then
was he afraid of it?.
FATHER.
Nay, that I can't tell; probably, becauſe
fometimes houfes are fet on fire, and now
and then a man is alfo killed by it.
JOHN.
Ay! but that happens fo very feldom. I
have now lived a good while, and yet I don't
remember, that ever a man was killed by
lightning.
THEOPHILUS.
And if there were, why, one dies fo quickly,
and then we go to God Almighty, and what
does it fignify then?
·
DICK.
Oh what a fine fight is it, to fee the
lighting it cools the air finely, and it looks
fo
109
fo noble, when the lightning darts from the
black clouds!
CHARLOTTE.
Oh I like to fee it too! Won't you take us
out again, dear papa, when it lightens, that
we may fee it well?
FATHER.
Oh yes, I will! ROBINSON you know,
had but been poorly inftructed in his youth;
therefore he was ignorant how bencficial
thunder is; how it purifies the air! how it
makes every thing grow well in the fields and
gardens; how men and anipals, trees and
plants, are fo agreeably refreshed by it!--
He fat now in a corner of his cavern,
frightened to death and his hands folded; while
the rain poured down in great abundance, and
flaſhes of lightning fhot thro' the air, and
claps of thunder fucceeded each others with
redoubled violence. It was almooft noors
and yet the fury of the thunder had not in
-the leaſt abated..
He did not feel any hunger, for the terror
he was in, did not fuffer him to think of ig
But his foul was the more tormented with
frightful ideas: The time is come, he
thought, that God will punish me for all my
paft tranfgreffions! He has withdrawn his
paternal hand from me; I muft now perish,
and fhall never fée my poor parents more.
FRIEND
:
FRIEND R.
-
Now, I must own, I am not at all pleafed
with our friend ROBINSON!
NICOLAS.
And why not, pray?
FRIEND R.
Why? had not God Almighty done already
fo much for him; that by his own experience,
he might very well know, that God forfakes
no man, who confides in him, and endeavours
to mend? Had he not already faved him from
the moft apparent dangers of his life! Had he
not already helped him fo far, that he had
no need to fear any longer to die with
hunger? And yet he was dejected! fie!
that was not well of him.
MOTHER.
I am of your opinion dear R., but let us
have compaffion on the poor fellow! It was
but lately he had begun to reflect, and of
courſe, it was impoffible for him, to be
fo perfect as one, who from his earlieſt youth
had been endeavouring to amend.
FATHER.
You are right, my dear! Give me your
hand! and take this kifs for your compaffion on
my poor ROBINSON, who, fome time fince is
become very dear to me, becauſe I perceive
him to be in a good way.
Whilft
TIL
f
Whilft he was thus fitting in fear and
apprehenfion, the tempeft feemed at laſt to
abate. In proportion as the violence of the
thunder and rain feemed to leffen, hope by de-
grees revived in his foul: Now he thought
he might at laft venture out, and was juſt
going to lay hold of his pouch and his hatchet,
when all of a fudden what do you think?
he fell fenfelefs on the ground.
JOHN.
Well! and what was the matter with him
then?
Rrrrrr
FATHER.
bounce it went over his
head; the earth trembled and ROBINSON fell
down as dead. The lightning had ftruck into
a tree, which ſtood above his cavern, and
rent it to pieces, with fo dreadful a noiſe, that
poor ROBINSON loft fight and hearing, and
thought he was himself ftruck dead.
He remained a long while on the ground
without knowing any thing of himſelf. At
laft, perceiveing that he was ftill alive, he
got up again, and the first thing he discovered
at the entrance of his cave, was a piece of
the tree, that had been rent and flung down
by the lightning. This was a new misfortune
to him! What could he now faften his ladder
to, if the whole tree, as he thought was
ftruck down?'
A
The
112
The rain and thunder being now, entirely
over, he at laft ventured out, and what d'ye
think he faw?
Something which inftantly filled his heart
with thanks and love to God Almighty, and
with the greatest fenfe of thame at his for-
mer dejection! He faw the trunk of the tree,
into which the lightning had ſtruck, all in a
blaze of fire. He now faw himself in poffeffion
of what he wanted moft, and divine providence
had moft vifibly provided for him at that very
nie, when in his great anxiety, he thought
himfelf forfaken!
MOTHER.
How wonderful! What ROBINSON thought
his greatest misfortune, now proved to be his
greatest happiness. But divine providence has
Falways fuch wife and beneficial defigns, when
it futters any evil to happen in the world.
FATHER.
Providence does the fame with us, as I did
to day with a wood-worn.
f. How fo?
MOTHER.
FATHER.
I was cleaving wood; and juft when I was rea
dy to ſtrike with my hatchet, I perceived a wood-
worm fitting in a fplit, into which I was going
to ftrike, Why kill the poor thing without
need, thought I, and blew it three paces from
me,
1
113
}
me, as if it had been whirl'd away by a ſtorm.
Now I reflected, how the little short-fighted
fool might reafon on this accident.,,What
an unfriendly tyrant that huge two-legged
creature must be!,, it might think,,,to make
fuch a violent hurricane, which muft fling me
head over heels out of my houfe! and what
does it avail him? I very believe, he did it
only, to fee me, poor worm, whirl thro' the
air!,, Thus it might have reafon'd, if ani-
mals could reafon properly; it little thought,
I fuppofe, that I did fo, merely out of kind-
nefs; and yet I really did. Let us, my dear
children, always think of this wood-worm,
whenever we are tempted to judge fo unreafo-
nably and ungratefully of the difpofitions of
heaven, of which we know as little, as the
wood-worm did of my intention.
With inexpreffible fentiments of joy and
gratitude, Robinfon lifted up his hands to
heaven, and thanked the bountiful, the all
directing father of mankind, who in the moft.
dreadful accidents has always the moft wife
and kindest intentions; he cried with a loud
voice and tears of joy in his eyes:,, Oh,
what is man! that ſhort-fighted worm, who
darcs to murmer at what God Almighty does,
and what he can not comprehend!,,
Now he had got fire without the leaft
trouble, and now it was eafy for him to
keep this fire, and he needed not be fo con-
H
cern'd
114
i
cern'd about his future fuftenance in this
folitary iſland.
That day he did not go a
hunting, as his intention firft was, becaufe
he would immediately take advantage of the
fire, and roaft his meat, which had been ſpitted
fince the day before.
As the lower part of the burning trunk, to
which his ladder was faftened, was yet unhurt,
he might fafely mount his ladder; this he did,
took a fire - brand, got down with it to the
place, which he had inclofed before his habi-
tation, then he made an excellent fire, to roaſt
his meat, after which he got up again to the
burning tree, and put out the fire.
This being done, he did the bufinefs of a
fcullion; he kept up the fire and turned hist
meat with great diligence. His fire was an
object of uncommon joy to him, and greatly
affected him. He confidered it as a very va-
luable gift of God, which he had fent him
down from the clouds, and whilft he was
reflecting on the great advantages, it might
afford him, he often lifted up his eyes
with gratitude to heaven. And afterwards,
whenever he faw any fire, or only thought of
it, his fecond thought always was: This God
Almighty has granted me too.
FRIEND B.
No wonder, that fome ignorant people, who
never had any inftructions, thought, that fire,
by
115
by which all, what lives on earth, is pre-
ferved, was God himself!
JOHN.
Did fome people believe fo?
FRIEND B.
Yes, John! God be praised, that we
are better informed, and know, that fire is
not God, but only a gift of him, created for
our fakes, the fame as water, earth and air!
FATHER.
ROBINSON had, at his last night's fupper
miffed the falt, in the taste of his meat, and
hoped for the future, to find fome too in his
inland. For this time he ran to the fea-
fhore and fetch'd a cocoa - fhell full of fea-
water. With this he bafted his meat feveral
times, and by that means feaſoned it in fome
meaſure.
At last it ſeemed fufficiently done, and he,
who like ROBINSON has not tafted a mouthful
of well-dreffed meat in four weeks, and given
up all hopes of ever tafting any again, may
defcribe the joy he felt, when he cut the firſt
piece of meat and put the first morfel into his
mouth.
Now the great queftion was: how he fhould
always keep the fire.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh, that he might very eafily! He only
needed, to put always fresh wood on it.
H 2
FATHER.
{
116
FATHER.
Very well; but if a fhower of rain fhould
happen to fall in the night-time, when he
was afleep, what then?
CHARLOTTE.
I'll tell you what, Papa! I fhould have made
a fire in my cavern, where the rain could not
come.
FATHER.
Very well thought of! But unluckily for
him, his cavern was fo very fmall, that it
was only large enough for him to lie in, and
then he had no chimney, and ſo could not
have ſtaid in it for finoak.
CHARLOTTE.
Why, then I can't help him!
JOHN.
There muft always be fome confounded thing
or other, to give him pain. One is often apt
to think him very happy; but, your humble
fervant! fome new obſtacle always ſtarts in
view!
FATHER.
By this we fee, how infinitely difficult it is
for any fingle man, to provide himfelf with
all he wants! And how great are the ad-
vantages, which focial life affords! Oh, my
children! we should be but poor wretched
creatures, if every one of us was forced, to
live by himſelf, and that no one had the con-
fort
117
fort of his fellow creatures affiſtance! A thou-
fand hands are not fufficient to prepare, what
a fingle man wants every day!
Oh, Papa!
རྩྭ
JOHN.
FATHER.
Don't you think fo, my dear John? Well t
let us fee, what you have eat, drunk and
wanted to day? In the first place you have
flept till fun-rife, in a good commodious bed,
have n't you?
On a Matrafs.
Right!
horfe- hair.
JOHN.
FATHER.
Theſe matraffes are filled with
Theſe have been cut by two hu-
man hands, weighed and fold by two others;
they have been packed and fent away by two
more; two received and unpacked them; two
again have fold them to the faddler or uphol-
fterer. Thefe hair, which were entangled,
were pickt out by the hands of the upholsterer,
who put them into a matrafs. The covering
of the matrafs is made of ftriped linen, and
whence does that come?
JOHN.
It was made by the linen-weaver.
FATHER.
And what does he want, to make it?
HS
JOHN.
118
JOHN.
Why, a loom, and yarn, and ſwifts, and
warping bars, and pafte, and -
FATHER.
Very well! How many hands are there
now required, to make a weaver's loom?
We'll only fuppofe a few twenty! The
paſte is made of flour. How many hands are
there not required, before we can get flour!
How many hundred hands muft not be em-
ployed, to make all what is neceffary for a
mill, in which the corn is ground!
weavers chiefly want yarn, and where does
he get that from?
JOHN.
That is fpun by women.
But
FATHER.
And of what?
JOHN.
Of flax.
FATHER.
And do you know, how many hands the
flax muſt paſs thro', before it can be fpun?
JOHN.
Oh yes, that we have lately reckoned over!
In the first place the farmer muft fift the lin-
feed, to clean it from the feeds of weeds;
then the land muft dunged and ploughed a
couple of times; then it is fowed and harrowed
in. When the young flax grows up, a great
number
گے
119
number of women and girls come to weed it.
When it is at its full growth, it is pulled out
by the roots, and drawn through the ripple-
comb, to take the feeds off.
NICOLAS.
Oh, aye! and then it is tied up in fmall
bundles, and laid into water!
DICK.
And when it is foaked enough, it is taken
out again.
THEOPHILUS.
Then they ſpread it in the fun, to dry it.
FREDERIC.
And then it is broke on the brake.
CHARLOTTE.
With your leave, Sir; first it is dried in.
the oven! Is n't it, Papa?
+
FREDERIC.
Oh, aye! And then it is broke, and then
}
JOHN.
Then it is hackled on the hackle, which is
full of fharp wires, to take out the tow.
DICK.
And then they do fomething elfe with it-
let me fee
directly!
ching stocks.
I know it.
Oh, I'll tell you
Then the fcutch it, on the fcut-
FATHER.
Now take this all together and confider,
how much muſt be done, before we can get
H 4
linen;
120
1
linen; confider at the fame time, how much
work all the inftruments require, which the
husbandman, the flax-cleaner and the fpinner
ſtand in need of; and you will allow, that I
do not fay too many, when I affure you, that
more than a thoufand hands have been em-
ployed, in making only the Matrafs, on which
you fo conveniently fleep!
THEOPHILUS.
Aftoniſhing a thouſand hands!
FATHER.
}
Now confider, how many other things you
daily want, and then tell me, if it is to be
wondered at, that ROBINSON was for ever in
want of fomething or other, as no other hands,
excepting his own, were working for him?
And as he had not one of all thofe tools,
with which, things are fo eafily made among
us?
Now he was at a lofs, how to keep his
dear fire from going out. He rubbed his
forehead, as if he abfolutely wanted to rub
fome lucky thought out of it; then he walked
with his arms acrofs, and hafty ftrides up and
down in his inclofure, and for a long time he
did not know, what to refolve upon. At laft
cafting his eyes on the ſteep wall of the hill,
he directly knew, what he had to do.
DICK
f
How fo?
FATHER.
121
FATHER.
About a yard above the ground, there was
a very large and thick ftone, jutting out from
this wall.
FREDERIC.
How large might it be?
FATHER.
I could never get an exact defcription of it;
but I fuppofe, it was near my length, and about
a full yard in breadth and thickness.
Though it had rained very hard, yet the
place under this large ftone was not in the
leaft wet, but as dry, as if it had been co-
vered with a roof. ROBINSON directly con-
ceived', that it might ferve as a good and fe-
cure fire-place. But his conjectures did not
ftop here. He conceived, that it would be '
very eaſy for him, to make a proper kitchin,
fire-hearth and chimney in this place, and he
refolved, to fet about it directly.
With his fpade he dug a hole about a yard
deep juft under this large ftone. Then he re-
folved, to make a wall on each fide up to this
large stone.
THEOPHILUS.
But how could he make a wall, pray?
FATHER.
As he now obfèrved every thing, he met
and faw, with the greateſt exactneſs, and
H 5
always
122
always aſked himself: what may that be good
for! -
He had not left a certain kind of clay
unnoticed, which he had feen in one part of
his iſland; on the contrary he directly conceived
the thought, that it might ferve him to make
bricks, for a wall.
This he now recollected again, and having
almoft done with digging the hole for his
kitchin, he took his fpade and ftone - knife,
and went to the place, where this clay was to
be found, in order to fet to work directly.
As it had rained very much, the clay was fo
foft, that he could get it out without any
great trouble, then he formed it into fquare-
bricks and fimoothed them with his knife. In
a fhort time he got a confiderable number of
them ready, which he placed, in rows, where
the fun could hine on them the whole day.
He refolved to continue this work the next
day and now went home again, to eat the
remainder of his roaft meat, for his deligent
labour had procured him a very good appetite.
Now that he might on fuch a joyful day
make a prince's - feaft, he indulged himſelf fo
far, as to take one of the few remaining cocao-
nuts along with him.
1
This meal was most excellent. Ah! faid
ROBINSON, fighing with joy and with an affected.
heart Ah! how happy thould I be now,
if I had but a fingle friend, only one of my
Own
123
own fpecies, nay the most miferable beggar,
for my companion! whom I might tell, that
I loved him, and who could tell me again, that
he loved me! Was I but fo happy, to have
fome tame animal a dog or a cat to be
kind to, and gain its affection! But fo quite
alone to be fo feparated from all living
creatures! Here a tear of grief trickled
down his cheeks.
He now remembered the time, which he
uſed to ſpend in difcontent and quarrrels with
his brothers and other companions, and re-
flected on it with the bittereft remorse. Ah!
thought he, how little did I then know the
great value of a friend, and how indifpenfably
neceffary the affection of other men is to our
happiness! Oh that I could retrieve my younger
days! How friendly, how kind, how indul-
gent would I be to my brothers and other
children! How willingly would I fuffer trivial
offences, and force all mankind, by my goodness
and friendly conduct, to love me! Good God!
Why did I not know the high value of that
happiness, which friend/hip affords, untill it
was loft for me loft for ever!
Then turning accidentally his eyes towards
his cavern, he perceived a fpider, that had
extended her web in a corner. The thought
of fleeping with fome living creature under
one roof, feem'd fo comfortable, that it was
quite indifferent to him now, what kind of
animal
奮
​124
1
animal it was. He refolved to catch flies for
his fpider every day, to make this creature
fenfible, it was in a fafe and friendly place,
and if poffible to tame it.
As it was ſtill broad day, and the air, which
had been cooled by the thunder, fo very
refreſhing, he refolved not to go to bed yet;
and to spend his time with fomething ufeful,
he took his fpade, and began to dig fome
more mould out of his kitchin. Whilft he
was digging, he hit upon foinething very
hard in the ground, fo that it almoſt broke
his fpade.
He thought it was a ftone. But how great
was his aftonishment, when, on taking out
the lump, he difcovered, that it was
gold!
THEOPHILUS.
Bleis me! how lucky that ROBINSON is!
FATHER.
pure
Very lucky, indeed! The lump of gold was
fo large, that it might have procured a hun-
dred thousand dollars in coin. Now he was
at once become a very rich man; and how
many things might he not buy now? He might
get a palace built, keep his own coach, fer-
vants, running foot-man, apes, monkeys;
may, he might even
THEO.
125
THEOPHILUS.
Aye! But pray, where could he get all theſe
things in his illand? There being nobody, who
had any thing to fell?
FATHER.
Why! Aye, I did n't think of that! But
our ROBINSON thought of it directly. In-
ftead of rejoycing at the treasure he had found,
he kicked it away with indignation, faying:
,,Lie you there, wretched lump, which men
fo eagerly long for! Of what ufe art thou
to me? Had I found a good picce of iron in-
ftead of thee, I might have made myself a
knife or hatchet of it! How willingly would
I now give this gold for a handfull of iron-
nails, or any other ufeful tool!,, and fo he.
left the precious treafure with contempt, and
whenever he afterwards paft by it, he fearce
deigned to caſt a look upon it.
CHARLOTTE.
I'll tell you what, Papa; ROBINSON did juft
as the cock!
FATHER.
What cock, pray?
CHARLOTTE.
Why have you forgot the fable, you once
told us? There was once a cock -
Well?
FATHER.
CHAR-
126
CHARLOTTE.
That was feratching in a dung-hill, and
found a
what d'ye call it?
A pearl.
FATHER.
CHARLOTTE.
Oh, aye! it was a pearl, and he faid: Of
what ufe art thou to me, thou glittering thing?
had I found a barley-corn, inftead of thee, I
fhould have been better pleaſed. And fo he
left the pearl, and troubled himſelf no more
about it.
FATHER.
Very right; ROBINSON did juft fo with his
lump of gold.
Now, night was coming on, the fun had
long fince funk into the fea
THEOPHILUS.
Into the fea?
FATHER.
1
:
So it appears to thofe, who live in an
ifland, or in a country, where they fee nothing
but water round about them. There it ſeems
to them, juft as if the fun was finking down
into the fea, when he fets, and for that reafon
it is fome-times customary to fay fo, as if he
really did.
Now
J
127
Now the friendly moon arofe on the oppo-
fite fide of the fky, and darted her friendly
beams into ROBINSON's cave, fo agreeably, that
at firft he could not fleep, for this delightful
spectacle.
1
CHARLOTTE.
Oh, lookee, dear Papa, yonder is our moon
coming too!
JOHN.
Oh, aye, how glorious fhe looks!
FREDERIC.
Why does Papa pull off his cap?
JOHN. (whifpering)
Frederic, I believe he is praying to God.
FREDERIC. (whispering to John)
And why, pray?
JOHN. (whifpering)
I believe he is thanking God, for having
created that glorious moon.
FATHER. (after a pauſe)
Now, my children, ROBINSON is aleep,
while his fire is flowly burning on, kept up
by fome pieces of wood; what do you intend
to do in the mean time.
Nico-
1
F
128
{
NICOLAS.
Oh fhan't we pay a visit to our arbour,
before we go to bed?
THEOPHILUS.
Oh yes, to the arbour!
FATHER.
Well, come along then, my children, we
will fing a hymn of praife to our creator, by.
the light of his glorious moon, for the joys
of the paſt day.
And thus they all went joyfully to the ar-
bour.
1
SH-
129
•*0000000000000000000000000000
SEVENTH EVENING.
The
he following evening John, Nicolas, and
Theophilus, pulled the father out of the
door of the houſe by his arms and the ſkirts
of his coat; and as they cried for help, the
reft came alfo running up, and fo they dragged
him out of the houfe, without any further ce-
remony.
FATHER.
Well! were are you going to drag me to,
with fuch violence?
JOHN.
Why, to the grafs-plot under the apple-tree!
FATHER.
What do you want with me there?
NICOLAS.
Oh, our ROBINSON! pray! pray!
THEOPHILUS.
Oh aye, ROBINSON! and you fhall be my beft,
my dearest Papa!
FATHER.
Yes, yes, that's well enough; but I fear,
my ROBINSON will not delight you any more!
JOHN..
Not delight us? Who can fay fo? pray!
I
FATHER.
130
1
FATHER.
No-body; but if I am not mistaken, I faw
fome of you yawning laft night, and that's
generally a fign, that people don't find them-
felves well entertained.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh no, certainly not! that was only becaufe,
we had been digging fo much in our garden.
No wonder, one grows a little fleepy, after
having dug the whole afternoon.
NICOLAS.
To-day we have only been weeding, and
watering the lettuce plants, and we are not in
the leaſt tired now.
CHARLOTTE.
No, not in the leaft tired. Only fee how
I can jump yet.
FATHER.
If you'll have it fo, I will continue; but
you muſt tell me, when you begin to grow
tired of it.
JOHN.
Oh yes!
well?
FATHER.
As the heat in ROBINSON'S ifland was
fo very intolerable in the day - time, he was
obliged to do the work he intended in the
morning and evening. He therefore got up
before fun-rife, put more wood to his fire,
and took half a cocoa-nut for his breakfaſt,
'
which
131
which he had left the day before. He was now
going to fpit another piece of his lama;
but, he found that the meat was already
tainted, on account of the great heat. He
was therefore obliged to pass that day without
meat.
When he was ready to fet out for the place,
where he had made his bricks, and putting
his hunter's bag over his head, he found
thofe potatoes in it, which he had acci-
dentally picked up two days before on his
return home. It came into his head, to put
them in fome hot alhes near the fire, and
fee, how they would be, when roafted? After
which he fet out.
He worked with fuch diligence, that, before
it was noon, he had made fo many bricks
of clay, as he thought requifite to make
the wall about his kitchin; then he went to
the fea-fhore, to look for fome oyſters. But
inſtead of oyſters, of which he found but very
few, he discovered to his great joy another
kind of food, which was much better.
JOHN.
And what was that, pray?
FATHER.
It was an animal, which he had indeed
never taſted himſelf, but often heard, that the
fleſh of it had a good taſte, and was very
wholeſome.
I 2
JOHNA
'
132
JOHN.
Well, and what was it then?
FATHER.
A tortoife, and fo very large, that the like
of it, is feldom ſeen in this country. It might
be of near a hundred weight.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh, that muſt have been a prodigious large
tortoife! Are there really any fo large?
JOHN.
Oh, there are fome much larger yet. Don't
you remember, what Papa once read to us, in
our hiftory of travels? Thofe, that were caught
by the travellers, who failed to the fouth-fea?
Why, thofe were of three-hundred weight.
THEOPHILUS.
Three-hundred weight! Why that is afto-
nishing.
FATHER.
ROBINSON took his tortoife on his fhoulder,
and made a fhift, to get home with it, as well
as he could. Here he ftruck with his hatchet
on the under part of the fhell, till it broke.
Then he took the tortoife and killed it, and
cut off a good piece to roaft. This he ſpitted,
and being very hungry by working fo much,
he waited with impatience, till it was done.
Whilft he was turning the fpit, he con-
fidered, what he fhould do with the reft
of the tortoife, in order to preferve it
from
133
from putrefaction? To pickle it, he wanted
a tub and falt.
CHARLOTTE.
Pray, what do you call, to pickle?
FATHER.
It is, to lay meat, one has a mind to pre-
ferve, into a tub, and fprinkle it over with
falt; did n't you fee, how Mama pickled her
pork this winter?
CHARLOTTE.
Oh, aye!
JOHN.
This art was invented by William Bökel, to
falt herrings.
FATHER.
ROBINSON then faw, with great forrow, that
his whole tortoife, which might have ferved
him a fortnight and longer, would be quite
fpoiled by to-morrow; and yet he knew no
means how to falt it. But a new thought oc-
curred to him. The upper fhell of the tor-
toife was hollow like a tray. This he thought
he might ufe inſtead of a tub. But, where
could he get falt now?
""
What a blockhead am I?,, faid he to him-
felf, flapping his forehead. ,,May n't I pour
fea-water upon it, which will be near as good,
as if it was pickled? Oh excellent! excel-
lent!,, cried he for joy, and turned his fpit
with more cheerfulneſs than before.
13
Now
134
Now his meat was done. „Alas!
,,Alas!,, cried
ROBINSON, after having tafted a nice piece of
it with great delight,,,had I but a bit of bread
to it now! How ftupid have I been in my
youth, not to know, what a great bleffing a piece
of dry bread is! Then I would never eat it
without butter, and fometimes cheefe befides!
Oh, what a fool I was! Had I but a piece of
brown bread now, fuch as they uſed to bake
for qur garden-dog, how happy should I
think myfelf!,,
During thefe exclamations he recollected
the potatoes, which he had that morning
put into the aires. ,, I'll fee,,, faid, he,
,,how they are;,, and fo he went to fetch one
of them.
But what new caufe of joy! The hard
potatoe was now fo tender, that when he
broke it, there arofe fuch an agreeable finell
from it to his noftrils, that he did not hefi-
tate a moment, to put a piece of it into his
mouth. And lo! the taste of it was fo pleaſant,
fo pleaſant as who will help me now to
make a comparifon.
FRIEND B.
So pleafant, as the taste of a potatoe!
FATHER.
That is expreffing the matter at once! fo
the taste of this roafted potatoe was fo plea-
fant, as the taſte of a potatoe; and ROBINSON
imme-
135
immediately perceived to his great fatisfaction,
that this root might ferve him inftead of bread.
He therefore again made a most excellent.
meal. After which he laid himſelf down a
while on his couch, on account of the fcorching
heat of the fun; and during the, time he could
not work, he made all forts of reflections.
22
งา
What am I to do next?,, thought he,
The bricks muſt firſt be hardened in the fun,
before I can begin with my wall. It will there-
fore be best for me, to go a-hunting in the
mean time, and kill a couple of lamas.
But what shall I do with fo much meat?
What, if I contrived my kitchin fo, as to be
able to fmoake meat in it? moſt excellent!,,
cried he, jumping up from his couch and ftep-
ping to the place, where he intended to make
his kitchin, to confider how he might execute
this defign?
He foon found, that it would do very well.
He only needed to make a couple of holes, in
the two fide-walls, through which he might
put a ſtick; and then he might hang up his
meat and finoake it.
His head was almoſt giddy with joy at this
lucky thought. What would he not have
given now, if his bricks had already been
hard enough, to fet directly about this impor-
tant work? But what could he do? He was
obliged to wait, till the fun had hardened
his bricks.
1 4
But,
"
136
But, what had he to do this afternoon?
While he was reflecting on this, a new thought
Occurred to him, which in excellence was
greatly fuperior to all thofe, he had hitherto
conceived. He was quite aftonished at his ftu-
pidity, not to have thought of it before.
JOHN.
And pray, what was it?
FATHER.
Nothing lefs, than that he would tame fome
domeftic animals, for his company and enter-
tainment!
THEOPHILUS.
Ah, fome Lamas, to be fure!
FATHER.
Very right! Hitherto he had not yet feen
any other animals. As thefe lamas feemed to
be very tame, he hoped to be able, to catch
a couple of them alive.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh, that will be charming! I wish I were
with him, I'd catch one for me too.
FATHER.
But in what manner would you catch them,
dear Theophilus? I fuppofe, they are not fo
tame, that you could take them with your
hands.
THEOPHILUS.
But, how would ROBINSON fet about it then?
FATHER.
137
FATHER.
That was the queſtion now, on which he
made long and ferious reflections. But if a
man feriouſly defires to do a thing, which is
not impoffible in itfelf, and he continues re-
flecting on it, very few will be found too dif-
ficult for his underſtanding and affiduity. So
great and manifold are the faculties, with
which our bountiful creator has endowed
us!
Mind this, my children! and you will never
need to defpair of fuccefs in any difficult
undertaking, if you have but refolution enough
not to defift, till you have carried your point.
Perfevering induſtry, continued reflections, and
indefatigable courage have often brought
things to bear, which before were thought
impoffible. You must therefore never be de-
terred, by any difficulty you meet with in
any thing; but rather reflect, that the greater
your efforts are, to bring any thing to bear,
the greater will be your joy, when accom-
pliſhed.
Our ROBINSON too fucceeded in a fhort
time, in finding the means, how to catch
fome lamas alive.
Well!
JOHN.
FATHER.
He refolved to contrive a rope in fuch a
manner, as to make a fnare of it, then he
I 5
inten-
138
intended to hide him felf behind a tree, and to
fling it about the neck of the firſt lama, that
happened to come within his reach.
With this view he twiſted a pretty strong
one and in a few hours his rope and gin were
ready. He made fome trials with it, to fee
whether it would draw together, and he fuc-
ceeded to his wifhes.
As the place where the lamas ufed to frequent,
was at fome diſtance, and as he knew not,
whether they would come in the evening, be-
cauſe of late he had found them there at noon:
he put off the execution of this plan for the
next day, and in the mean time made the ne-
ceflary preparations for his journey.
Firſt of all he ran to the place, where he
had found the potatoes, and brought a whole
pouchful home. Some of them he put into
the embers to roaft, and the reft in a corner
of his cavern, to keep them for the next day.
Then he cut off a pretty good piece of his tor-
toife for his fupper and for the day following, and
poured fome fea-water on the reft, which he
had brought along with him for that purpoſe.
Upon this he dug a fmall hole into the
ground, inſtead of a cellar. Here he placed
his turtle-fhell, with the meat he had falted,
together with the piece, he had cut off, and
cover'd the whole with boughs.
The rest of the after-noon he devoted to
cheer his mind, by a pleaſant walk along
the
1
I
139
1
the fea-fhore; whence the refreſhing eaft-wind
blew, which agreeably cooled the fultry air.
He entertained himself with the fight of the
immenfe ocean, which then was but little
ruffled and moved in fmall waves. He caft a
look of affection to that fide, where his be-
loved country was fituated, and a tear ftarted
from his eyes, at the thought of his dear pa-
rents.
,,What may they be doing now, my poor
grieved parents?,, cried he, wringing his
hands and with tears in his eyes. If they
have furvived the bitter anguish, I caufed
them, alas! how mournfully will they pafs
each day! They will be fighing and wailing,
because they have no child left now; becauſe
their laft and most beloved fon proved a
traitor, and forfook them for ever! Oh, my
dearest, beft of fathers! oh, my dearly be
loved mother! oh, pardon your poor wretched
fon, who could grieve you fo! And thou,
my heavenly and now my only father!
my only companion, my only helper and pro-
tector (Here he fell on his knees, to pray)
Oh, my creator! pour down thy choiceft blef-
fings, and all the joys, thou hadst deftined for
me, and which I rendered myfelf unworthy
of;
oh pour them all down on my beloved
and much offended parents! to make them
fome amends for the grief, they fuffered on my
account! Alas, I am ready and willing to
fuffer
140
fuffer, whatever thy wisdom and love fhall
think fit to impofe on me for my amendment,
if my poor parents are but happy?,,
He remained for fometime in this pofture,
looking towards heaven in filent anguish and
his eyes full of tears. At laft he arofe, and
with his ftone-knife went and cut the names
of his dear parents in the next tree; above
which he carved the following words: God
bless you! and underneath: Pardon your un-
lucky fon! Then he kiffed the dear names with
eager lips, and bathed them with his tears.
In proceſs of time he carved theſe dear names
on a great-many trees, in other parts of his
iland, and afterwards he ufed to fay his
prayers under one of theſe trees, and never
forgot to include his father and mother.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh, now ROBINSON is very good!
FATHER.
He is now in a very good way, to become
a very good man; and this he owes to the
wifdom of divine providence, that brought
him into this ifland.
THEOPHILUS.
I think, God Almighty might now fave him
and carrry him back again to his parents!
FATHER.
God Almighty, who alone can foreſee, what
is to come, and what is good for him, will
order
141
order his fate accordingly. 'Tis true, ROBIN-
SON is now in all appearance in the beſt way
to amend daily; but who knows, what would
become of him, if he now were on a fud-
den delivered from his ifland, and carried
back to his parents! how eafily do men relapfe
into their former vices! Oh, my children, it
is a very true faying: Let him, who standeth,
beware, left he fall!
Whilft ROBINSON was thus walking about
along the fea-fhore, he recollected, that it
would not be amifs, if he bathed himself for
once. He therefore ftript; but, how great
was his aftonishment, when he faw, in
what ragged condition his fhirt was,
the
only one he had. As he had already wore it
fo very long in fuch a hot climate, it was fearce
perceptible, that the linen had ever been
white before. He therefore made it his firft
bufinefs, to wash his fhirt as well as he could,
before he bathed himfelf, and having hung it
on a tree, he jumped into the water.
In his youth he had learned to fwim, and
fo he diverted himself with fwimming to a
finall neck of land, that lay pretty far into
the fea, and where he had never been yet.
FREDERIC.
A neck of land, what is that?
7
FATHER.
1
142
}
i
FATHER.
So they call a narrow tract of land, which
from an inland or continent is running into
the fea. Lookee, if yon bank of our fimall
lake, which runs into the water, were a little
longer, it would be a neck of land. D'ye
underſtand me now?
Oh, aye!
FREDERIC.
FATHER.
This thought of our ROBINSON's proved alfo
very lucky. He found, that this neck of
land was under water, when the tide was in,
and when it ebbed, the fea left a great many
tortoises, oysters and mufcles on dry ground.
For this time he could take none with him;
neither did he need any, becaufe, his kitchin
was yet well provided, but he heartily rejoiced
at having made this new difcovery.
Where he fwam the fea was fo very full of
fish, that he could almoft catch them with his
hands; and if he had had a net, he might
have taken a thoufand. It is true he had no
net as yet, but as all his undertakings hitherto
had fo well fucceeded, he hoped that for the
future he should be able to make himſelf a
net too.
Full of joy at this agreeable difcovery he
went alhore, after having been an hour in
the water. The warm air had quite dried his
fhirt,
ONKY
143
1
:
fhirt, and now, he enjoyed the pleasure of
putting on clean linen.
But the thought: how long this joy would
laft? how foon this only fhirt, which he was
'obliged to wear continually, would be worn
out? and what he fhould do then? This
thought greatly embittered his joy. However,
he foon took courage again, and having drefled
himſelf, he went home finging: Whoever
places all his truft &c.
JOHN.
I am glad to find him no more fo dejected,
and that he now begins to truft in God.
CHARLOTTE.
O! I with ROBINSON would come to us, I
like him very much now.
THEORHILUS.
Nay! If Papa would pleafe to give me fome
paper, I would write him a letter.
And fo would I.
NICOLAS.
JOHN.
I fhould like to write him a letter too.
CHARLOTTE.
And fo would I, if I could but write.
MOTHER.
You may tell me what you would write him,
and I'll write it down for you.
CHAR-
1
144
CHARLOTTE.
Oh, that's fine!
MOTHER.
Well, come along with me! I'll give you
fome paper, all of you.
About half an hour after, they came one
after another running in, to fhew, what they
had been writing.
CHARLOTTE.
Here, dear Papa, lokee, there is my letter!
Read it, pray.
FATHER.
(reading) · *)
My dear ROBINSON!
Endeavour to be very induftrious and
good, that will pleafe the people and your
parents too. I fend you many compliments.
Now you fee, how ufeful neceffity is Theo-
philus and John fend their compliments to you,
and fo does Dick and Nicolas. Come and fee us
once, and I'll give you yet better inftructions.
CHARLOTTE.
THEO.
*) Thefe Letters and many queſtions and anſwers
are litterally fuch, as were made and wrote by
the children,
145
THEOPHILUS.
Now mine, dear Papa! here it is,
FATHER. (reading)
My dear Friend!
We wish you all poffible happineſs! and as
foon as I get any pocket-money, I'll buy
fomething for you. And pray, continue as
you have begun, to become good. I fend you
hereby a bit of bread; beware of falling fick.
How do you do now? Fare you well, dear
ROBINSON. Without knowing you, I love
you very much and am
Hamburgh,
the 7 Febr. 1779.
Your faithful Friend'
NICOLAS.
THEOPHILUS.
A
Here is mine! I made it but very short.
FATHER. (reading)
Dearest ROBINSON!
1
I am grieved, that you are fo unhappy! If
you had ſtayed with your parents, that mis-
fortune would never have befallen you. Fare
K
well!
146
return foon to your dear parents. Fare
well once more.
I am
Hamburgh,
Your faithful Friend
the 7 Febr. 1779.
NICOLAS.
ཀ ་
- bng fål.
JOHN.
~~Now mine!
au gaih
FATHER. reading),
Hanoured ROBINSON !
I am very forry, that you are quité ſeparated
from all living creatures. I believe, that you
now repent. Fare well! I heartily with you
may fafely return.one day to your dear parents.
Be fure to truft in God for the future, and he
will certainly provide for you. Fare well once
more. I am
1.
**
Your ...
Hamburgh,
faithful Friend
JOHN.
the 7 Febr. 1779.
:
DICK.
Oh, mine is good for nothing!
FATHER.
ولات
147
1
FATHER.
But come, let's hear it!
1
DICK.
I wrote fomething down in hafte, that
I might foon be back again.
L
FATHER. (reading)
Dear Mr. ROBINSON!
How do you do in your inland? I hear, you
have undergone many misfortunes. I fuppofe,
you don't know as yet, whether your ifland
be inhabited or not? which I thou'd like to
know. I've likewife been informed, that you
found a large lump of gold; but, that will be
of no ufe to you in your inland.
(FATHER. You might have added: neither
does a great deal of gold make men
better and happier here in europe.)
It would have been better for you, had
you found iron inſtead of it, of which you
might have made yourfelf a knife, a hatchet
Fare well! I am
and other tools.
Hamburgh,
the 7 Febr. 1779.
Your Friend
DICK.
K 2
THEO
1
148
1
THEOPHILUS.
But how are we to fend our letters now?
CHARLOTTE.
Why, we may give them to fome captain,
that fails for America; and by him we may
fend him fomething too! I will fend him rai-
fins and almonds; you will give me fome, dear
Mama, won't you?
JOHN.
(whispering to the father)
They really believe, that ROBINSON is ftill
alive!
FATHER.
My dear children! I thank you in ROBIN-
SON's name for the great friendship, you ſhow
for him. But as for the fending thefe let-
ters
that can not be done.
THEOPHILUS.
And why not, pray?
FATHER.
Why not? Becaufe, ROBINSON's foul is long
fince in heaven, and his body turned into duft.
THEOPHILUS.
Alas! he is dead then? Why he has juft
now been bathing himself.
FATHER.
You forget, dear Theophilus, that what I
told you of ROBINSON, happened above two
hundred years ago. He is dead long fince.
But I will have your letters printed in the hi-
ftory,
149
ftory, which I am writing of him. Who
knows, but he may hear in heaven, that you
love him fo much, and that will, no donbt,
be great joy for him there.
CHARLOTTE.
But won't you tell us fomething more of
him?
FATHER.
Oh yes, I can tell you a great deal more of
him, which will be as agreeable to you, as
what you have already heard. But I think,
we have heard enough of him to day.
Ro-
BINSON,
after having bathed himſelf, went
home finging, ate his fupper, faid his prayers,
and went quietly to bed.
And we will do the fame now!
;
K 3
EIGHTH
150
0000:00000000000000000
EIGHTH EVENING.
Mama, Mama!
FREDERIC.
MOTHER.
What d'ye want, Frederic?
FREDERIC.
John begs, you would fend him another
fhirt.
MOTHER.
Why another fhirt?
FREDERIC.
Why, otherwiſe he can not come out of
the bath.
MOTHER.
Why not? Can't he put that on again, which
he had on to day?
FREDERIC.
No, Mama, that he has washed, and now
it is quite wet ftill. He would do like ROBIN
SON!
MOTHER.
Well, I'll give you one.
There, run
Papa is
and make hafte to come back again.
going to continue the ftory.
1
MOTHER.
151
MOTHER.
(to John, who is coming with the reſt.)
Well, friend Robinſon, how do you like
the bath?
JOHN.
Very well! But I could not get my fhirt dry
again.
FATHER.
་
You did n't confider, that it is not fo warm
in this country, as in ROBINSON's iſland. But
where did we leave off yesterday?
DICK.
Where, ROBINSON went to bed, and the
next morning
FATHER.
Oh, now I recollect! The next morning
ROBINSON rofe very early, and prepared him-
felf for the chace. He filled his pouch with
roafted potatoes, and a good piece of roaft-
turtle, which he had wrapped up in cocao-
leaves. Then he put his hatchet into his
girdle, tied the cord, which he had twiſted
the day before, about his waift, took his um-
brella in his hand, and fallied forth.
€
It was yet very early in the morning, he
therefore refolved, to take fome round about
way for this time, that he might learn to
know fome other parts of his land too.
Among the great many birds, that were fit
ting on the trees, he alfo faw feveral parrots
K 4
+
of
152
of the most beautiful colours. How great was
his defire, to have one of them, to tame it
and make a companion of it! But the old
ones were too cunning, to be taken with the
hand, and he could no where find a neft with
young ones. So he was obliged to defer the
accomplishment of this with to another time.
But inſtead of that, he difcovered fomething
more neceffary than a parrot on his way.
When he was getting up a hill, near the fea,
and looking down between the cliffs, he faw
fomething, that excited his curiofity. He
therefore fcrambled down, and, to his very
great fatisfaction he found, that it was
What d'ye think?
Pearls!
DICK.
JOHN.
Nay, that would not have rejoiced him
much! I fuppofe it was iron?
NICOLAS.
Why, have you forgot, that there is not
iron to be found in thofe hot countries?
haps another lump of gold!
CHARLOTTE.
You have hit it finely!
Per-
Could that have
been any cauſe of joy to him then, think you?
Why, he could make no ufe of gold.
FATHER.
153
FATHER.
I perceive, you won't be able to guess it;
fo l'il rather tell it you. What he found
Salt.
was
He had indeed hitherto fupplied the want of
it in fome meafure, by fea-water, but yet that
was no falt. Befides this, fea-water has a bit-
ter tafte, which is very difagreeable; and
moreover he was mistaken, if he thought,
his meat would keep in it, becauſe fea-water
grows putrid as well as river-water, when it
comes to ftand ſtill in a Veffel. He therefore
thought himself very happy in finding real
falt, and now he filled both his coat-pockets
with it for immediate uſe.
THEOPHILUS.
But how did that falt come there?
FATHER.
I believe you forgot, what I once told you,
of the origine of falt?
JOHN.
Oh no, I know it yet! Some is dug out of
the earth, and fome is boiled of falt water,
which fprings out of the ground, and fome is
alfo made of fea-water.
FATHER.
Very right! Now falt is boiled out of fea-
water, not only by men, but alfo by the fun.
THEOPHILUS.
The fun?
K 5
FATHER.
354
RO
FATHER.
Yes, when any fea-water is left on fhore,
after a high tide or an inundation, the fun
dries it up by degrees, and what then remains,
is falt.
CHARLOTTE.
Why, that is very odd!
FATHER.
So bountifully has God Almighty provided
for us, that thofe things, which we are moſt
in need of, require the leaft preparation of
and are found in greateſt abundance.
art,
Now ROBINSON went quite fatisfied to the
place, where he expected to catch a lama.
When he arrived there, he faw none, but
it was not noon as yet. So he fat himſelf
down under a tree, to feaft in the mean time
on his roaft meat and potatoes! Oh how much
more relishing was this meal now, as he had
fome falt, to eat with it!
Just when he had done eating, he difco-
vered fome lamas capering about at a diſtance.
ROBINSON put himself quickly in readiness,
and waited for them, with his înare lifted up.
Several had already paft him, without coming
within his reach: but lo! now one came fo
near him, that he had no more to do, than
to let fall his hand, and to get it, into his fnare
He did fo, and from that moment the lama
was in his poffeffion!
It
པོ་
155
that
It was going to bleat, but his fear,
the reft might be frightened by it, made him
draw the fnare fo clofe, that the poor crea-
ture was not able to utter a found. Then he
drew it as fast as poffible into the wood, that
the reft might not fee it.
1
The captive Lama proved to be the mother of
two young ones. And thefe, to ROBINSON'S great
joy, followed her of their own accord, and
feemed not at all frightened at him. He ftro-
ked the pretty little creatures, and they licked
his hand, as if they would beg him, to ſet
their mother at liberty.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh then he ought to have let her go!
FATHER.
He would have been a very great fool, if
he had!
THEOPHILUS.
Aye, but the poor creature had done him
no harm!
FATHER.
But he wanted her; and you know, dear
Theophilus, we may employ animals, for our
ufe; if we do not abuſe them.
He
Now ROBINSON was highly delighted, to
fee his wifh fo happily accomplithed.
dragged the captive animal, notwithstanding
her violent ftruggles, with all his ftrength along
with him, the two little ones following of
them-
4
156
BACK
themſelves. The fhorteſt way was now the
best for him, and fo he arrived at his habita-
tion at last.
But now an other difficulty ſtarted, how
could he get his Lama into his yard? Which
as you know, was well encompaffed with trees
on all fides. To let it down from the top of
the rock, was not advifeable, becauſe the
poor thing would have been ftrangled by
the way.
He therefore refolved to make a
finall ſtall, on one fide of his yard, and keep
the Lama with her young ones in it, 'till he
could find out fome better contrivance.
He tied his lama to a tree, whilſt he was
making a ſtall for her. He cut a good many
young trees with his hatchet, and planted
them ſo cloſe together, as to make a pretty
firm wall. The tired Lama had in the mean
time laid herſelf down and the young ones,
not knowing that they were captives, lay by
her fucking at their eafe.
Oh how delightful was this fight to our
ROBINSON! More than ten times he stood still,
to look at the little animals, and thought him-
felf now very happy, to have fome living
creatures about him for his companions! From
this moment his life feemed no longer quite
folitary to him; and the fatisfaction he felt at
it, gave him ſo much ſtrength and ſprightlineſs,
that his ftall was done in a very little time.
After which he put the Lama with the young
t
ones
O
157
ones into it, and carefully clofed the opening
with twigs.
How greatly was he now delighted! Oh it
cannot be expreffed! Befides the company of
thefe animals, which alone was invaluable to
him, he promiſed himſelf many more advan-
tages, and that he juftly might! Of their wool,
he could in time learn to make himſelf fome
cloathes, he might eat their milk, or make
butter and cheefe of it. It is true, he did not
know as yet, how to fet about all this, but he
had already fufficiently experienced, that we
ought not to defpair of our abilities, if we
have but inclination and induſtry enough to
work.
One thing ſtill was wanting to compleat his
happiness. He wished to have his creatures
within the fame walls about him, that, when
at home, he might always fee them, and have
the fatisfaction to accuſtom them to his com-
pany.
He for a long while puzzled his brains
about the execution of this intention, without
coming to any refolution. However at laſt,
he refolved to break down the wall on one.
fide of his yard; to take out the trees, and
to plant others in a greater circumference, in
order to enlarge his yard a little too. But he
wifely refolved not to pull down the old wall,
before he had every thing ready to make a new
one,
158
one, that he might in the mean time live fecure
in his habitation.
By is indefatigable induftry the work was
compleated within a few days: And now
Robinson had the great fatisfaction to fee him-
felf with three companions,. in the fame habi-
tation. However he did not forget the pleafüre
which his first companion the fpider had given
him, when he difcovered it; and he continued
daily to feed it with flies and, midges.
infect too, foon perceived his friendly inten
tion towards it, and grew fo intimate with
him, that as foon as he touched the web, "it
came down to receive the fly from his hand..
That
The Lama alfo and her young ones, in a
very short time ufed themfelyes to his com-
pany. Every time he came home, they jumped
to meet him, fmelled about him, as if they
expected, he had brought, fomething home
for'em, and gratefully licked his hand, when-
ever he had given them any freih grafs or young
bows.
r
1
After this he weaned the young ones from
the mother, and began to milk her regularly
every morning and evening. His cocoa-fhell
he ufed inftead of a fmall milk, veffel, and his
tortoife-fhelf as a large one; and the milk he
ufed partly fweet, and the rest he left to grow
four. All this greatly' contributed to increaſe
the pleaſures of his folitary life.
.
1
4
1
The
159
1
As the cocoa-tree had been of fo very
great ufe to him, he wished for his life,
to multiply it! But how could that be done?
He had indeed, heard, that trees might be
grafted or inoculated, but he had never troubled
his head about the manner of doing it. He
would often cry out, fighing: how little did
I know my own good, when I was young! Oh
that I had been more attentive to every thing
I faw or heard, and I might have learned a
great deal of other people! Oh, that I were to
be young again, how attentive would I be
to every thing, that the hands of man, and
human kill can make. There should be no
mechanick, handicraftsman or artift, whom
I would not learn fomething of.
Though he had known the art of grafting
ever fo well, yet it would have béen of no
afe to him now, because the cocoa-trée has no
twigs nor boughs, but only a 'crown of large
leaves. But when one has a mind to graft,
one muſt have a graft of that tree, which one
intends to multiply; this graft muft then be
placed in the split, made in a young tree, after
the crown, is cut off, and the place must be filled
up with grafting-wax, and wound round with
a rag or bafs. In this manner the graft grows
faft to the ftem, and the ftem, affumes the
nature of the graft.
ROBINSON faw no other means of multiplying
the cocoa-tree, than by planting fome of the
nuts.
1
150
nuts. Yet he refolved to do it, however un-
willing he was, to facrifice fuch well-tafted
and rare food; and in a fhort time, he had the
pleaſure of feeing his hopes fullfilled and fome
young cocoa-trees growing up.
în
The old lama with her young ones, were,
n a fhort time become fo tame, as dogs are
with us. He therefore began, by degrees,
to uſe them for his conveniency, to carry bur-
thens, whenever he had any thing to fetch
home, which was too heavy for him to carry
at once.
JOHN.
But how could he take them out, as they
were inclofed in his yard?
FATHER.
I forgot to tell you, that he had left an
opening in his new fide-wall, juſt big enough
for a lama to creep thro'. This place he co-
vered with thick bufhes, fo that it could not
be feen from without, and every night he
carefully clofed it up with boughs.
It was a pretty fight, to fee him come home
with his lama loaded and walking up before
him! the knew the way back as well as he,
and as foon as she came to the little door, ſhe
ftopt, that he might first take off her load,
then the crept thro' her hole and ROBINSON
followed the fame way. The return of the old
Lama was a great feſtivity for her young ones!
They
161
They expreffed their joy by capering and bleat-
ing, by running to their mother, then from
her again to their master, whom they caref-
fed: and ROBINSON was fo delighted with all
their demonſtrations of joy, as could be a fa-
ther with thofe of his children, when after
an abſence of fome days, he returns home
again, and embraces them.
FRIEND B.
It is very remarkable, that animals are fo
very grateful to thofe men, who do 'm good!
FATHER.
Of that gratitude we have a great many
remarkable inftances, fo that we fhould almoſt
be induced, to think, they had human under-
ſtanding, did we not know from other reafons,
that they have not.
DICK.
Oh aye, the lion, I read of, in our little
book, and then the man
name?
Androclus!
Oh, aye
a lion's paw!
JOHN.
DICK.
oh, what is this
He, who drew a thorn out of
THEOPHILUS.
That was indeed a very good lion! He loved
Androclus fo much for this relief to him, that
fome time after, when he was to tear him to
L
pieces,
162
pieces, he did him not the leaft harm. Nay,
if they were all fo, I fhould like to have a
lion too.
JOHN.
But I like that dog much better, which a
certain man had in Swizzerland.
CHARLOTTE.
What dog was that?
JOHN.
Don't you remember? he that faved the
lives of two men.
CHARLOTTE.
Oh, dear John, tell us that ſtory!
JOHN.
There was once a man in Swizzerland, near
the Alps.
CHARLOTTE.
Oh ay, where the marmotto's come from?
JOHN.
Even there. This man then climbed up
an exceeding high mountain, fo high nay,
I dare fay, ten times as high, as St. Michaels
ſteeple !
THEOPHILUS.
1
You forget fomething, dear brother! He
alſo took a guide along with him.
JOHN.
He did fo indeed! Well, and the guide
Book his dog along with him. Now when
they had got to the top of the mountain
THEO.
163
THEOPHILUS.
Ay, and the mountain was quite covered
with fnow
JOHN.
Nay, be quiet! Ay, the mountain was
quite covered with fnow; now being almoſt
come to the top, the gentleman's foot flipt,
and the guide, who was going to help him,
flipt likewife, and fo they were both rolling
down, and juft when they were but a couple
of ſteps from the brink of a precipice, above
a mile deep, the faithful dog got hold of his
mafter by the fhirt of his coat, and he held
the gentleman and ſtopt him from falling down,
fo that they both got upon their legs again.
THEOPHILUS.
Ay, but now you must tell us too, what
the gentleman faid! I know it yet very well.
JOHN.
And fo do I! He defired his guide, to come
and fee him fome times at his houfe, and by
all means to bring the dog along with him,
for whom he would always have a pudding
fried.
CHARLOTTE.
Did the man do ſo then?
JOHN.
Oh yes! Whenever the guide came to fee
him, he always entertained him in the beft
L 2
164
manner, and never failed to treat his dog with
fried faufages.
That was right.
CHARLOTTE.
FATHER.
→
•
Well, my children, we have quite forgor
our ROBINSON; fhall we have done with him
for to day?
THEOPHILUS.
Oh no, dear Papa! Let us hear a little more
of ROBINSON.
FATHER.
1
His bricks were now hard enough for ufe,
and now he looked about for ſome clay; tồ
build his wall, becaufe he had no lime; and
that he foon found. Then he made himſelf a
trówel of a flat ftone, and to compleat the
whole, what is requifite for a bricklayer, he
even made himſelf a level and a plummet as
well as he could. I fuppofe you know theſe
things?
NICOLAS.
Oh yes, we have feen them often enough.
FATHER.
Having now made all thefe neceflary prepa-
rations, for his work, he took one of his la-
mas, and fetcht a fufficient number of bricks
on her back.
}
JOHN.
165
JOHN.
But how could he place the bricks on the
lama's back?
FATHER.
You'll hardly guefs, how he contrived that,
and fo I'll tell it you directly.
He had long perceived, how very useful it
would be for him, if he knew any thing of
the uſeful art of basket-making. But in his
youth he had never thought it worth his while,
to obferve a basket-maker with attention, when
he was at work, fo that now he knew no
more of this very eafy art, than of all the reſt.
But as he had already been fucceſsful in mak-
ing himself an umbrella of baſket work, he
had afterwards employed many leiſure hours in
this kind of work, and had by degrees fo much
improved in it, that at last he was able to
make a pretty ftrong basket. Now he
had made two of theſe baſkets for his lama.
Theſe he tied together with a rope, which he
laid across the lama's back, fo that there was
one on each fide.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh, Papa, Ifhould like to learn, to make
baſkets too!
1
•
V
FATHER.
And fo fhould I, dear Theophilus; and I
will therefore, on the very first opportunity,
defire a balket-maker, to give us fome in-
ftructions in it.
→ A
1 w
L 3
THEO-
1
166
THEOPHILUS.
Oh fine! Then I'll make a pretty neat little
basket for my Charlotte.
4
CHARLOTTE.
And I'll learn it too! fhall I not, Papa?
FATHER.
Oh yes! It will do you no harm. We often
want to be employ'd, while I am telling you
ftories; and this trade of bafket-making will
then fuit us very well.
Now ROBINSON began to build his wall, in
which he fucceeded pretty well. He had al-
ready finished one fide-wall of his kitchin, and
laid the foundation for the other: when, all
of a fudden, there happened fomething, which
he had not foreſeen, and which cauſed a very
great impediment to his work.
JOHN.
What could that be?
CHARLOTTE.
Oh, I can guefs! Certainly the favages came,
and devoured him alive.
THEOPHILUS.
God forbid! Is that true, Papa?
FATHER.
}
No, not that; but it was fomething, that
frightened him almoft as inuch, as if the fa
vages had come to roaſt him alive.
JOHN.
Well, and what was it then?
FATHER,
167
FATHER.
It was now night, and ROBINSON lay on his
couch, with his faithful Lamas at his feet.
The moon appeared in her full luftre; the air
was ferene and huſhed, and a profound filence
prevailed throughout nature. ROBINSON tired
with the fatigues of the day, lay in a fweet
flumber and was dreaming, as he often uſed
to do, of his dear parents, when fuddenly
but no! we will not conclude this evening.
with fo frightful an accident. We might
dream of it in the night, and then our ſleep.
would be very reſtleſs.
ALL.
Oh, poor ROBINSON!
FATHER.
Let us rather turn our thoughts to fomething
more agreeable, that we may alfo conclude
this day with joy and thanks to our heavenly
father. Come, my children, we will firſt
pay a visit to our flower-beds, and then to
our arbour.
NINTH
L 4
168
NINTH EVENING.
The father having told the ſtory ſo far as
we have feen at the end of the laft chapter,
there occurred fo many occupations, that more
than one evening paffed, before he could refume.
his hiftory.
However the young folks of the houſe were
not a little concerned, about poor Robinfon,
and curious to know what might have happened
to him. They would willingly have given.
their best toy, nay fomething more valuable, if
they could have been inform'd what had hap-
pened to him that night, which was laft men-
tion'd. But nobody, except the father, could tell
it them; and he thought proper to tell them
nothing of it, till he had got time to continue
his ſtory regularly.
This caufed continual furmifes among them,
and greatly puzzled their heads, whilft the
father continued in this disagreeable filence.
One gueffed this, another that; but nothing
would intirely fit the circumftances, they had
already heard of the unknown adventure.
"
But why are we not to know it yet?,, faid
fome of them, with a very piteous afpect?
"I have my reafons,,, anfwered the father.
As
169
As the children were uſed, to be fatisfied
with this anfwer, they preffed him no longer,
and with modeft impatience waited for the
hour, when the reafons of this filence thould
ceafe. However, as grown people can eafily
look into the hearts of children, and guefs all
their thoughts, it was not very difficult for
the father to read in the countenance of fome
of them. But what may thofe reaſons be,
that detain him fo long from doing us this
pleaſure.,, He therefore thought it once more
neceffary on this occafion, to convince them,
that it was not for want of good will, that he
deferred fatisfying their curiofity, and that the
reafons must be of importance, which hin-
dered him from doing them the pleaſure, to
continue his hiftory.
""
,, Prepare,,, faid he to them,,,to fet out early
to morrow morning, on your long wilhed for
journey to Travemund on the baltic!,,
To Travemund? To the baltic.
row morning?
Tomor-
Shall I go too, dear Papa? -
was the general cry, and when the father, without
excepting any one, anfwered all their questions
in the affirmative, there arofe fuch fhouts of joy,
the like of which have certainly not been heard.
of late, nor will be heard again in a fhort time.
To Travemund! to Travemund! where is
my ftick? Jenny, where are my half boots?
quickly the brush! the comb! a clean fhirt!
To Travemund! oh quickly! quickly!
""
L 5
And
theſe
170
thefe exclamations refounded through the
whole houfe.
They were now preparing every thing for
the next day's journey; and our little travel-
lers, in the height of their joy, made a thou-
fand questions, without waiting for an anfwer.
They were with difficulty prevailed on to go
to bed that night, becauſe they were fo im-
patient that they could not wait for the return
of day-light and the beginning of their jour-
ney.
At the firſt dawn of the day the whole houſe
was in motion. The drum was beat before
every bed-chamber, and all were obliged to
get up.
And now when all, young and old, were in
readineſs, and the latter almoſt devoured by
the kiffes and careffes of the former: the father
rubbed his eyes and faid in a tone, which in
the general voice of joy, made a dismal dis-
harmony:
22
, My children, you would do me a great
pleaſure, if you exempted me to day from my
promife!,,
,, Which? which?,, cried every mouth,
and remained half open with anxious ex-
pectation and affright.
FATHER.
From my promife to go to day with you to
Travemund.
Now
171
Now their terror was compleat; not one
of them was able to utter a fingle fillable.
FATHER.
I have confidered, during the laſt night, that
we should commit a great blunder, if we began
our journey to day.
""
But why fo, pray?,, with an interrupted
voice and a fuppreffed tear.
FATHER.
I'll tell you why and then leave you to de-
cide the matter yourfelves. In the firft place,
we have had a continual weſt - wind for fome
time, which drives the water of the Trave,
with fuch impetuofity into the fea; that not a
fingle fhip can get to and from the harbour of
Travemund, becauſe then the water is too
fhallow at the mouth of the river, and you
know, we should all of us be glad to fee both,
when we are once there.
,,Oh it is poffible the wind may change to
day!,,
FATHER.
Befides I have another thought. If we wait
four weeks longer, it would then be juſt about
the time; when the herrings come in great
numbers from the frozen-fea into the baltic.
Then the fea is quite full of them, up to the
very mouth of the Trave, where the fishermen
catch them without any great difficulty. That
we ſhould like to fee too? ſhoudn't we?
›› Yos
172
,,Yes but
J
FATHER.
But now comes my ſtrongeſt reafon! What
would our new friends Mathew and Ferdinand
think, who will be here in a few weeks,"
if we had taken this journey before their
arrival; wou'd they not figh and be forry,
whenever we should happen to ſpeak of the
pleaſure we had on this journey, and could then
the remembrance of it be agreeable to any of
us? No certainly, we should always filently
make ourſelves reproaches for not having done
to them, what we should with, they had done
to us, if we were in their place, and they in
ours well, what do you fay to that?
A profound filence.
FATHER.
You know I have always been as good as
my word; fo if you infift upon it, we march;
if not, you do me, and our future friends and
yourſelves, a particular fervice. Speak now?
what fhall be done?
19, We will wait;,, they all anfwered, and
thus the fine journey, was deferred to an other
time.
It was very plain, that this ſelf-denial was
very hard to many, neither were they half fo
well difpofed, as they ufed to be, for the reſt
of the day. This gave the father occafion to
ſpeak
173
Speak to them in the evening, in the fol-
lowing manner.
1
,, My good children, the difappointment you
experienced to day, will often happen to you
in your future days. You will fometimes
expect this or that earthly happiness; your hope
will feem well grounded, and your defire of it
will be exceeding eager. But the very moment
that you are going to take poffeffion of that
fuppofed happinefs, you'll find yourſelves fud-
'denly disappointed, by the wifdom of divine
providence, and all your hopes will vanifh:,,
h
The reafons why your heavenly father
acts fo towards you, you will feldom difcern
fo plainly and with fo much certainty, as you
did this morning thofe, which hindred us
from going to Travemund to day. God being
infinitely more wife than I am, he can look
into the remoteft futurity and often fuffers fome
accident to befall us for our good, the happy
confequences of which we do not difcover
for a good while after, nay perhaps not before
the life to come. Whereas I only forefaw
the confequences of four weeks.,,
,,Now if every thing had fucceeded to your
wishes in your-youth, and had you always re-
ceived the things you hoped for, at the time you
expected them, o my children! how fad wou'd be
the confequences of that to your future days,
how would it pervert your hearts! and how un-
happy would this perverted heart make you when
in
174
in your future life, the time will come, that
every thing does not go entirely to your wishes,
as it is now! And fuch a time will certainly
come, my children, for you as certainly as
for other people; for there never was yet a
man on earth, who could fay, that every
thing went entirely to his mind.,,
"}
What then is to be done, my dear
children? Nothing but this: you muſt in
your young years accuftom yourſelves, often
to renounce thofe pleaſures, which you would
willingly have enjoyed. This often repeated
felf-denial will ſtrenghten you, ftrenghten your
minds and hearts, and enable you, to bear with
refigned fortitude, whatever our wife and moft
bountiful God has decreed for your good.,,
,,This my children is the key of that conduct,
which we grown people fometimes make ufe
of towards you and which to you may feem
to be a riddle! You will remember, that we
often deny you a pleaſure, which you would
willingly have enjoyed. Sometimes we told
you the reafons of our refufal, (that is, when
you could conceive them, and we thought fit
you fhould know them,) and fometimes we did
not, and why did we fo?. Very often,
it was to exercife you in patience and modera-
tion, fo very neceffary to all men; and to
prepare you for the rest of your lives!,,
,,Now you alfo know, why I would not
tell you any more of our ROBINSON all theſe
days.
175
days. I might easily have fpared fo much
time, as was requifite to explain you at
leaft the circumftances, which I lately con-
cluded with, and about which I left you all
in fo difagreeable an uncertainty. But no! I
did not tell you a fingle word more of it, not-
withſtanding your entreaties, and tho' i am
very loath to refuſe you any thing.,,
why did I fo, Charlotte?
CHARLOTTE.
It was to teach us patience.
FATHER.
And
Right! And certainly, if you hereafter have.
any obligations to me, it will be for accufto-
ming you, to renounce the poffeffion of a
thing, you greatly valued and longed for,
without much regret.-
Thus did fome days pafs again, without any
mention of ROBINSON. At laft the long wiſhed
for hour arrived, when the father was no
longer hindered from fatisfying their curiofity.
He therefore continued his interrupted ſtory
in the following manner:
It was night, as I have already told you
before, and our ROBINSON lay quietly on
his couch, with his faithful lamas at his
feet. A profound filence prevailed through
all nature, and ROBINSON dreamt as ufual of
his parents, when fuddenly, the earth began
to
176
to tremble, in an unusual manner and a ftrange
rumbling and roaring was heard under the
earth, as if many thunder ftorms were breaking
out at one time. ROBINSON awoke with terror,
he ſtarted without knowing what was the
matter, or what to do. That fame moment,
feveral dreadful fhocks fucceeded each other;
the tremendous fubterranean rumbling conti-
nued; at the fame time there arofe a howling hur-
rican that broke the trees, tore them up by the
root, made the rocks tumble down, and fo
agitated the fea, that it roared aloud from the
deepest abyfs. All nature feemed to be in an
uproar, and to draw near her end.
ROBINSON frighted to death, jumped out of
his cave, into his yard, and his frightened
lamas did the fame. They were fearce got
out, when the rock over his couch, fell down
upon it. ROBINSON feared out of his fenfes,
fled through the opening of his wall, and his
frightened lamas followed him.
His first intention was, to get upon a neigh-
bouring hill, on one fide of which there was a
plain without wood, that he might not be killed.
by the falling trees. He was just going to ruñ
thither; when lo! all of a fudden, to his great
aftonishment and terror, he faw this very
place of the hill open into a wide precipice,
from which fotoaking flames, cinders, ftones
and a burning matter, called Lava, iffued. He
was fcarce able to fave himſelf by flight, becaufe
the
+
177
the burning Lava poured down like a torrent,
cafting large ftones, like a ſhower of rain,
on all fides.
He ran to the fea-hore. But here a dreadful
fcene awaited him. A violent whirlwind
blowing from all quarters, had driven a great
many clouds clofe together, from which fuch
a dreadful torrent poured down at once, that
the whole inland difappeared in a moment, and
feemed to be chang'd into fea. Such an un-
ufual torrent from the clouds is commonly
called a Water-Spout.
Our ROBINSON could fearce fave himself, by
climbing up into a tree; his poor lamas on
the contrary were borne down by the vio-
lence of the water. Oh how his heart was
grieved at their lamentable cries, and how wil-
ingly would he have faved them at the
peril of his own life, had the violence of the
torrent not carried them already too far off!
This earthquake continued for fome minutes.
longer, when every thing was calmed all of a
fudden. The wind abated; by degrees the
mountain ceafed cafting forth fire, the fubter-
ranean rumbling was hushed, the fky became
ferene again, and all the water fubfided in leis
than a quarter of an hour.
THEOPHILUS. (with a deep figh)
God be praised! it is over. Poor ROBINSON
and the poor lamas
M
CHAR-
+
{
178
CHARLOTTE.
This has horribly frightened me.
FREDERIC.
Pray, what is the caufe of an earthquake?
JOHN.
Papa has told us that long ago, before you
came here.
FATHER.
Explain it to him, John!
JOHN.
There are many large and wide cavities in the
earth, like fo many cellars, which ar full of
air and vapours. There are alfo all forts of
combustible matters in the earth, ſuch as brim-
ftone, pitch, rofin and the like; thefe fome-
times are heated and begin to burn, when any
dampnefs comes to them.
THEOPHILUS.
Any dampnefs? Can any thing, that's wet,
produce any heat?
JOHN.
To be fure, can it! Did not you fee, when
bricklayers pour cold water on lime-ftones,
how they begin to boil directly, as if they were
over a fire; and yet there is no fire at all near
them! Well, thus thefe things in the earth
begin to burn, whenever any water gets to
them; and when they are once burning, the
air which is inclofed in thefe large cavities,
fpreads
179
fpreads abroad fo exceffively, till there is no
more room left for it: then it feeks for a vent,
and thereby inakes the earth fhake, till at laft
it makes an eruption fomewhere or other,
from which it then iffues like a torrent, and
carries a great deal of burning and melted
matter along with it.
FATHER.
And this matter confifting of melted ftones,
metals and the like, is called Lava. I have read
fomewhere, that a finall volcano may be imita-
ted; if you have a mind we will make a trial
fome day or other.
ALL.
Oh yes! Oh yes, dear Papa!
JOHN.
And how is that done, pray?
FATHER.
We only need bury a pretty large quantity of
brimstone and filings of iron, in fome damp
place: and this mafs heats and catches fire of
itfelf, and then we have in miniature, what
is called a Volcano. Of this we'll shortly make
a trial, if every one will fave fo much of his
pocket-money, that we have enough to defray
the expences.
ALL.
Oh yes! Oh yes, dear Papa!
FATHER.
Of this more at an other time.
M 2
Ro-
180
ROBINSON, now getting down from the tree,
on which he had taken his refuge, was fo de-
jected at the misfortune, that had befallen him,
that he never once remembered, to return
thanks to him, who fo vifibly had faved him
from death. His fituation, indeed, was again as
pitiful as ever; the only fecure retreat, he had
hitherto found, was in probability ruined, his
dear, faithful lamas carried away by the torrent,
all his former labour rendered uſeleſs and all his
fine ſchemes for future times baffled! The hill
indeed had ceaſed caſting forth fire, but ftill
there arofe a thick black fmoke from the pre-
cipice, and it was poffible, that it might re-
main a Volcano ever after; and if it did, how
was it poffible for ROBINSON, to be a moment
eafy? had he not every day a new earth-quake,
or a new explofion of the mountain to appre-
hend?
Theſe melancholy thoughts made him en-
tirely dejected. He was overwhelmed with
grief; and inſtead of applying to the true
fource of comfort- to God, his thoughts were
only employ'd with the mifery of his future con-
dition', which preſented itſelf to him as infi
nitely great and unspeakable.
Wearied with anguifh and oppreffion, he was
leaning againſt the tree, from which he had
got down, and his oppreffed breaft vented in-
ceffant fighs or rather growns. In this com-
fòrt-
1
181
fortlefs, fituation he remained, till the dawn
Proclaimed a new day.
+
THEOPHILUS. (to friend R.)
Now I fee, that Papa was in the right.
In what, pray?
FRIEND R.
THEOPHILUS.
r
I lately thought, that ROBINSON was be-
come quite good, and that God might now de-
liver him from his ifland; and Papa then
anfwered: that God Almighty knew that, beſt
himſelf and that we could not judge of it.
And?
FRIEND R.
}
THEOPHILUS.
-And now I fee very well, that he had not
fo much confidence in God as he ought, and
that God Almighty was in the right, not to
deliver him yet.
}
NICOLAS.
I thought fo too. And now I don't like
ROBINSON half fo well.
i
"
FATHER. K
Your obfervation, my children, is perfectly
right. We fee indeed very well, that ROBIN-
SON was yet very far from having that firm, un-
changeable, filial confidence in God, which,
after fo many experienced proofs of his good-
nefs and wifdom, he ought to have had. But
before
M 3
181
before we condemn him, let us first put our
felves in his place, and alk our own hearts, if
we should have acted better if in his place?
What do you think, Nicolas, would you have
been eafier in ROBINSON's place?
NICOLAS.
(with a low and doubtful voice)
I don't know that.
FATHER.
Remember the time, when you had a bliſter
laid on your back, on account of your fore
eyes, and which was painful to you. Do you
ftill recollect, how dejected it fometimes
made you? And yet, it was but a trifling, tran-
fitory fuffering, which lafted only two days!
I know, you would now, on a fimilar occa-
fion, new much more fortitude. But whether
you would have refolution enough, to bear all
the fufferings of ROBINSON, with a pious and
filial mind What do you think my lad, may
I not doubt of that?
Your filence gives the beſt anſwer to this
queftion. You cannot know yourself, how
you would behave in that cafe, becauſe you never
was in it. All we can do now, is to accuftom our-
felves, to turn our eyes to God and to be always
patient and refign'd, when any fuch trivial and
Infignificant evils happen to befall us. That will
ftrengthen our heart's from day to day and enable
us to bear greater fufferings, whenever God
shall pleafe to fend them.´
The
G
183
The new day approached, and the rifing
Joyful light of it found poor ROBINSON in that
comfortless fituation, in which we have feen
him leaning against the tree. His eyes had
not been comforted with fleep, and no other
thought entered his foul, than the difinal, me-
lancholy question: What will now become of
me?
At last he fet out and like a dreamer reeled
towards his deftroy'd habitation. But, how
great was the joyful furprize that feized him,
when near his yard what d'ye think?
his beloved lamas came fafe and found jumping
to meet him! At firſt he could not believe his
eyes, but all his doubts were foon difpelled;
when they were got to him, they licked his
hands and expreffed their joy at feeing him by
leaping about him and bleating.
In that moment ROBINSON's heart, which
hitherto had feemed to be dead within him,
recovered. He looked on his lamas and to
heaven by turns, and a tear of joy, grati-
tude and repentance at his defpondency trickled
down his cheeks. Then he loaded his re-
ſtored friends with joyful careffes; and accom-
panied by them, he now went to fee, what
was become of his habitation?
DICK.
But in what manner had the lamas faved
themſelves?
M 4
FATHER.
184
FATHER.
It is probable, that the torrent had carried
them to fome elevated ground, where they
could ftand on their legs; and the water fub-
fiding as fast as it had poured down from the
clouds, they foon returned to their habitation.
ROBINSON now ftood before his cavern, and
again to his fame he found, that the dam-
mage was not near fo great, as in his defpon-
dency, he had imagined. The top of his
cavern confifting of a rock, was indeed fallen
down, and in its fall had pulled down an ad-
joining piece: but it did not feem impoffible,
to get all theſe ruins out of his cavern again,
and then it would be as large again, as it had
been before.
Another circumftance again plainly fhowed,
that divine providence had not done this to
punish ROBINSON, but rather to ew him
Kindness. Upon viewing the place, whence
the piece of rock had tumbled down, he found
to his aftonishment, that it had every where
been furrounded with looſe mould. Therefore
nothing was more probable, than that, fooner.
or later, it would have fallen down of itſelf.
God, by his omniscience, had forefeen this,
and that it might probably fall at a time, when
ROBINSON was at his cavern. But as his wif-
dom and goodneſs had deſtined him a longer
life, he had fo ordered the earth, from the
beginning of the world, that juſt about that
time
185
time there fhould be an earthquake in that
ifland. Even the fubterraneous rumbling, and·
the howling of the ftorm, however dreadful
in the ears of ROBINSON, contributed to fave
him. For if this earth-quake had happened
without any noife, ROBINSON would probably
not have been awakened, and then the falling
rock would certainly have crushed him, and
put an end to his life.
Lookee, my children, thus God had again.
provided for him, at the very time he thought
himſelf forfaken; and faved him, by that fame
dreadful accident, which ROBINSON, at firſt,
had confidered as his greatest misfortune.
And this, my dear children, you will often
have occafion to experience in your future life.
If you will but duly mind the ways, which divine
providence hall pleafe to lead you, you will al-
ways obferve two things, in all the melan-
choly accidents of life, that happen in your
future days, viz:
T
Firft: That men always confider the mis-
fortunes, that befall them, greater than they
really are.
Secondly: That all our fufferings are fent us
from God, for wife and good purpofes, and in
the end always turn to our advantage.
Yes, my children.
fortable truth!
Rejoice in this com-
M 5
Thore
186
G
There lives a God, who loves mankind, his work!
This all nature does us proclaim:
The mist that makes the fky look dark,
The cleareft fun-fhine does the fame.
'Tis feen by thunder clouds, that low'r
And woods and moutains move;
'Tis feen by the refreſhing fhour,
Which pours down from above.
We fee it now in happineſs
With joy, delight and pleafure;
We may fee it too in diftrefs,
When fuff'ring in fome meaſure.
୯
.
TENTH
187
0000000
?
5
TENTH EVENING.
R
(The father continues his ſtory.)
OBINSON, accuſtomed fome time fince, to
join prayers and labour together, fell
down on his knees, to thank God for this
new preſervation, then joyfully fell to work,
in order to clear his habitation from the rub-
bish. The mould he foon got out, but a large
piece of the rock lay at the bottom, which,
tho' broke in two, yet feemed to require more
ftrength to remove, than one man was ca-
pable of.
He attempted to move the leaſt of them, but
in vain! He found, that this work was far
above his ftrength; he now ftood before
them in penfive fufpence, not knowing what
to do.
JOHN.
I know very well, what I should have done?
FATHER.
And what, pray?
JOHN.
Why, I should have made a lever, as we
lately did, when we rolled the large tree out
of our yard.
THEO-
188
THEOPHILUS.
I was not here, to fee it, and what is-a
lever then?! :
JOHN.
A ftrong, long ftick; one end of which is
pushed under the beam or ftone, that is to be
removed, and then a ftone or a piece of wood
is placed under the lever, but clofe to the
beam, that is to be removed, then one takes
hold of the other end of the lever and preffes
it down on the finall piece of wood underneath
it, by which means the beam is eafily lifted up
and rolled away.
4
FATHER.
How this is done, I'll explain to you another
time; hear now what ROBINSON did.
After many long and vain reflections, the
fame expedient at laft occurred to his mind.
He recollected, that in his youth he had often
feen labourers do fo, in removing heavy.
burthens, and. now he haſtened to make a triat
of it.
**
He fucceeded in his attempt, and in half an
hour's time, the two ftones which four men
could not have moved with their hands, were
rolled out of his cavern; and now he had the
fatisfaction of feeing his habitation as large
again as before, and in all appearance full as
fafe. For now the walls as well as the vault
over head confifted of one fingle ftone, in
which there was not the leaft crack.
A
NICO-
189
NICOLAS.
And what was become of his ſpider?
FATHER.
It is well you put me in mind of it, I had
like to have forgot it. But indeed I can tell
no more of it, than that in all likelihood it
was buried under the ruins; at leaſt Ro-
BINSON never faw it again, and his other
friends the lamas, made him ample amends for
this lofs.
Now he ventured to take a walk to the yol-
cano, from which a black fmoak ftill continued
to iffue. He was aftoniſhed at the great quan-
tity of melted matter, which had run about
on all fides, and which was not yet cooled.
For this time he obferved the dreadful and ma-
jeſtic ſpectactle of the finoaking abyſs, only at a
certain diftance; becaufe his fear as well as the
hot lava hindered him from approaching any
nearer.
When he perceived that the torrent of the
lava had taken its current towards the place,
where his potatoes were growing, he was
not a little frightened, left it fhould entirely
ruin this whole place, and he could not be
eafy, till he had convinced himself of the
contrary. He therefore ran to the place, and
to his great joy found, the whole plantation
was unhurt. From that moment he reſolved
to plant potatoes at random in different places
of
190
of the iſland, in order to prevent the mis-
fortune of lofing this most excellent fruit, by
any accident. Tho', according to his opinion
winter was at hand, yet he thought thefe roots
might be of fuch a nature as to keep good,
the whole winter in the earth.
After having executed this refolution, he
began again to work at his kitchin, in which
the dreadful revolution of nature he fuffered,
had procured him great advantage. The volcano
had among many other things, thrown out a
vaft quantity of lime ftones; and theſe muſt
firſt be burnt in a lime - kiln, before they can
be made into fack'd lime. There was no need
of that now, becaufe the volcano had already
done the bufinels of a lime - kiln.
All that ROBINSON had now to do, was, to
make a hole in the ground, and fling lime
ftones into it, then pour water on them, and
ftir the mafs, by which means the lime was
flacked and made fit for uſe. He then mixed
it with a little fand, and fell to work, and had
great reafon to be fatisfied with his kill.
During this time the volcano had ceafed
fmoaking, and ROBINSON ventured to examine
it. He found the fides and the bottom co-
vered with cold lava, and when he faw, that
not the leaft finoked iffued from any part of it,
he had reafon to hope, that the fubterraneous fire
was quite extinguiſh'd and that he had no
further eruption to fear.
Strengthe-
191
Encouraged by thefe hopes, his thoughts
were bent on laying in provifions for winter.
For this purpoſe he caught eight lamas, one
after another, in the fame manner as he had
done the first. Thefe he all killed, except a
he one, which he kept as a companion for his
three tame lamas; moft part' of the meat he
hung up in his kitchin, to have it fmoaked.
But before he did fo, he falted all the meat,
and left it in the falt for a couple of days; be-
caufe he remembered to have feen his mother
do fo at home.
This was indeed a pretty provifion of meat;
and yet he feared it might not be enough, in
cafe the winter fhould prove very hard and
long. He therefore wished to catch fome more
lamas; but in this he was not fuccefsful: for
theſe animals at laft perceived his perfecution,
and were now on their guard, ſo that he was obli-
ged to invent fome new method of feizing them.
This too he foon found out; fo inex-
hauftible is the underſtanding of man, if tho-
roughly exerciſed, in finding out means of hap-
pinefs! He had obferved that the lamas, when
they got fight of him near the fpring, always
ran away in great hafte over a fmall hill, into
the neighbouring wood. The other fide of this
hill was grown over with ſmall buſhes in the
form of a hedge, behind which there was a
steep wall, about two yards high. He had ob-
ferved that the lamas always jump'd over thefe
bushes
192
buſhes and down the wall at one leap, and
this obfervation was fufficient for him.
He refolved therefore, to dig a deep hole
in this place, that the lamas, when they jumped
down, might be caught in it. His indefa-
tigable induſtry compleated this work in a day
and a half; and he covered the hole with
boughs, and had the following day the fatis-
faction of feeing two pretty large young lamas
jump into it, fo that he got them.
Now he thought himfelf fufficiently provided
with meat. He would have been at a loss how
to preferve it the whole winter, if heaven had
not by the earth-quake provided him with a
convenient cellar; for, juft by his cavern,
another piece of ground had funk in, of about
two fathoms deep, which now formed a fecond
cavern, the entrance of which was alfo in his
yard. Thus he now had a habitation, cellar
and kitchin close together, juft as if they had
been made on purpoſe and by art.
Now he had three things more to do,
in order to be fufficiently provided for the
whole fuppofed winter. The firſt was to pro-
vide hay for his lamas, then wood for fire and
laftly to dig out his potatoes and put them in
his cellar.
In his yard he made a hay-rick, in
the form of a pyramid, of the hay he had
gathered, as the country people do with us,
and every time he added fome hay to it, he
trod
193
trod it fo clofe together, that the rain could
not eafily penetrate into it. But his ignorance
in this work coft him dear.
He had not had the precaution to dry his hay
thoroughly. When this is not well obferved,
and the hay is preffed clofe together, it
begins to grow hot; and heats to fuch a degree,
that it begins to fmoak and even to burn at laft.
This he had never heard any thing of in his
youth, becaufe he never troubled his head
about husbandry; but in his prefent fituation
he learned, how good it is, to obferve every
thing, and to acquire as much knowledge as
poffible, tho' we can not forefee, of what ufe
it may be to us.
He was therefore not a little furpriſed, when
he faw his hay-rick begin to fmoak; but his
aftonishment ftill encreafed, when, on putting
his hand into it, he found the hay burning
hot. He could not but think fome fire had
got into it, tho' he could not conceive how..
So he began directly to fhake out the hay,
but to his aftonishment he found no fire at all,
but all the hay was hot and damp.
At lait he
was fo happy as to hit on the true caufe, and
fuppofed the dampnefs must have heated it,
tho' he could not conceive how.
JOHN.
But in what manner can mere dampnefs heat
any thing?
A
1
FATHER.
194
FATHER.
Dear John! There are a thoufand fuch pheno
mena in nature, and the human underſtanding,
which, for many hundred years has been fearch-
ing after their true caufes, has fucceeded to
difcover many of them. Thefe caufes are
taught us in a fcience, the name of which is
ftill unknown to you. It is called the know-
ledge of nature, or Phyficks. This feience
gives an account of this remarkable ircum-
ftance, as well as of many other furpriſing
things in nature; and if you are very diligent
in learning what we now treat of, we fhall
alfo begin this fcience with you, and it will
give you inexpreffible pleaſure. For the pre-
fent it would be fuperfluous, to fpeak of it;
because you would not be able to understand
what I fhould ſay about it.
ROBINSON now dryed his hay anew, and
then made another hay-rick, that was proof
againſt wind and weather. For his better fe-
curity, he made moreover a thatch of reeds
over it, which was very little inferior, to
our thatches with regard to firmneſs.
The following days he employed, in gathe
ring ſo much dry wood, as he thought necef-
fary. Then he dug up his potatoes; and got
a confiderable quantity of them. Thefe he
carried into his cellar. At last he fhook off
all the ripe lemmons, in order to lay them up
for winter; and having done all this, he was
་
quite
195
quite eafy, with refpect to provifions for the
winter-feafon,
But this fuppofed winter never came, tho?
it was already the end of October.. Instead of
which it began to rain, and rained fo incef-
fantly, as if all the air had been changed into
water. ROBINSON did not know, what to
think of it. During a whole fortnight he had.
not been able to ftep out of his habitation,
except to his cellar, to his hay-rick and to
his well, to fetch provifions for himſelf and
for his lamas, and all the reſt of his time he
paffed like a prifoner.
Oh how tedious and long did that time feem to
him! To have nothing to do and to be quite
alone! My children, you can form no idea of
what a man fuffers under fuch circumftances!
Could any body have got him a book, pen, ink
and paper, he would willingly have given a day
of his life for a fingle fheet. He would often figh
and cry: Oh what a fool was I in my youth, to
think writing and reading fo troublefom, and
idleness on the contrary fo agreeable! The
moft tedious book would now be a treafure for
me; and a sheet of paper, with pen and ink,
would be a kingdom!
During this tedious time, neceffity forced
him to apply to many occupations, he had
never tried before. He had long fince con-
ceived a thought, whether it would not be
poffible for him, to make a pot and a lamp,
N 2
two
196
two things, which would confiderably amend
his condition. He therefore ran, notwith-
ſtanding the great rain, to fetch fome clay
and then he began his work.
It is true, his labour did not fucceed di-
rectly, he was obliged to make many a fruit-
lefs attempt; but then, he had nothing better
to do; and fo it was a paſt time for him, to
demoliſh his work again, when he did not
find it quite perfect, and then he made it all
over again. Thus he paffed fome days in very
agreeable occupations, 'till he had at laft his
pot and his lamp made, and fo well, that it
would have been a folly to break them again.
He now placed them in his kitchin, not far
from the fire, that they might dry by degrees.
Then he continued to make more pots, pans
and pipkins of feveral forms and fizes, and the
more he worked, the more dexterous he grew
at it.
Yet theſe heavy rains ftill continued. Ro-
BINSON therefore faw himſelf obliged, to in-
vent fome other domeftic occupations, that
he might not feel the tedioufnefs of time. His
next buſineſs was, to make a net for fishing.
He had before that time fpun a confiderable
deal of packthread, which now was very
ufeful to him. Having now time and pa-
tience enough, to try this work ten times and
more, which at first he could not bring to
bear, he at laſt found out the right knack of
making
197
f
making the knots, and acquired fuch a dexte-
rity in it, as the Ladies with us in making
Filct. He had likewife invented an inftrument
of wood, which he made with his knife,
in the form of a net-needle. By thefe means
he at last compleated a net, which was but
little inferior to thofe, ufed by our fifher-
men.
·
Then the thought came in his head, to try,
whether he fhould not be able to make a bow
and arrows. Oh how his brains worked,
when he reflected further on this notion, and
on the great advantages, fuch a bow might
procure him! With a bow he might kill
lamas, birds and what was ſtill more
defend himſelf in his habitation, in cafe he
fhould ever be attacked by any favages. He
was fo eager to have his bow ready, that in
fpite of the rain and wind, he ran out to
fetch the neceffary wood.
Every fort of wood was not fit for his pur-
pofe. He chofe fome that was hard and tough
at the fame time, and fuch as would bend, and
yet ſtiff enough to unbend again.
纛
​JOHN.
That was elaftick, I fuppofe?
FATHER.
Right! I did not think, you had minded.
the fignification of that word, and for that
reaſon I would not make uſe of it.
N 3
Now
198
Now after having found and cut this wood,
he carried it home, and fet about it directly.
But alas! how greatly did he now feel, the
want of a proper knife! He was obliged to
make twenty cuts, and more, before he got
off fo much, as we do in one, with our
fteel knifes. He spent eight whole days at
this work, tho' he kept cloſe to it all the
time. I know fome folks, who would not
have had patience fo long.
THEOPHILUS. (to the reft)
Papa means us!
FATHER.
Right, Theophilus! and don't you think I am
in the right?
THEOPHILUS.
Oh yes! But for the future I will always
work on, without any intermiffion, whenever
I have once begun a thing.
FATHER.
You'll do very well, ROBINSON at least found
it fo. On the ninth day his bow was finiſhed
to his unspeakable joy, and now he wanted
nothing but a ftring and arrows. If he had
thought of it, when he killed his lamas, he
might have made a trial, whether it was
not poffible to make ftrings of their guts,
becauſe he knew, that in Europe they were
made of sheeps guts. For want of which he
now
火
​199
how twiſted a cord as hard as poffibly he could;
and then he proceeded to make` arrows.
What would he not have given now for a
fmall bit of iron, to make points to his arrows!
but this with was in vain. Whilft he was
thus ſtanding in the entrance of his cavern,
and confidering, what to take, to fupply the
place of iron, his eyes accidentally fell on the
lump of gold, which was ftill lying on the
ground as a contemptible thing. Away, faid
he, kicking it with his foot, thou uſeleſs thing,
and become iron, if thou wilt be efteemed by
me! After which he did not deign to look at it
any more.
Having reflected a long while, he at laft re-
collected, that he had once heard, that the
favages ufe the bones of large fish, and fome-
times fharp pointed ftones, to make points
for their darts and lances; and in this he re-
folved to imitate them, and at the fame time
took the refolution to make a lance likewife:
and this he executed immediately. He went
to the fea-fhore and was fo lucky as to find
fome fish-bones and ftones, juft as he wished
them. He then cut down a long ftrait pole,
for a lance, and returned home wet to the
fkin with rain.
In a few days his lance and arrows were
ready. At the end of his lance he faftened a
pointed ſtone, and on the one end of his arrows
Sharp fish-bones, and the other feathers,
which,
N 4
200
which, as you know, promotes their velo-
city.
Now he tried the usefulness of his bow, and
found, that notwithstanding the imperfection,
for want of iron, it would be ufeful enough to
kill birds aud other fmall animals; nay, he did
not in the leaft doubt, but he would be able
to wound a naked favage in a very dangerous
manner, if he could but come near enough to
hini; and as to his lance, he had reafon to be
ftill more fatisfied with it.
Now his pots and his lamp feemed fuffi-
ciently dried, he therefore proceeded to make
ufe of them. Firft he put a lump of fat, which
he had taken from the entrails of the lamas,
he had killed, into one of the new pipkins, in'
order to melt it down, and to ufe it in
his lamp instead of oil; but he perceived to
his great difatisfaction, that the fat as foon
as it was melted foaked through the pipkin,
and was frying out again on the outfide, fo
that but very little remained in it. From this
he concluded, that his lamp and pots would
have the fame fault, and confequently be of
little ufe; and fo indeed they proved.
A very difagreeable circumftance this! He
had been greatly rejoiced, at the thoughts of
pafling the evening with a light, and to procure
himself fome warm broth, and now all thefe
pleafing hopes vanished at once!
DICK.
201
لام
DICK.
That was indeed very unlucky.
FATHER.
Indeed it was fo! And certain folks would
have grown angry, and thrown away the
whole. But ROBINSON had now pretty well
accustomed himself to patience, and had once
for all refolved, to leave nothing unfinished,
where there was the least appearance of
finishing it.
+
He therefore placed himself into his fchem-
ing corner, (fo he called a corner of his
cavern, where he ufed to fit whenever he
was contriving any thing) and rubbed
his forehead: What may be the reafon,,,
thought he to himself,,,that the pots in
Europe, which are alfo made of clay, are fo
much more folid, that they let nothing pafs
through? -Ha! I believe, I have it! It is
because they are glazed
glazed? hm
what may that be then, and in what manner
may they do that?- Ha! I believe, I know it!
Ay, it must be fo! Didn't I read once,
that feveral matters, as well as fand, and alſo
clay are vitreous, and may, by a ſtrong fire,
be changed into real glafs? That muſt certainly
be the way of it. They must place the pots
into a red hot furnace; and when the clay be-
gins to melt, they take them out, to prevent
N 5
their
202
their being intirely changed into Glafs. Ay,
ay, fo it is! That I muft imitate.,,
He really did fo. He made a large fire in
his kitchin, and when it was burning at its
height, he put one of his pipkin into the
midit of it. But a moment after, it went
crack and the pipkin broke to pieces.
,,Oh dear!,, cried ROBINSON,,,who could
have thought that?,,
22
·
He therefore returned to his fheming
corner. What in the name of wonder,,,
thought he,,,may be the reafon of that? -
Did I ever fee any thing like it? Yes,
to be fure, I did! When in winter-time we
placed a glafs of cold water, or beer, near a
large fire to warm it, didn't that likewife
crack? And when did it not? when it
was placed near the fire, before it was quite
burning. Very well, now I conceive it! Ay,
ay, it is fo; the veffel muft not at once be
put into the heat, but warmed by degrees -
I muft alfo take care to give the whole the
fame degree of heat.,,,,This head of mine,
is an excellent one!,, he cried, jumping up
with joy and going to make a fecond trial.
This time he fucceeded much better. The
pipkin didn't burst, but yet it would not
glaze.
,,And
1
203
!
,,And what can be there reafon?,, thought
ROBINSON again. ,,The fire, I think, was ftrong
enough what can there yet be wanting?-,,
After having for a long while reflected on
this matter, he thought he had hit the point
at laft. The experiment he had made, had
been in an open fire, and not in a furnace.
He thought the heat had difperfed too much on
all fides, which prevented the clay from
turning into glafs. Faithful to his refolution,
to leave nothing unfinished, he refolved to
make a proper furnace. But he was obliged
to defer fetting about this work, till the
weather was become more convenient.
It still continued to rain, and the fky did
not clear up, before the end of two months.
Now ROBINSON thought that winter was a
coming, and behold the winter was already
paft. He could fcarce believe his own eyes,
when he faw, that the power of animating
fpring, made new grafs, new flowers and
branches grow; and yet it was really fo.
This feemed incomprehenfible to him; and
yet he faw it with his own eyes. This,,,
cried he,,,fhall for the future teach me to
deny nothing, what I cannot conceive!,,
MOTHER.
And didn't he go to bed, after he had
faid fo?
THEO
204
THEOPHILUST
Why, Mamma! we are not at all fleepy
yet!
FATHER.
I have no authentic account of it; however
as I find nothing more recorded for this day,
in the ancient hiftory of his ftay in his ifland;
I am apt to think, that he went to bed, after
having faid fo. And we will do the fame,
that we may be able to rife to-morrow morning
again with the fun.
;
A
>
4
A
ELE-
1
205
00:00:00:00
ELEVENTH EVENING.
Fath
THEOPHILUS.
ather, now I fhould like to be in ROBIN-
SON's place.
FATHER.
Would you?
THEOPHILUS.
Yes, now he has every thing he wanted
before, and lives in a fine country, where
there is no winter.
FATHER.
Every thing he needs?
THEOPHILUS.
Why, has he not potatoes, meat, and falt,
and lemmons, and fiſh, and turtles, and oy-
fters; and can he not make butter and cheele
of the milk he gets from his lamas.
FATHER.
All that he has really had for fome time al-
ready; I only forgot to mention it.
THEOPHILUS.
Why, he has alfo a bow and a lance, and a
good place to live in, and what can he want
more?
FATHER.
200
FATHER.
ROBINSON knew very well the value of all
this, and thank'd God for it
And yet
he would have given half of his future life,
if a fhip had come to take him back to his
own country.
THEOPHILUS.
Yes, that I allow, but what could he want
befides this?
FATHER.
Much, very much! not to fay Every-thing.
He wanted that, without which there is no
real happineſs on earth, he wanted company,
friends, beings of his own kind, whom he
might love and by whom he might be loved
again. Far from his parents, whom he had
fo greatly offended; far from his friends,
whom he could never hope to fee any more;
far from all, all men in the whole world
Alas! what joys could he have in this difimal
fituation, though he had poffeffed the greateſt
fuperfluity of all earthly bleflings. Try it,
my young friends, try it for once, ftay but
a fingle day alone, in a folitary place, and
you'll then feel, what it is to live in folitude.
Befides this, ROBINSON was yet very far,
from having every thing he might ftill want
for the future. All his cloaths were worn out,
in uſeleſs rags, and he could not yet forefee
the poffibility of making himſelf new cloaths.
JOHN.
207
JOHN.
Why, I think, he might have done very,
well, without, in his warm ifland, where
there was no winter.
CHARLOTTE.
Fie! then he would have been obliged to
go naked.
FATHER.
He wanted no cloaths indeed to fhelter him-
felf against the cold; but he wanted them to
fhelter himself against the infects, particularly
against the mufcatoes, which were in great
abundance in his ifland.
NICOLAS.
What are mufcatoes?
FATHER.
A kind of flies, but their fting is much
more painful than thofe of our country. They
are a great plague to the inhabitants of warm
countries. For their fting leaves fuch blot-
ches, as are almoſt as painful as thofe of bees.
and wafps. ROBINSON's face and hands were
continually fwelled with them. What then
was he to fuffer, when his cloaths fhould
come to be interely worn out! and that time
was not far off.
This, and particularly his longing after hist
parents and human fociety in general, often
made him figh, whenever he was walking
near the fea-fhore, and looking with longing
eyes,
208
eyes, bathed in tears, on the immenfe ocean,
where he faw nothing but water and the fky.
How often was his heart dilated with fruit-
lefs hopes, when he faw a fmall cloud arifing
on the horizon, which his imagination repre-
fented to him as a fhip, with mafts and fails;
and when he faw himself difappointed in his
expectation, how did the tears trickle down
his cheeks, and with what anguish and de-
jection of heart did he then return home!
CHARLOTTE.
O, he fhould have addreffed his fervent
prayers to God Almighty, and he would
certainly have fent him a fhip.
FATHER.
And fo he did, dear Charlotte; he prayed
day and night to God Almighty, to deliver
him; but he never forgot to add: Yet, oh Lord!
not my will but thy will be done!
CHARLOTTE.
Why did he fo?
FATHER.
He
Becauſe he was perfectly well convinced,
that God Almighty knows much better, than
we ourſelves, what is good for us.
therefore thought: If my heavenly father be
pleafed, to keep me here ftill longer, he muft
certainly have good reafons for doing fo, and
which I cannot difcern; and fo I must only pray
to
209
to him for my deliverance, on condition,
that his wisdom thinks it fit.
For fear, that any fhip might paſs by, or
come at an anchor near his iſland, at a time,
when he should not be near the fhore: he
took the refolution, to fix a fignal on the
fmall neck of land, by which every fhip,
that might happen to pafs, could fee, there
was a man in diftrefs. This was a post to
which he fixed a flag.
4
NICOLAS.
But, where did he get the flag?
FATHER.
That I will tell you. His fhirt was now in
fuch a condition, that he could wear it no
longer. He therefore took the largeſt piece
of it, and fixed it like a flag to this poſt.
Now he would willingly have made an in-
fcription on the poft, to make his diftrefs the
better known; but how could he do that?
The only method in his power, was to engrave
the letters with his ftone-knife. But then
the queftion was: in what language he ſhould
make this infcription? If he made it in german
or engliſh, a french, fpaniſh or portugueſe ſhip
might happen to come, and then thefe people
would not underſtand a word of it. Luckily for
him he recollected a couple of latin words, by
which he might exprefs his wifh.
THIO-
}
210
THEOPHILUS.
i
Why, could the people underſtand that
then?
FATHER.
The latin tongue, you know, has fpread
through all the countries of Europe, and all
the people, who have had a genteel education,
underſtand ſomething of it. ROBINSON there-
fore hoped, that there would be one at leaſt
on board of every fhip, who underſtood his
infcription; fo he got it ready.
JOHN.
And what was it then?
FATHER.
Ferte opem mifero Robinfonio! D'ye under-
ftand it, Frederic? ·
FREDERIC.
Oh yes, Papa! Help poor Robinfon!
FATHER.
Now his greatest wants were fhoes and
ftockings, which fell at laft piece-meal from
his legs and feet; and the mufcatoes perfe-
cuted his bare legs fo terribly, that he did not
know, what to do with himfelf for pain. His
face, hands and feet were fince the rains, by
which thefe infects had unfpeakably multiplied,
fo fwelled up by their painful ftings, that he
not look like a human creature.
•
How often did he place himſelf in his
fcheming corner, in order to find out fome
:
means
211
means to cover and ſcreen himſelf againſt
them! But always in vain; he always wanted
the proper inftruments and the neceffary know-
ledge to bring that to bear, what he wished
to make.
The eaſieſt of all the means to cover him-
felf with, feemed to be the ſkins of the lamas
he killed. But theſe were raw and ftiff; and
unluckily for him, he had never troubled his
head with obferving tanners and curriers, when
they prepare raw fkins; and tho' he had known
it, he had neither needle nor thread to few
any cloaths of the leather.
He was at this time in the greateſt
diftrefs; he could neither work in the day,
nor fleep in the night time, for the inceffant
perfecution of the mufcatoes. And fo he was
abfolutely obliged to find out fomething or
other, to prevent his perifhing in the most
miferable manner.
DICK.
For what purpofe may God Almighty have
created theſe noxious infects, as they are only
a plague to us.
FATHER.
For what purpofe do you think, God Al-
mighty has made you and other men?..
DICK.
Why, I think, that we fhould be happy in
his world!
0 2
FATHER.
212
GACKO
FATHER.
And what d'ye think, engaged him to do fo?
DICK.
Nay, his goodneſs, becauſe he would not.
be happy alone.
FATHER.
Very right. But don't you think, that in-
fects enjoy a kind of happineſs too?
DICK.
Yes, that I believe; for we fee them very
merry when the fun fhines.
!
FATHER.
Well, can't you conceive then, why God.
has made them? They are to rejoice and to
be happy on this earth, as much as they can,
according to their nature. Is not this defign
very benevolent and worthy of his goodneſs?
DICK.
Why, I thought, God Almighty might
have made fuch animals only, as did no hurt
to others.
FATHER.
You may thank God, that he did not do fo.
Why? pray!
DICK.
FATHER.
Becauſe neither you, nor I, nor any one of
as, would be here then.
}
How fo?
DICK.
FATHER
1
:
213
FATHER.
Becauſe we are the most ravenous, and
moſt deſtructive of all animals! All other crea
tures upon earth, are not only our flaves, but
we kill them alfo for our pleaſure; fometimes
for the fake of their flesh, fometimes for the
fake of their fkins, fometimes becauſe they are
in our way, and fometimes for this or that in-
fignificant reafon. How much more right
have not therefore the infects to afk: why God
has made that cruel, that noxious creature,
man? What would be your answer to the fly
to this queſtion?
DICK. (at a lofs)
Nay, that I don't know.
FATHER.
My answer to her would be nearly as follows:
Dear fly, your queftion is a little rafh, and
proves, that your little head has not yet learned
to think properly. Otherwife you would have
found, if you had made the leaft reflection on
this matter, that God has out of mere goodneſs fo
conftituted many of his creatures, that one muft
live upon the other. For had that not been the
cafe, he could not have created half fo many ani-
mals: becaufe grafs and fruits would have fufficed
but for a few kinds of living creatures. Now that
the world might be filled with many different
living creatures, every where in the water,
In the air and in the earth who rejoiced in
their
0
3
214
their being while they lived, and that one
kind of them, might not multiply to exceſs
and to the ruin of another; the wifdom and
goodness of God ordered it fo, that fome crea-
tures fhould live at the expence of others
Moreover, your little ftupid head has never
conceived, what we men know with certainty,
viz: that this life is for all the beings created
by God, and confequently for thee little fly
too; but a beginning, but a first dawn of
another everlafting life; and that for the
future, a great many things will be made clear
to us, what we cannot as yet comprehend.
Who knows, whether you will not alfo learn,
for what purpoſe you at firft were nouriſhed
by our blood and then catch'd by the ſwallow,
or crushed to death by the fly-flap? Till then
be difcreet, as a fly that cannot poffibly judge
of what the wisdom of God is doing, and we
will ferve you as an example in this.
What d'ye think, Dick, would the fly, if
fhe was capable of any reafon, be fatisfied with
this answer?
DICK.
I am fatisfied with it.
FATHER.
Well, let us return then to our ROBINSON!
Neceffity forced him to make the beſt ſhift
he could. He took forth his fkins and cut
to be fure, with a deal of trouble
with his
ſtone-
G
215
1
ftone-knife, first a pair of fhoes and then a
pair of stockings. He could few neither of
them, therefore he was obliged to content
himſelf with finall ilet holes, which he made in
them, in order to tie them faft to his feet, by
means of a twiſted pack-thread. This could in-
deed not be done without great inconveniency,
for notwithſtanding he turned the rough fide
outward, he always felt a burning heat in his
feet, and the ftiff hard fide rubbed off his fkin,
when he took ever fo fhort a walk, and cauſed
him great pain. However he chofe rather to
bear this, than be plagued by the mufcatoes.
He made himſelf a maſk of an other piece of
very stiff leather, into which he cut two finall
holes to fee, and a third to draw breath thro'.
And now as his hand was in, he re-
folved not to leave off, till he had made him-
felf alfo a Jacket and a pair of breeches, all
of lama's ſkins. This indeed coft him ftill more
trouble; but what is there in this world to
be had without it? and what may not be
brought about, by dint of patience and in-
duſtry? And fo this work alfo fucceeded
to his hearts content.
The jacket was compofed of three pieces,
laced together; that is, two for the arms, and
a third for the body. The breeches were
made, like our riding breeches, of two pieces,
laced together on the outfide. Thefe cloaths
he put on, as ſoon as they were ready, with the
Q 4
re-
216
refolution, never to wear his european cloaths
again, except on folemn holy-days, and on
the birth-days of his parents, which he ce-
lebrated as holy-days.
His appearance was now the moſt fingular
in the world. From head to foot he was
wrapped up in rough ſkins. On one fide he
wore a large ftone-hatchet, on his back a great
pouch, a bow and a bundle of arrows. In his
right hand he held a lance, that was as long
again as himself; in his left he held an um-
brella, made of cocoa-leaves, and inſtead of a
hat he wore a peaked baſket, likewiſe covered
with a rough ſkin. Only think how comical
he must have looked in this Garb! None, who
had accidentally feen him, would have taken
him for a human creature. He also laughed
very heartily the first time he faw himfelf in
a brook.
Now he proceeded again with his potter's
work. He foon finiſh'd his furnace, and then
he tried, whether he could not glaze his pots.
in a very brifk and ftrong fire. He there-
fore put all his pots and pipkins into the fur-
nace, after which he made by degrees a very
ftrong fire, fo that the furnace became red
hot. This exceffive fire he kept up till night,
when he let it go out by degrees, and now
he was very curious to fee the event of it.
But when he drew out the firſt pot he found
to his great furprize, that notwithstanding all
his
ска
217
his trouble it was not glazed at all, nor was
the fecond, and fo on with the reft.. But at
laft, confidering one of the pipkins, he per-
ceived with as much joy as aftonifhment, that
it was very well glazed at the bottom.
Now his underſtanding was puzzled. What
in the name of wonder, thought he, may be
the reafon, that this fingle pipkin only is
glazed a little, and not one of the reft, and
they are yet all made of the fame clay and
burnt in the fame oven. He mufed and re-
flected a long while, but did not find any
thing that gave him any light in this matter.
At laft he recollected, that there had been
fome falt in this pipkin, before he had put it
into the furnace. He therefore could not but
think, that falt was the only cauſe of the
glazing.
JOHN.
Was the falt then really the cauſe of it?
FATHER.
Yes, what ROBINSON here difcovered by
chance, was long fince known in Europe. Salt
is properly the caufe, by which many things
are turned into glafs in the fire. Had he only
rubbed over the pots with falt water, or flung
a certain quantity of falt into the red hot fur-
nace, all his pots would have been glazed
by it.
ment.
The next day he went to make the experi-
The fire in his furnace was already
burning;
05
1
218
KUKK
burning; he rubbed over fome of the vel-
fels with falt water, and put fome dry falt in
others, to make both experiments at the fame
time; when in the midſt of his labour, he was
interrupted by fomething, which he had feared.
a long while, by a fit of fickneſs.
He found himself very qualmifh, he was ſeized
with a violent head-ach, and felt a great weari-
nefs in all his limbs. And now the moft dread-
ful fituation, that can ever befall mankind,
awaited him.
,,Good God!,, thought he to himſelf,,,what
will become of me, when I fhall be no more
able to get up? When there is no compaffionate
hand to tend and help me in my diftrefs? No
friend to wipe away my deadly fweat, or to
reach me any refreſhment? Good God what
will become of me?,,
Quite oppreffed with anguifh, he funk down
to the ground, at thefe words.
If ever he needed firm and filial confidence in
God, the omnipotent and loving father, it was
now. Deprived of all human affiftance, de-
prived of his own ftrength! What had he left
to preferve him from perithing in his mifery?
God, God alone, no body elfe in the whole world.
There he lay in agonies, ftruggling with
death. His hands clasped together; unable to
think, he fixed his looks to heaven. God!
God! mercy
was all he could utter from
time to time with a figh.
But
219
But his anxiety left him no refpite; fo he
fummoned up his laft efforts to bring, if pof-
fible, the most neceffary things for his refreſh-
ment near his couch, that he might not be
quite without them, in cafe his illnets fhould
difable him from getting up. With great dif-
ficulty he got a couple of cocoa-nut-fhells with
water, and placed them near his couch. He
added ſome roafted potatoes and four lemmons
to it and then funk down quite exhauſted on
his couch.
If God Almighty had now been pleafed to
take him from the world by fudden death,
how gladly would he have died! He ventured
to pray God, to do fo; but foon after he re-
collected that his prayer was not right.,,Am
I not a child of God?,, faid he to himfelf,,,am
I not his creature; and is he not my kind,
my wife and powerful father? How then dare
I prefcribe to him what he is to do with me?
Does he not know beft, what is good for me?
And will he not do with me, as he thinks moſt
conducive to my happiness? Yes, yes, that
my bountiful and powerful father certainly will!
Therefore be thou filent, my poor oppreffed
heart! Look up to God, thou my poor troubled
fouito God, the greateft helper in neceffity!
And he will certainly help thee, he will never
forfake thee in life and death!
At theſe words he took courage again, and
raifing himself upon his knees, he thus pray'd
01
220
to God with the greateft fervour of heart:
,,I give myself up to thee, oh my father! I give
myfelf up to thy paternal guidance! Do with
me according to thy good pleafure. I will
moft willingly fuffer whatever thou haft de-
creed; and thou wilt grant me ftrength to bear
it. Oh grant me ftrength my father- this
is all I request grant me patience in my
fufferings, and firm confidence in thee. Grant
this my request, this only ardent requeft of
thy poor fuffering child, for thy love's fake!
""
Now a violent ague feized him; and tho' he
had covered himself all over with lama's fkins,
yet he could not grow warm.
This cold fit
lafted about two hours, when it changed into
a hot one, which like a burning fire run thro'
all his veins. His breaft heaved up and down,
by the violent beating of his arteries; like the
breaſt of a man, who has run himſelf quite out
of breath. In this dreadful fituation, he had
fcarce power enough left, to lift the cocoa-
nut-fhell with water to his mouth, to cool
his burning tongue.
At laft he broke out into a dropping fweat,
which procured him fome relief. When he
had been about an hour in this condition, his
foul by degrees regained its faculties. It was
then, the thought ftruck him that his fire
might go out, if he did not put on freſh wood.
He therefore notwithstanding his weakneſs,
crept on all fours, to his fire-hearth, and put
on
221
on fuch a quantity of wood, as would be ne-
ceffary, to burn till the next morning; for it
was now already night.
This night was the moft grievous he ever
paffed. Cold and hot fits fucceeded each other,
without intermiffion. The most violent head-
ach continued, and not a wink of fleep be-
friended his eyes. This fo enfeebled him that
he was fcarce able the next morning to creep
to the wood in order to keep up his fire.
Towards evening his ficknefs encreaſed; he
again tried to creep to his fire; but this time
it was impoffible for him to get to it, fo he
was obliged to give it up; and the certain ho-
pes, that it would foon be over with him,
made it a matter of indifference to him.
This night he paffed in the fame manner as
the foregoing. The fire was in the mean time
gone out; the remaining water in the cocoa-
nut-fhell began to grow putrid; and ROBIN-
SON was become unable to turn himfelf round
on his couch. He thought he perceived the
approach of death, and the joy he felt at it,
ftrengthened him fo much, that he was able
to prepare himſelf for this long journey, by
fervent prayers.
-
He once more prayed devoutly to God, that
he might graciouſly pardon all his fins. Then
he thanked him for all the goodness he had
ever fhown him an unworthy wretch!
He particularly thanked him, for all he had
made
222
made him fuffer for his amendment, all
which he now more than ever perceived to
have been for his good. Finally he prayed
God, to comfort and bless his poor parents;
then he recommended his immortal foul to
the eternal and paternal love of his God
Then ftretched himself out, and expected'
death with joyful hopes.
Death feemed to approach with large ftri-
des. His agonies encreaſed; his breaſt began
to boil, and he breathed with great difficulty.
Now, now! the laſt and wiſhed for moment
feemed to appear! An agony fuch as he had
never felt before, feized his heart, his re-
spiration ftopt fhort; he fell into convul-
fions, his head dropt on his fhoulder, and all
conſciouſneſs of exiſtence left him.
Here all were filent for a good while, and
honoured the memory of their friend, tho'
they had never feen him, by fympathy. -
Poor Robinſon! faid fome fighing; God be
praiſed! faid others, that he is now freed from
all his fufferings! And thus the company
feparated that evening more quietly and
more penfive than ufual.
心
​ROBINSON
THE
YOUNGER
BY
Mr. CAM P.E.
FROM THE GERMAN.
SECOND PART.
HAMBURGH,
printed for C. E. BOHN.
1782
C
R o b i n f o n
the Younger.
TWELFTH EVENING.
W
hat are you going to tell us now, dear
Papa?" faid Charlotte, when they
were again affembled under the apple-
tree; becauſe they faw by the father's looks, that
he had fome ftory ready for them. (The whole
company had in the mean time taken in-
ftructions in making of baskets, in which
work they were now employ'd.)
29
"Something of ROBINSON! anfwer'd the
father, which made the company ftare.
CHARLOTTE.
"Why, I thought he was dead!
JOHN.
Be quiet, Charlotte! May be he is come to
life again; don't you know, that we thought
him dead once before, and yet he was alive.
'S
A 2
FATHER.
Page Missing
in Original
Volume
Page Missing
in Original
Volume
ONKO
FATHER.
ROBINSON fell into convulfions, as I told
you laft; his head fell on his fhoulders and
he loft all conſciouſneſs of his existence. Whe-
ther he was really dead, or only falln into a
fwoon, was not yet determined.
At laft
He lay a good while in a ſtate of intire
infenfibility.
who could have
thought it! conſciouſneſs return'd into
his foul.
ALL.
Oh! I am glad! I am very glad! that he is
not yet dead!
FATHER.
With a deep figh he began to breathe
again, as ufual.
Then he open'd his eyes
and look'd round him, as if he would fee,
where he was: for in that moment he really
doubted, whether he had not left his body,
or no. At laft he convinced himſelf of the
latter and indeed not without being fenfibly
grieved, becaufe death now feemed more eli-
gible to him than life.
He felt himſelf very weak, but yet without
fuffering much pain. Inftead of a dry bur-
ning heat, which he had felt before, a ſtrong
alleviating fweat flow'd down from all his
limbs. That he might not ftop this, he
cover'd himſelf with more fkins, and he had
fcarce been half an hour in this condition,
when he began to feel a fenfible alleviation."
~
But
5
م
But now he began to be moft intolerably
dry. The water he had left was no more
drinkable; at laft he recollected he had fome
lemons. With much ado he at laſt got one
of them, and fuck'd out the juice to his fen-
fible relief. During this fweat he fell into a
fweet flumber, which continued till funrife.
His heart was now much more eafy, than
the day before. The rage of his illneſs had
vifibly abated; and now he felt nothing
but weakneſs. He even perceived fome appe-
tite again and ate one of the roafted patatoes,
on which he fqueezed fome lemon-juice, to
make the taste of it more refreshing.
The two foregoing days he had not trou-
bled himſelf about his lama's; but now it was
a moving fight for him, to fee them lying at
his feet, whilft fome of them were staring at
him, as if they would ask him, if he was not
fomething better. Theſe animals can pafs
many days without drinking, juft as camels:
otherwiſe it would have been bad with them
at prefent; becauſe they had not had any
drink for two days; and ROBINSON was yet
too weak toget up and fetch water for them.
?
Now the old fhe lama coming within his
reach, he got hold of her; and ufed all his
efforts to draw fome milk from her, that fhe
might not lofe it. This fresh milk was cer-
tainly very wholefome for his fick body, for
it refreſhed him furprisingly.
A 3
Now
6
Now he again fell into a refreshing neep,
from which he did not awake till fun-rife, when
he perceived his appetite to be much greater,
than it had been before. He therefore ate
fome more patatoes with lemon-juice, and
compofed himself to fleep again.
This continued refreshing fleep and the
goodness of his conftitution contributed fo
much to the recovery of his ftrength, that
he could rife again the next morning and walk
fome fteps, tho' he was but weak and un-
ſteady on his legs.
He reeled out of his cave into his yard.
Here he lifted his eyes up to heaven; a kindly
refreshing beam of the morning fun fhot thro'
the trees on his countenance, and he became
as new born. "O thou eternal fountain of
life! cried he, falling on his knees; God! my
God! thanks be to thee for letting me once
more fee thy beautiful fun, and in his light
the wonders of thy creation! Thanks be to
Thee, thanks! thanks! for not having forfa
ken me in my neceffity; for having recalled
me once more into life, to grant me more
time for my amendment! Grant, that I may
employ every day of my remaining life for
that purpofe, that I may at all times be found
ready, to go to the place of our eternal deſti-
nation, where we fhall receive the reward of
"our good and ill actions!"
+
}
1X
J
After
7
2
After this fhort, but hearty prayer, his eyes
were delighted with the fight of the vaſt blue
yault of heaven, and with the trees and fhrubs
that ftood before him, adorned with fresh
verdure and pearled over with dew; then again
with his lama's, that came Joyfully fondling
about him. He feemed as juft returned home
from a long journey; his heart overflow'd in
fweet tears of joy.
The enjoyment of the fresh air, and the
freſh water, which he mixed with milk, and
the tranquil ferenity of his mind contributed.
not a little to his intire recovery. His ftrength
returned in a few days, and he again found
himſelf able to return to his ufual work.
The first thing he did, was to examine,
what was become of his pots? He open'd the
oven, and lo! all his veffels were fo well gla-
zed, as if they had been made by one of our
potters. In the firſt fit of his joy, he forgot,
that he was now unable to make any uſe of theſe
fine things of his own making, because his
fire was out. At last when he recollected it,
he stood quite dejected, first looking at his
pots and pipkins, then again at the fire-hearth
in his kitchin, heaving a figh.
But his grief did not go beyond the bounds
of moderation this time. He thought, the
fame kind providence, who lately got him
fire, could give it him again a fecond time in
the fame or in another manner, whenever he
pleafed.
A 4
8
pleafed. Now he knew moreover, that he
had no winter to apprehend here; and though
he was from his youth accuſtomed to eat meat;
yet he hoped, he would be able to do without
it and live only on fruits and the milk of his
lama's
CHARLOTTE.
Why he might have ate fmoked meat;
that needs not be boiled firſt!
FATHER.
That's true; but what ſhould he then ſmoke
his meat with?
CHARLOTTE.
True, I did not think of that.
FATHER.
However he was not forry, he had made
the pots: for he could uſe them at leaſt now
as milk veffels. The biggeſt of them he chofe
for a particular ufe.
JOHN.
Well, and for what?
FATHER.
He thought, his patatoes would be much
better tafted, if he could eat them with fome
butter.
That I believe.
THEOPHILUS.
FATHER.
But it was impoffible for him to make a
wooden churn. He would therefore try, if
he
1
9
made a fmall
in the middle,
With this in-
he could not make it in a large pot. For this
purpoſe he gathered as much cream as he
thought fufficient. Then he
wooden trencher with a hole
in which he faftened a ſtick.
ftrument he churned up and down in his pot
filled with cream, till the butter was feparated
from the butter-milk; upon which he wafhed
it with water and mixed it with a little falt.
He had thus accompliſhed, what he intended;
but when he was going to enjoy the fruits of
his induſtry, he recollected, that he could roaft
no patatoes more, becauſe he had no fire,
which he had again forgot in the heat of his
Occupation. There was now the fine butter
ready, which could not be eaten, and ROBINSON
ſtood by it with a forrowful countenance.
Now he found himſelf at once in his former
difimal fituation. Oyfters, milk, cocao - nuts
and raw fleſh were again his only means of
fubfiftance, and it was a queftion, whether he
could always have them? The worst was,
that he knew no means to make his condition
more comfortable.
What could he do now? All he, could do
with his bare hands, was already done. He
therefore feemed to have nothing more to do,
than to paſs his life in fleep or in idleneſs.
The most terrible fituation he could figure to
himſelf. For he was now fo much accuſtomed
to occupation, that he could not live, without
A 5
paffing
10
paffing his time with fome ufeful employment;
and he used to fay afterwards, that he owed
the amendment of his heart to the continual
occupation he was forced to by the helpless
condition of his folitary abode. Induſtry, he
uſed to add, induftry, good folks, is the mother
of many virtues; just as laziness is the begin-
ning of many vices!
JOHN.
Aye, there he was certainly in the right!
when one has nothing to do, one thinks of
nothing but nonfenfe!
FATHER.
Very right! he therefore adviſed all young
folks afterwards, by all means to uſe them-
felves to an active life from their very
childhood. For, faid he, as we ufe ourfelves
in our youth, fo we generally remain for life,
lazy or diligent, clever or aukward, good
or bad.
NICOLAS,
That we'll obferve!
FATHER.
Do fo, good children, and act accordingly:
you will not repent of it. Our ROBINSON
confidered a long while, what kind of work
he fhould undertake, that he might not be
idle; and what do you think, he refolved upon
at laft?
JOHN.
1
II
}
JOHN.
I know what I fhould have done.
FATHER.
Well, let's hear it!
JOHN.
I would have dreffed the lama's fkins, that
I might not be obliged to wear them raw
and rough, which must be very inconvenient
in fuch a hot country!
FATHER.
And how would you have done that?
JOHN.
Oh I know, how the tanners fet about it;
fure, we have ſeen it!
And how, pray?
FATHER.
JOHN.
They first put the raw hides in water for
fome days, to foak them thoroughly. Then
they get them on the fhaving beam and clean
them with the fhaving- knife, to get the
water out of them again. Then they falt the
fkins and cover them, that the fresh air may
not get to them. That they call ſweating the
kins: for they really begin to fweat, as a
man, who works hard. Then they take off
the hairs with the fhaving-knife. Then they
put the ſkins in a liquor made of birchen and
oaken
12
oaken bark and leven. At laft they put the
fkins into the tan- pit and pour a liquor over
them, that is alfo made of oaken bark, in
which they remain, till they are quite done.
FATHER.
Very well, John; but do you ſtill recollect,
what kind of leather that is, which the tanners
thus prepare?
JOHN.
Yes, fuch as is uſed to make ſhoes, boots
and harneſs.
FATHER.
A kind of leather, that need not be fo foft,
as that, which is ufed for making of breeches,
gloves and the like.
No!
JOHN.
FATHER.
).
<
And who prepares that?
JOHN.
The fkinner; but that kind of work we
have not feen yet.
FATHER.
That was ROBINSON's cafe alfo; he had ne-
ver feen any tanners or fkinners at their work;
and therefore he could not imitate neither the
one nor the other.
DICK.
13
DICK.
7
F
And how is the fkinners work done?
FATHER.
The beginning is the fame as the tanners,
but they do not put their fkins in tan or lime,
(which the tanners ufe) but in warm water
mixed with bran and leven, and afterwards
in lie, made of afhes. We will fhortly go and
fee their work..
JOHN.
Suppofe ROBINSON had known, how the
fkinners dress their fkins, he could not have
imitated them, becauſe he had no bran nor
leven.
FATHER.
Do you fee? He therefore could not attempt it.
NICOLAS.
Well, and what did he then.
FATHER.
Day and night his head was filled with fchemes
of making fome fmall kind of a boat, if poffible.
JOHN.
And what would he do with a boat?
FATHER.
·
Do with it? try if he could not get out of
his folitude, which by the lofs of his fire,
was now again become quite difmal to him,
and to get again into the company of his fel-
low
14
low creatures. He had reafon to fuppofe, that
the continent of America was not far off; and
he was refolved, if he had but a little boat,
to face all dangers and get to the continent,
if poffible.
Full of these thoughts he fallied out one
day, to look for a tree, which he might fcoop
out in the form of a fmall boat. Paffing with
this intention thro' feveral parts of the ifland,
where he had not been hitherto, he difco-
vered divers kinds of plants, that were un-
known to him, with which he refolved to
make different experiments, to find out, whe-
ther they would not ferve for his fuftenance?
Among the rest he found fome ſtalks of in-
dian corn or maize, which we call turkey wheat.
NICOLAS.
+
Ah! fome of that, which I have in my
garden?
FATHER.
▼
The fame! He admired the large ears, every
one of which contain'd above two hundred
large grains in beautiful rows like corals. He
doubted not, but he might make fome kind of
food and bread of it: but how could he grind
it? how could he feparate the bran from the
flour? how could he make bread or any other
food of it, as he had not even fire? Neverthe-
lefs he took fome ears along with him, to plant
fome grains of it. For, thought he, who
knows
15
knows but I may learn to make fome very good
uſe of it in time? He moreover difcovered a
fruit tree, the like of which he had never seen
before. It was full of large cods, and upon
examining one of them, he found it contain'd
at leaſt fixty grains, the taste of which he did
not find very 'agreable. However he put one
of the ripe cods in his bag.
JOHN.
What fruit might that be, pray?
FATHER.
It was cocao, which the chocolate is made of.
NICOLAS.
Ahl now he may drink chocolate for the
future!
FATHER.
•
Not yet a while! for in the firſt place he
does not know what it is; and then they muſt
firſt be roafted at the fire, pounded and mixed
with fugar; and we know he has neither fire
nor fugar, to which many kinds of ſpices are
generally added, as cardamomum, vanilla and
cloves; and he had none of thefe fpices. But
he might eafily have done without theſe thing,
had he but known, how to get fire again.
At last he found another very large fruit
tree, which he did not know neither; the
fruit of which was as large as a cocao-nut,
and
16
and without any fhell, confequently quite
eatable and of a very pleafant tafte. The tree
was of a quite different nature, than a cocao-
nut tree; it did not like this confift only of
a ftem ending with a crown of large leaves;
but it had branches and leaves as the fruit trees
with us. Afterwards he was informed, that
it was one of thofe trees, generally called
bread-trees, becauſe the fruit of it is eaten
raw as well as pounded and kneaded into
dough, and which among the favages fupplies
the place of bread.
One fide of the trunk of this large tree
was grown a little hollow with age. It
therefore came into ROBINSON's head, that
it would ferve him to make a boat, if he could
but cut it down and make it quite hollow.
But fhould he fpoil fo ufeful a tree, in the
uncertainty whether he fhould ever be able
to make a boat of it? This thought ter-
rified him, and he did not know for a good
while what to do. However he marked the
place, where the tree ftood, and went home
undetermined.
On his return he found, what he had long
wifhed for, a neft with young parrots, big
enough to fly. How great was his joy, when
he diſcovered them! But when he ftept up to
take the young ones, they all flew away,
except one, which he catch'd. He was fatis-
fied
17
fied with having got one, and hurried home
with great joy.
DICK.
Of what great ufe could a parrot be to him
then?
FATHER.
He intended to teach him to pronounce fome
words, that he might have the pleaſure of hea-
ring a human like voice again. That pleafure does
not indeed feem fo very great to us, who live
in human fociety, who fee and hear men, who
ſpeak and converfe with men every day, as
that, which ROBINSON promifed himfelf by
hearing the chattering of his parrot. But if
we could put ourſelves in his place, we fhould
comprehend, that, what feems an infignificant
trifle to us, was in reality a great encreaſe of
happiness for him.
He therefore haften'd joyfully home, made
a cage as well as he could, placed it with his
new friend in it next to his couch and laid
himſelf down to ſleep.
II. PART.
B
THIR-
1
18
G
000000000000000000): (000000
THIRTEENTH EVENING.
The
he next evening the father called his little
friends together a little fooner, than ufual,
becauſe, faid he, he was obliged fo enter into
a confultation with them, before he could pro-
ceed with his narration.
What are we to confult about? faid the little
folks, crowding round about him.
FATHER.
About a matter, that puzzled our ROBINSON's
head the whole night, and did not let him
get a wink of fleep.
ALL.
Well, what was it?
FATHER.
The question was, whether he ſhould cut
down the old bread-tree he had found yefter-
day, in the uncertain hopes, of making a boat
of it, or whether he fhould let it ftand?
JOHN.
I would have let it ftand.
DICK.
And I would have cut it down.
FATHER.
There are two contrary opinions;
one is
for having the tree cut down, the other is
for
19
for letting it ftand. Now let us hear, what
the reft will fay?
THEOPHILUS.
I am for John's opinion.
CHARLOTTE.
I alfo, dear Papa! The tree fhall remain
ftanding.
FREDERIC.
No, it fhall be cut down, that poor Ro-
BINSON may get a boat.
I fay fo too!
NICOLAS.
FATHER.
Now divide yourfelves in two parties; and
then we will hear, what grounds each has for
his opinion. So! Now, John make you
the beginning; why fhall the tree not be cut
down?
JOHN.
Why, becauſe it bears fine fruit, and be-
caule it is perhaps the only one in the whole
inland.
DICK.
Oh it is already an old tree; it won't bear
fruit much longer!
JOHN.
How do you know that? It is but a little
hollow; and how many hollow trees are there,
that bear fruit many years longer.
B 2
Nice-
20
K
NICOLAS.
ROBINSON needs only graft a great many
young twigs of this tree on other trees: and
he'll get bread-trees enough.
THEOPHILUS.
Ay, but are they then big directly? And
it may perhaps laft four years, before they
begin to bear.
FREDERIC.
And is not it better for him to get a boat,
and return among mankind, than be for ever
in this Iſland eating bread-fruit?
JOHN.
Ay, if the boat could be made ready fo! what
has he to cut down the tree, and to fcoop it
out with, but a hatchet made of ſtone?
DICK.
Oh, if he does but continue cutting long
enough, and does not grow impatient, he will
bring it to bear at laft!
THEOPHILUS.
But then he has no fail! And what can he
do with the bare boat?
NICOLAS.
He must make a fhift with oars!
CHARLOTTE.
Ay, that will do finely! Have you forgot,
when we were near Travemunde on the Bal-
tic,
21
tic, *) when one of the failors broke his oar,
in what danger we were? Why, Papa faid,
that if the broken oar had been quite uſeleſs,
the other failor alone could not have brought
us on fhore again.
་
DICK.
Oh that was a large boat, and eighteen per-
fons in it. If ROBINSON makes a ſmall boat with
two oars, he will be able to manage it alone.
FATHER.
Now, my children, you fee the matter is not
fo very eafily determined. All you faid there,
gave ROBINSON's brains employment for the
whole night; and that is called confidering,
when one reflects, whether it be better to do
a thing, or not to do it. Since ROBINSON had
felt the fad confequences of his raſh reſolution
of travelling about the wide world, he had
made it his conftant rule, never to do any
thing again, without firft having confidered
the matter maturely; which he likewife did
now. After having confidered long enough.
about it, he found, that all depended on the
following question: whether it was right, to
give up a fmall, but certain advantage, to
acquire a more confiderable, but at the fame
time, uncertain advantage? This put him in
mind of the fable of the dog, that dropt the
piece
*) The little company had been favour'd with
that promifed pleaſure fome time before.
B 3
22
piece of meat he had in his mouth, to catch
the fhadow of it in the water, and fo had no-
thing at last. Soon after he alfo recollected,
that the farmers in the country fow out part
of the corn, which they already poffefs, in
hopes of getting much more by that means.
The proceeding of the dog every one will
call unreasonable, whereas the proceedings of
the country men will be deemed reaſonable and
wife: "What may then be the real difference,"
thought ROBINSON to himſelf?
He reflected on it a little while, and then
he faid to himſelf: "Ay, ay,, fo it is! The
dog acted unreafonably, becauſe he only fol-
low'd his appetite, without confidering, whe-
ther it was poffible for him to get, what he
was going to catch. But the husbandman acts
reaſonably, becaufe he may with great proba-
bility hope, to reap more corn, than he has
fown."
"Now," faid he, "am I not in the fame
cafe? Is not it probable, that with continued
induſtry I shall at last be able to make a boat
of the old tree? And if I fucceed, may not I
hope then to get away from this melancholy
folitude?"
In that moment the thought of his delive-
rance feized his foul with fo much ardour,
that he jumped up directly, took hold of his
hatchet,
23
hatchet, and ran to the tree, in order to begin
that great work.
But if he had ever undertaken a tireſom and
tedious piece of buſineſs, it certainly was this!
A thoufand in his place would have dropt the
matter after the firſt ſtroke or two, and thought
it an impoffibility. But ROBINSON had made
it a rule, not to be deterred by any difficulty
from any reaſonable undertaking; and there-
fore he alſo continued ſteadfaſt in his refolu-
tion for this time, tho' the execution of it
fhould cost him ever fo much time and labour?
After having worked almoft inceffantly from
fun riſe till about noon, the hole, he had made
in the tree, by more than a thouſand ſtrokes,
was not yet fo big, that he could put his hand
in it. From thence you may conclude before
hand, how much time it will require, to. cut
down fuch a thick tree, and make a boat of it.
He now faw, that it would be a work of
more than one year; and he thought it there-
fore neceffary to make a proper divifion of his
time, to have a certain occupation for every
hour of the day. For he had now learned by
experience, that in a bufy life nothing advances
and lightens our labour more, than order and
a regular divifion of our hours. Here is a
fpecification, by which you may fee, how he
employ'd every hour.
B 4
At
24
At day break he got up, and ran to the
fpring, to wash his head, hands, breaft and
feet. As he had no towel, he was forced to
dry himſelf in the air, which he eafily did,
by running as faft as he could back again to
his dwelling. Then he dreffed himself intirely.
That done, he got upon the hill above his
cave, where he had a free profpect, there he
kneeled down and faid his morning prayer
with much devotion, never forgetting to pray
God to bless his dear parents. Upon which
he milked his lama's, of which he had by
degrees rear'd a ſmall flock. Part of the milk he
put by in his cellar, and took the reft for his
breakfaſt. He paffed about an hour in doing
this. Then he took all his accoutrements,
and fallied forth either directly to the tree,
or if it was low water, he went to the fea-
fhore, to gather fome oyfters for his dinner.
All his lama's generally ran after him, and
grafed near him, whilft he was cutting at
his tree.
Towards ten o'clock the heat was generally
fo ftrong, that he was forced to leave off
working. Then he returned to the fea-fhore,
either to gather oysters, in cafe he had found
none in the morning, or to bathe himself,
which he ufually did twice a day. Towards
eleven he was at home again with his whole
retinue.
Then
·
ول
25
Then he milked his lama's again; made cheeſe
of the four milk, and prepared his dinner,
which moſt commonly confifted of milk and
freſh curds, fome oysters and half a cocoa-nut.
It was well for him, that people in theſe hot
countries have not half fo much appetite, as
in colder climates. Nevertheless he greatly
longed for fome meat, and at laft he could not
forbear, to try his old way of beating the meat,
to make it tender.
During his dinner he amufed himſelf with
his parrot, and talked to him, in order to
teach him to pronounce fome words.
FREDERIC.
And what did he feed him with?
FATHER.
Wild parrots generally eat cocoa - nuts,
acorns and the feeds of pumpkins: when tame
they eat almoſt every thing, that men do.
ROBINSON fed his with cocoa-nuts and cheeſe.
After dinner he generally reſted himſelf an
hour in the fhade or in his cave, with his
parrot and lama's about him. There he would
fit fome times and talk to his animals, juſt as
little children, who talk to their dolls, and
imagine the doll underſtands them. So much
did his mind want to communicate his thoughts
and fenfations to fome living being, that he
often forgot, he was fpeaking to unreasonable
animals.
B 5
26
}
animals. And when his parrot, which he
called Poll, repeated fome intelligible word.
after him: Oh, who was happier than he!
He imagined he heard a human voice; forgot
his ifland, lama's, parrot and thought himself
in the midst of Europe. But this agreeable
dream generally lafted but a minute; then he
fat again intirely confcious of his deplorable
folitary life, fighing forth: poor ROBINSON!
Towards two o'clock in the afternoon
NICOLAS.
Ay, but how did he know then, what
o'clock it was?
FATHER.
He obferved the very fame clock, that is
obferved by the country people with us! That
is to fay: the Sun, and thence he could guess,
what time of day it was.
At two o'clock in the afternoon he uſed to
return to his hip-builder's work. With this
very hard labour he again paft two full hours.
After that he went again to the fea-fhore to
bathe and to look for oyfters. The rest
of the afternoon he paft with doing all forts
of gardener's work. Sometimes he planted
maize or patatoes, in hopes of getting fire
fome time or other, to make use of them;
fometimes he grafted bread-trees; then again
he watered the young grafted trees; fome-
times he planted hedges to encloſe his garden
ground;
27
ground; and at other times he pruned the
hedge before his cave, to make the branches
grow fo as to form a large arbour in time.
TO ROBINSON'S grief the longeſt day in his
ifland was at moft but thirteen hours long, fo
that it began to grow dark about feven o' clock
in the evening. He was therefore obliged to
do all the buſineſs, that required day-light be-
fore that time.
Towards fix o'clock, when he had nothing
elfe to do, he paft fome time in martial exer-
cifes.
THEOPHILUS.
What is the meaning of that?
FATHER.
He exerciſed himself in fhooting with the
bow, in cafting the lance, that he might in cafe
of need be able to defend himself against the
attacks of favages. He acquired fuch dexterity
by degrees in both thefe exercifes, that he
feldom miffed a mark no bigger than half a
crown.
In the dusk of the evening he milked his
lama's again, and took his rural and frugal
fupper by the light of the moon and ftars.
The laft hour in the evening he employ'd
Then he either
in reflecting on himſelf.
placed himself on the top of the hill, where
the vault of the sky adorned with innumerable
ftars
28
ftars was over him, or he walked in the conf
of the evening towards the fea-fhore. Then
he would make the following queftions to
himfelf:
"How have I now spent this day? Have
I remember'd the great giver of all things in
the enjoyment of thoſe gifts of God, which he
has moft bountifully beftow'd on me this day?
Has my heart felt any love and gratitude to
him? Have I confided in him, when it went
ill with me, and have I not forgot him, when
I was joyful? Have I fuppreft every ill
thought and every evil inclination as foon as
they arofe in me? And have I made any real
progrefs in goodness to day?"
Now every time he could anſwer theſe and
the like queftions to himſelf with a joyful
affirmation: oh how happy was he then!
And with what fervency did he then fing a
hymn to the praife of that great God, who
granted him grace to be good! But as often
as he had reaſon not to be quite ſatisfied with
himself: oh how forry he was then for having
loft one day of his life! For he thought every
day loft, on which he had thought or done any
thing, which he was obliged to difapprove in
the evening. Now he marked every notch of
fuch days on his almanack-tree with a crofs,
to put him in mind of his wrongs at the
fight of it, and to be the more upon his
guard for the future.
Look
༣ སུམ བྱལ
20
Look ye, my children, this ROBINSON did
every day in order to grow better and more
pious. Now if it be your real earnest to
amend your hearts; I advife you to imitate
him in that point. Like him, fix an hour in
the evening, to reflect on your conduct of
the day; and if you find, that you have thought,
ſpoke, or done any thing, what you can not
approve before God and your own confcience:
write it down in a finall book to put you in
mind of it from time to time, and to be for
ever on your guard againſt the commiffion of
the fame fault. Thus you will grow better
from day to day, as he did, and confequently
more fatisfied and happier every day.
Now the father got up; and every one of
the company betook himself to a particular
walk of the garden, in order to put his good
advice in execution immediately.
FOUR.
30
GACKO
doctocooooooooooooooo000
FOURTEENTH
EVENING.
Now, my
ow, my children,
the next evening,
continued the father
our ROBINSON lived
three whole years, one day like the other in
the fame manner, as I have told you laſt night.
During this whole time he continued his
fhip-builder's work inceffantly; and how far,
do you think, he is come with his work
during all this time? Alas! the tree was
not yet half fcoop'd out, and it ſtill ſeem'd
very doubtful, whether he should be able,
with all his induftry, to accomplish the whole
work in three or four years more!
that
Notwithstanding he continued his work
indefatigably, for what could he do elfe?
And he would have fome thing to do, and
could not be without doing ſomething!
One day it fuddenly came into his head,
he had now lived fo long in the iſland, and
yet he had feen but the leaft part of it. He
thought it was not right to be fo long
deterred by his timidity from taking a journey
from one end of the island to the other.
Who knows, what he might yet difcover
in other parts of it to his advantage!
፡
·
This
GNCK OF
31
This thought grew fo ftrong in his mind,
that he immediately refolved, to begin his
journey the next morning at break of day.
NICOLAS.
And how large might his ifland be?
FATHER.
About as large as all the territories of
Hamburgh together, exclufive of the country
of Rizebuttel;
about four german miles
long and twelve in circumference. *)
On the very fame day he prepared every
thing for his departure. The next morning
he packed provifions for four days on one of
his lama's, took all his accoutrements, recom-
mended himſelf to divine protection, and fet out
with confidence. His intention was to keep
as near the fea fhore as poffible, becaufe he
did not yet like to venture into thick woods
for fear of wild beafts.
He met with nothing remarkable the firſt
day of his journey. He went about three
german miles, and the further he advanced,
the more he was convinced, that he had
chofen his habitation in the most barren part
of the island. In many places he found fruit
trees, the like of which he had not feen
before,
*) About twenty engliſh miles long, and fixty
in circumference. A german mile being
computed to be about five english miles.
32
before, and which, he had a right to fuppofe,
would afford him wholefom and well-tafted food.
Afterwards he learnt to know their names
by the proper use of them. Among the reſt
there was a paper mulberry tree, of the rind
of which the Japaneſe make very fine paper,
and the inhabitants of Otaheite make beautiful
fluffs of it for fummerclothes, of which I'll
thew you a fample afterwards, which I got
from England.
ROBINSON paft the night on a tree for fear
of wild beafts, and at break of day he conti-
nued his journey.
He did not walk very long, till he reached
the fouthern extremity of the island. Here
the foil was fandy in fome places. Whilft he
was going to the furthest point of the land,
he ftopt fhort in one place, as if he had been
thunder ftuck, he grew pale as afhes and his
whole frame trembled.
Why fo?
JOHN.
FATHER.
He faw fomething, which he did not expect
to fee, the marks of feveral human fect
in the fand.
NICOLAS.
And therefore he is fo frighten'd? why, he
ought to be glad of that!
FA-
33
FATHER.
The caufe of his fright was this: in that
moment he figured to himself the man, the
marks of whofe feet he faw, not as a
brotherly affectionate being, ready to help
and ferve him in all cafes: but as a cruel hoftile
creature, that would attack him with rage, that
would kill and deyour him. In a word: he did
not figure him to himſelf as a civilized european
at the fight of thefe marks; but as a favage man-
eating canibal, which at that time as you know,
were faid to inhabit the Caribbee iflands.
THEOPHILUS.
Ay, that I believe, no wonder he was
frighten'd!
FATHER.
But it would have been wifer and better of
him, if he had ufed himself from his youth, not
to be fo much frighten'd at any danger, no, not
at the greateſt, as to lofe the ufe of his under-
ftanding. And that, my dear children, we
can all compaſs, if we do but betimes endea-
vour, to acquire ftrength of body and foul.
JOHN.
Ay, but how is that to be got?
FATHER.
By hardening our body, dear John, as much
as poffible by an induftrious temperate and na
tural way of life, and by endeavouring to raife
our minds above every viciffitude of fortune,
11. PART.
C
by
34
by unpolluted virtue and piety, and by arming
ourfelves beforehand against every misfor-
tune. Thus if you learn, after our example,
to be fatisfied with the moderate enjoyment
of wholefom, fimple and plain victuals, and
to deſpiſe the ſweet poifon of delicacies more
and more; by thunning idleness as the pefti-
lence of the foul and body, and bufy your-
felves as much as ever poffible with occupa-
tions of the mind by learning and reflect-
ing fometimes and at other times by bodily
work; if you accuftom yourſelves of your
own accord to be without fomething or other,
which you are very fond of, and which you
might have, if you pleafed, and if you will re-
folve to undergo fomething, which is very dif
agreeable to you and your intire averfion, and
which you were able to free yourfelves from; if
you will endeavour to do without the affiftance of
other men, as much as poffible, fatisfy your own
wants by the ſtrength of your own body and the
power of your underſtanding, and extricate
yourſelves from difficulties; in fine, if you
endeavour during your whole life-time to pre-
ferve that valuable treafure viz. a good con-
fcience, and by that means fecure to yourſelves
the approbation and love of our almighty, our
bountiful heavenly Father: then, my dear chil-
dern, you will grow found and ſtrong both
in body and foul; then you will remain uncon-
cerned in every viciffitude of fortune, be-
caufe
31
caufe you are then firmly convinced, that no-
thing can happen to you, but what is fent
you for your good by our wife and moſt boun-
tiful God.
Our ROBINSON, you fee, was not yet come
fo far in that firmneſs of mind founded upon
piety, as was requifite to make him eaſy and
happy. The caufe of which was undoubtedly
his having for fome years paft led a life free
from all dangers and ill accidents. For, my
childern, obferve this important Truth! -
too much eafe and fecurity fpoil man, make
him effeminate and timorous and generally vi-
cious; and it is therefore a true bleffing of
God, to fend us fome times fome adverfity,
to put the powers of our body and mind into
activity and ſtrengthen our courage by exercife.
ROBINSON ftood, as I told you, as thunder
ftruck at the fight of thefe prints of human feet.
in the fand. He looked fearfully about him,
liftened with great anxiety to the leaft ruft-
ling of the leaves, and in his confufion he
did not know for a good while, what to refolve
upon. At laft he fummoned up all his
ftrength, ran away, like one who is purfued,
and had not even the courage to look behind
him. But all of a fudden fomething made
him ſtart, and changed his fears into horror
and dismay.
C 2
He
36
He faw-prepare yourfelves, my children,
to bear a fhocking fight, and to fee the hor-
rible condition, into which men may fall;
who grow up without any education and in-
struction, and are left to themſelves!
He
faw a place, where a hole was dug in a cir-
cular form; in the midft of which there had
been a fire. My blood runs cold to tell it
you, fculls, hands, feet and other parts of
human bodies, the flesh of which had been
gnaw'd off, lay ſcatter'd round about this place.
ALL.
Whofe were they? of whom?
FATHER.
1
Of men; but no, only of fuch creatures,
as have the mere fhape of man, who grown
up ftupid and brutish, like wild beasts, had
neither averfion nor humanity to detain them.
from butchering their brothers and eating
their flesh. At that time I think I have told
it you once before, if I be not mistaken, the
Caribbee iſlands were inhabited by favages,
called Carribees, canibals, or man-eaters,
becauſe they had the horrible cuſtom of killing,
all thofe of their enemies, whom they took
prifoners in war, to roaft, and afterwards
devour them with great avidity in finging
and dancing.
CHARLOTTE.
Fie! what ſhocking people!
FA-
37
FATHER.
Their inhuman manners, my dear Chars
lotte, we will deteft, but not the poor people
themſelves, who cannot help their not being
properly inftructed and educated.
Had you
been fo unfortunate, as to have been born
among fuch favages: you would certainly
rove about the woods like them, and be as
naked, wild and unreasonable, as they are;
you would bedaub your face and body with
red paint; you would have holes pierced thro'
your ears and nofe; you would not be a little
proud, to wear feathers, cockle - fhells and
other trinkets in them, and you would with
as much pleaſure fhare in the feaſts of your
favage parents and countrymen, as you now
do in our better victuals. Rejoice therefore,
my dear children, and thank God, you are
born of civilized humane parents, with whom
it is eafy for you to become civilized, fenfible
and humane, and pity the fate of our fellow-
creatures, who live in the unhappy ſtate of
favage brutality!
FREDERIC.
Where are there any fuch people to be
found now?
JOHN.
Far, very far from here, Frederic, in an
iland, called New-Zealand! Papa read fome-
thing of it to us laft winter from the hiftory
C 3
of
38
of travells. There the people are faid to be
ftill fo favage and barbarous, as to eat human
fleſh. But the Engliſh, who have discovered
that ifland, will know how to civilize them.
That is well!
FREDERIC.
FATHER.
Let us now return again to our ROBINSON.
He turned away his face from this frightful
fpectacle, he grew fick, and would have
fainted, if nature had not been eafed by his
vomiting very copiously.
As foon as he had fomewhat recovered
himſelf, he ran away with the utmoſt ſwift-
neſs. His faithful lama could fcarce follow
him. Nevertheleſs it followed him. But fear
had fo much confufed our poor ROBINSON'S
underſtanding, that in his flight he forgot
the beaft that followed him, whofe fteps he
miftook for thofe of fome canibal purfuing
him, and in the great anxiety of his mind,
exerted all his ftrength in order to eſcape
him. This was not enough; even his accou-
trements, his lance, his bow and his ſtone-
hatchet, which he ought to have eſteemed
above all things, all this he flung away, becauſe
they hindered him in his flight. In all this
he fo little minded his way, that he ſometimes
turned one way and fometimes another, and
thus not knowing where he was, he ran
about
1
î
39
about in a perfect circle, and after about an
hour's running, he found himſelf at the fame
dreadful place, whence he had ſet out.
This was a new caufe of amazement and
ftupefaction for him, for he did not perceive,
that this was the very place, which he had
ſeen once before, but thought it was another
monument of the inhuman barbarity of thoſe
he fled from. Thus he ran away as ſwift as
his legs could carry him, and did not ceaſe
running, 'till he dropped down, quite ſpent
and faint with fatigue.
Whilft he was lying in this manner, quite
fenfelefs, his lama returned to him and laid
down at his feet. Now this happened to be
the very fame place, where he had flung away
his accoutrements. Upon opening his eyes
fometime after, he found all his things lying
on the grafs by him. This and all what
happened to him before feemed as a dream to
him; he did not know where he was himself,
nor how all theſe things came here; for fear
had quite deprived him of the ufe of his
fenfes !
He got up again; but as the vehemence
of his paffion had in the mean time fubfided:
he was more careful to preſerve his accoutre-
ments, the only means of defence he had now
in his poffeffion, and took them along with
him.
C 4
40
CUCKO
him. But he found himſelf ſo infeebled, that
it was impoffible for him to continue running
as faft as he had done before, though his fear
urged him on as much as ever. He felt no
hunger the whole day, and only once he took
time to quench his thirſt at a ſpring.
He hoped to reach his habitation; but that
was impoffible. At night-fall he found him-
felf more than half an hour's walk from his
dwelling, at a place, which he uſed to call
his fummer palace, which confifted of an
arbour and a pretty large incloſure, where he
kept part of his flock, becauſe the grafs was
much better here, than near his habitation.
He had for fome years ſpent feveral nights at
this place during the fummer feafon; becaufe
there were fewer mufquetoes; and for that
reafon he called this arbour by that name.
His ftrength was quite exhaufted, and it
was impoffible for him to go any farther,
however dangerous it might appear to him,
to fleep in an open arbour. He therefore
determined to stay there. But he had fearce
laid himſelf down on the ground, quite weary,
and his head filled with dreadful thoughts,
more dreaming than awake, when he was
again fo much frightened, that it had almoft
killed him.
JOHN.
Heaven help us! What must he fuffer!
NICO™
41
1
NICOLAS.
Pray, what was it?
FATHER.
་
He heard a voice as from heaven calling to
him quite diftinctly: ROBINSON, poor ROBINSON,
where have you been? how came you hither?
THEOPHILUS.
Blefs me! What could that be?
FATHER.
ROBINSON jumped up quite frightened,
trembling like an afpen leaf, not knowing
whether he fhould ftay or run away. In the
fame moment he heard the fame words over
again, and looking towards the place whence
the voice proceeded: he found what do you
think?
ALL.
Ah, who can know that!
FATHER.
He found, what the fearful would ge-
nerally find, if they
examine things,
would only take time to
that he had no reaſon at
all to be frightened. For the voice came not
from heaven, but from a branch of his arbour,
upon which his dear parrot was fitting.
Ah!
ALL.
C 5
FA-
42
FATHER.
Time had probably feemed long to him at
home, and as he had fome times accompanied his
mafter to his arbour, he came hither to look
for him. But ROBINSON had taught him theſe
words, which he pronounced ſeveral times,
and thus he had retained them.
How glad was ROBINSON to have difcovered
the cauſe of this new terror! He ftretched out
his hand, calling, Pol! and the familiar funny
thing preſently hopt down upon his thumb,
laid his bill to his cheek, and continued to
chatter: ROBINSON, poor ROBINSON, where have
you been?
ROBINSON could fcarce clofe his eyes during
the whole night for fear and apprehenfive
thoughts. His fancy always prefented to him.
that dreadful place, which he had ſeen, and
in vain did he endeavour to draw his imagi-
nation from it. Oh what foolish and perni-
cious refolutions does man take, when his
paffions have once obfcured his understanding!
ROBINSON made a thouſand ſchemes to fave
himſelf, of which one was ſtill more foo-
lifh, than the other. Among the reſt
could you believe it? he refolved to deſtroy
every thing he had hitherto made with fo
much labour and fatigue, as foon as day-light
fhould appear. He intended to pull down the
arbour he now lay in, then the incloſure
P
before
43
before it, and let his lama's run where they
pleaſed. Then he would alſo deſtroy his ha-
bitation, and the fine wall he had made before
it. Finally he would alfo ruin his gardens
and plentations, fo that not the leaſt mark of
any thing made by human hands fhould remain
in the whole iſland.
!
JOHN.
Why would he do that?
FATHER.
Becauſe the favages, if ever they should
come in that part of the iſland, ſhould not be
able to perceive, that any human creature
lived there.
Now we will leave him to his uneafy
thoughts, becauſe we are unable to help him;
and as we lay down on our fecure beds, we
will give our joyful thanks to that bountiful
God, who fuffered us to be born in a country,
where we live among civilized people, whe
love and help us, and where we have nothing
to fear from favage monſters.
ALL.
Good night, Papa! Thank you for your fine
story!
FIF.
44
FIFTEENTH EVENING.
}
My
(The Father continued.)
children, it is a true proverb: Good
counſel comes to morrow. That we may
fee by ROBINSON's example.
You know, what foolish refolutions his
immoderate fear made him take yesterday. It
was well for him, that he was obliged to defer
the execution of it till the next day; for the
agreeable light of day had fcarce chaced away
the gloomy fhades of night, when he began
to confider things in a very different point of
view. What he thought good, wife and
neceffary the day before, now appeared to
him bad, foolish and unneceffary. In a word,
he rejected all thofe rafh fchemes, which fear
had made him conceive, and took others,
that were approved of by reafon.
His example, my dear children, may ferve
to warn you, never to put any hafty refo-
lutions into execution, efpecially in things,
that may be deferred, but rather leave it to
the following day, if poffible.
ROBINSON now found, that his fear had
been extravagant the day before. "I am here
fo
อ
45
fo long already, thought he to himself, and
no favage ever came in that part, where my
habitation is. A fufficient proof, that there
muft be none in the island. In all probability
fome of them only come over here at times
from other iflands to celebrate their victories
and keep their inhuman feftivals; and then
they always land in the fouthern part of the
ifland and leave it again without looking any
further about them. It is therefore again a
new proof of the goodness of divine provi-
dence, that I was thrown in this barren part
of the iſland, which is the fecureft. Why
then fhould I not truft in God, that he will
further protect me from danger, as his wife
and kind providence for me is hitherto fo
vifible!"
Now he made himself the bittereft reproa-
ches, for having fhewn fo little confidence in
God by his extravagant fear the day before; he
fell with repentance on his knees, and begged
pardon for this new tranfgreffion. Thus new
ftrengthened he bent his way to his habita-
tion, to do what he had now refolved upon.
JOHN.
And what would he do now?
FATHER.
He would only make fome difpofitions for
his greater fafety; and in this he acted very
reaſonably. For tho' we must truft to God's
pro-
}
46
providence, that he will not forfake us in ne-
ceffity, if we endeavour to live according to
his holy will, yet we muft neglect nothing on
our fide, that can contribute of our fafety and
happiness. For God almighty has given us our
underſtanding and all the powers of our foul
and body, to employ them for the advance-
ment of our happiness.
The first thing he did, was to plant a cloſe
wood at fome diftance about the wall that
furrounded his habitation, to hinder his caftle
from being feen at a diſtance. For this purpoſe
he planted by degrees near two thouſand ſticks
of fome kind of willows, the eaſy and quick
growth of which, he had already experienced.
Thefe he did not plant in rows, but in
an irregular manner on purpoſe, fo that the
whole feemed to be a natural wood, and not
made by the hands of man.
Next he refolved to make a paffage under
ground from his cave to the other fide of the
hill, that in caſe of need, if his caſtle ſhould
happen to be taken by enemies, he might
have a way to fave himſelf. This was again.
a troubleſom and tedious piece of work, and
you may eafily think, that his fhip - builders
work was now for fome time neglected.
རྗ་
In making this paffage under ground, he
proceeded in the fame manner, as miners do in
the mines.
THEO
47
THEOPHILUS.
How is that, pray?
JOHN.
Have you forgot that? Firſt they dig ſtraight
downwards, as if they were digging a well;
and then they dig fide- ways. and then again
downwards, and then again fide-ways till they
come to fuch places, where they find any oar.
FATHER.
That's well explained! Now, do you fee,
when they dig fide-ways, (which is called
horzontally) the earth would fall down on
their heads, if they did not prop it. Thus
they are forced to fix it with poſts and cross-
beams; and our ROBINSON worked in the fame
manner.
All the fand, he worked out of this paffage,
he threw against his wall, fo that it at laft
became a rampart eight foot thick and ten
foot high. He left fmall openings in feveral
parts of it, like embrafures, to look thro'.
At the fame time he cut out fome fteps in it,
for the conveniency of getting up and down
and to defend his caftle, if neceffary, from
the top of the rampart.
Now he feemed to be fufficiently fecured
against any fudden attack. But how? if the
enemies fhould take it in their heads, to be-
fiege him in due form? how then?
This cafe feemed not impoffible; he thought
it therefore neceffary, to provide for that too,
that
48
that he might not be reduced by hunger and
thirft to furrender. For this purpoſe he re-
folved to keep at leaſt one milk-lama in his yard,
and to have always a hay-rick in readineſs for
her food, which he would not touch, but in
cafe of need; to keep fo much cheeſe, as it
was poffible for him to ſpare, and finally to
lay up a provifion of fruits and oysters from one
day to an other, and keep them as long as he
could.
He was forced to relinquifh an other plan,
becauſe he forefaw, it would cost him too
much time, which was to lead a fmall brook
thro' his yard, which proceeded from a ſpring,
that bubbled out of the ground, not far from
his habitation, in order to be provided with
water in cafe of a fiege. But then he had a
confiderable eminence to cut thro', which, by
a fingle man, could not be done without much
lofs of time. He thought proper therefore to
drop this project, and return to his fhip-
wright's work.
Thus fome years paft again, in which
nothing remarkable happen'd. I haften there-
fore to one of the most important accidents,
that had a greater influence on the fate of our
good friend, than any thing, that had hitherto
happened to him in his ifland.
When ROBINSON was busy working at his
boat on a fine warm morning, he unexpectedly
faw a great fmoke rifing at fome diftance.
His
OKI
49
His firft fenfation at this fight was terror, the
fecond curiofity, and both together urged
him on to run as faft as he could to the hill
behind his caftle, to fee from there, what
might be the caufe of it. He had fcarce got
upon the hill, when to his greateſt aftoniſhment
he diſcovered five canoes or ſmall boats, and
at least thirty favages about a large fire dancing
in a circle with barbarous geftures and marks
of joy.
Tho' ROBINSON was very well prepared
for fuch a ſpectacle, yet he was again near
lofing his fenfes for fear and terror, but
this time he recalled his courage and con-
fidence in God fooner than before; he got
down the hill in all hafte, to put himſelf in a
poſture of defence, he put on his accoutrements,
and in his confidence to God took the manly
refolution, to defend his life as long as he
could. He had fcarce taken this refolution
and ſtrengthen'd his mind by a short prayer,
when his heart became fo eafy and he felt
courage enough, to get up his rope-ladder,
to obſerve the enemy's motions from the top
of the hill.
But how did his heart palpitate with indig-
nation and horror, when he faw them pretty
diftinctly dragging two unhappy men from the
boats towards the fire! He doubted not, but
they would be inhumanly butcher'd, and in
the fame moment his fufpicions were confir-
II. PART.
D
med
50
1
med in the moft fhocking manner. Some of
thoſe monſters felled the prifoner to the ground,
and fome others got hold of him, probably
to open his body and prepare it for their abo-
minable feaft. At the fame time an other
prifoner ftood by as fpectator of this inhuman
fpectacle, till it ſhould come to his turn. But
this poor wretch perceiving them all bufy
about his murdered comrade, and not very
mindful of him, he fuddenly took flight, and
ran with incredible fwiftnefs towards ROBIN-
SON'S habitation.
Joy, hope, fear and horror now at once
feized the heart of our hero, and firſt made
his cheeks look red as fcarlet and then again
as pale as death; joy and hope prevailed in
his heart, becauſe he perceived, that the
fugitive could run much fafter, than his pur-
fuers; fear and herror on the contrary, becauſe
the fugitive and his purfuers came running
directly towards his caftle. However there
was a fmall creek between, which the unfor-
tunate fugitive would be obliged to crofs, if
he would not be taken. But he had fearce
reached it, when, without any more ado, he
immediately plunged in, and with the fame
fwiftnefs, he had fhewn in running, fwam to
the oppofite fhore.
Two of his purfuers, that were foremost,
fwam after him, the reft returned to their
abomi-
ST
abominable feaft. With inward fatisfaction
ROBINSON perceived, that thefe two could by
no means match the former in ſwimming,
who was already running towards his habita-
tion, whilft the others had not got half thro
the water.
In that moment ROBINSON felt himself
animated with fo much courage, the like of
which he had never before perceived. Fire
flaſhed from his eyes; his heart urged him to
affift the poor wretch; he ſeized his lance,
and without hefitating one moment he ran
down the hill, and was in a thrice between.
the fugitive and his purfuers. Stop! he cried
to the former with a loud thundering voice,
jumping forward from among the bushes;
ftop The poor fugitive looked behind him,
and was fo frightened at the fight of ROBINSON,
who was quite covered with fkins, that he
did not know, whether he fhould fall down
before him, or run away.
ROBINSON beckon'd him with his hand, gave
him to underſtand, that he was come to pro-
tect him, and was at the fame time advancing
towards his purfuers. He was now come fo
near, that he could reach the foremoft with
his lance. He fummon'd up his courage, and
gave him fuch a thruft in his naked body, that he
fell down to the ground. The other, who was
about a hundred paces behind, ftopt fhort;
took an arrow and ſhot at ROBINSON, whilſt
D 2
he
$2
he was juſt making up to him. The arrow hit
directly that part of his body, where the heart
is lodged, but it had luckily fo little force, that
it rebounded against his hard fur-jacket, as if
it had been an armour without doing him the
leaft harm.
Our couragious combatant did not give the
enemy time, to shoot a fecond time; he ran
up to him, and laid him fprawling in the fand,
whilft he was again bending his bow. And
now he looked about for him, whom he had
refcued.
The fugitive ſtood between hope and fear
on the fame spot, where ROBINSON had called
to him, not knowing, whether all this was for
his deliverance, or whether it would be his
turn next. The victor called to him again¨
and beckon❜d him to approach. He obey'd; but
foon ſtopt again, then he came a little nearer,
and then again he ſtopt with viſible marks of
terror and in the poſture of a fupplicant. Ro-
BINSON gave him all poffible marks of his
friendly intention, and again beckon'd him
to approach. He did fo; but kneeled down at
every ten or twelve fteps he took with geftures
of the greatest humility, as if he would thank
him and do him homage at the fame time.
Hereupon ROBINSON took off his mafk, to
fhew him a human and friendly face; upon
which he approached without any fcruple,
kneeled down before him, kiffed the ground,
laid
53
laid himself flat down, and placed ROBINSON'S
foot on his neck, probably as an affurance,
that he would be his flave. Our hero, who
wanted a friend more than a flave, lifted him
up very kindly and endeavour'd to convince
him by all poffible means, that he had nothing
but goodneſs and kindness to expect from
him. But there was ftill more to be done.
One of the flain, who in all probability was
not mortally wounded, and had only got a wound
in his belly, began to ftir, pulled up fome grafs
and pushed it into his wound to ftop the blood.
ROBINSON made his favage attentive to this,
and he anſwered him fome words in his own
language, which he did not underſtand, yet
they founded like mufick in his ears, becauſe
it was the firſt human voice, he heard after fo
many years. Upon which the indian pointed
to his hatchet, then to himſelf, and gave him
to underſtand, that he wished to have it, in
order to diſpatch his enemy with it. Our
hero, who was loath to fhed human blood,
and yet faw the neceffity of killing the wounded
favage, gave his vaffal the hatchet, and turned
away his eyes. He took it, and ran to the
wounded favage, and at one blow cleft his
fcull down the very fhoulders. Then he
returned fmiling, and with many very odd
geftures laid the feull of the flain as a trophy
at his feet.
D 3
ROBIN-
54
ROBINSON gave him to understand by figus,
that he ſhould take the bow and arrows from
the dead man and follow him. But the favage
made him comprehend, that he would firft
bury the dead body in the fand, that his
comrades, in cafe they came to look for him,
might not find him. ROBINSON teftified his
approbation at his precaution, and he was fo
nimble with his hands, that in lefs, than a
quarter of an hour both dead bodies were
buried. Upon which they both went towards
ROBINSON'S habitation and got up the hill,
CHARLOTTE.
But, Papa, now ROBINSON was become a
murderer,
FREDERIC.
Why, he had only killed favages; that did
not fignify!
CHARLOTTE.
But nevertheleſs they were men!
FATHER.
To be fure they were, Frederic, and either
favage or civilized is nothing to the purpoſe.
The question is only: whether he had a right
to kill the poor wretch? what do you think of
it, John?
JOHN,
I think, he was in the right on't.
FATHER.
55
FATHER.
•
Why fo?
JOHN.
Because they were fuch monfters, and be-
cauſe they would otherwife have killed t'other
poor fellow, who probably had done them
no harm.
FATHER.
But how could ROBINSON know that? Per-
haps he deſerved death? Perhaps thofe that
followed him were officers of juſtice, who had
orders from their fuperior to do fo? And then,
who had made ROBINSON judge over them?
NICOLAS.
Ay, but if he had not killed them, they
would perhaps have ſeen his caſtle, and then
they would have told it to the reft
THEOPHILUS.
And then they would have come together
and killed ROBINSON himfelf,
FREDERIC.
And devour'd him befides!
FATHER.
Now you have hit the matter; he was for-
ced to do it for his own fecurity, very right!
But has one a right to kill an other, to fave
♦ne's own life?
D 4
ALL.
1
56
Oh yes!
Why?
ALL.
FATHER.
JOHN.
Becauſe it is God's will, that we fhall pre-
ferve our lives, as long as poffibly we can.
If therefore any one will kill us, it muſt needs
be right, that we fhould kill him firſt, to
prevent his killing us.
FATHER.
To be fure, my dear children, fuch felf-
defence is juſt according to divine and human.
laws, but obferve me well! In this cafe
only: when there is no other remedy to fave
ourfelves. Whereas if we have an opportunity
to escape, or to be protected by others, or
to difable our purfuers from hurting us any
attempt upon his life is real murder, and is
punish'd as fuch by the law.
Don't forget to thank God, my dear chil-
dren, that we live in a country, in which our
fuperiors have made fuch good difpofitions for
our fecurity, that fearce one man in a thou-
fand can ever come in the melancholy neceffity
of fighting for his own prefervation.
This is enough for to day.
SIX-
57
SIXTEENTH EVENING.
After the company was again affembled the
following evening, and the ufual exclama-
tion "ah! of ROBINSON! of ROBINSON!" had paft
from mouth to mouth, the Father continued his
remarkable narration in the following manner:
The fate of our ROBINSON, my dear chil-
dren, which we all have fo much at heart, is
not yet decided. He got up the hill behind his
habitation, as I told you before, in company
with the favage, whofe life he had faved, and
there we left him yeſterday, not knowing, what
would become of either? His fituation was
ftill very dangerous! For what could in all
probability be expected, but that the favages,
as foon as their inhuman feaft was ended,
would follow their two comrades and look for
their deſerted prifoner? And if they did fo,
how much was it not to be feared, but they
would diſcover ROBINSON's habitation, take it
by ſtorm, and kill him and his vaffal at the
fame time?
1
ROBINSON fhuddered at this thought, as he
ftood on the top of the hill behind a tree,
furveying the abominable expreffions of joy
and the dances of thefe favage monfters at a
diftance. He confidered in hafte, whether he
D 5
had
58
had beſt flee, or get into his caſtle? One thought
of God, the protector of innocence, gave him
ftrength and courage to chufe the latter. He
therefore crept, to avoid being feen, behind
fome low bushes towards his rope-ladder, and
ordered his companion by figns to do the
fame. And thus they both got down,
Here the favage ftared, to fee the convenient
and regular difpofition of his deliverer's habi-
tation, becaufe he had never ſeen any thing
fo handfom in his life. He was nearly in the
ſame frame of mind, as a country man, who
has never been away from his village, when
he fees a palace for the first time.
ROBINSON gave him to underſtand by figns,
what he apprehended for them both from his
barbarous country-men, and fignified to him
his refolution of defending his life to the laſt
drop of his blood. The fayage underſtood
him, made a dreadful face, brandi hed his
hatchet, which he had ftill in his hands, fe-
veral times over his head, and then turned
with frightful geftures to that fide, where he
faw his enemies, as if he would challenge
them to fight, and by all this he gave his
protector to underſtand, that he did not want
courage, to defend himſelf bravely.
SON praifed his valour, gave him a bow and
one of his lances, (of which he had made
many by degrees) and placed him as a centinel
at a little hole, which he had left on purpoſe
ROBIN-
in
L
59
in his wall, and thro' which one could overlook
the intermediate fpace between the wall and
the wood he had planted. He placed himſelf
fully accoutred at the other fide of the wall,
where he had likewife left an opening for the
fame purpoſe.
In this fituation they had paft near an hour,
when they were fuddenly alarmed by the con-
fufed noife of many voices, but at a pretty
great diſtance. They both prepared for a battle
and encouraged each other by figns.
noife ceafed; then they heard fimilar cries and
fomething nearer too, upon which a dreadful
filence enfued again. Now -
CHARLOTTE.
The
Oh Papa, I fhall run away, if they come!
FREDERIC.
Fie! who would be fuch a coward!
THEOPHILUS.
Let them alone, Charlotte! ROBINSON will
fight them; I am not at all afraid of that.
CHARLOTTE.
Well, you'll fee, they will certainly kill him.
Oh, be quiet!
JOHN₂
FATHER.
Now they heard a fingle coarfe voice, roar-
ing dreadfully in the wood and which the eccho
of
бо
Our valiant cambatans
of the hill refounded.
ftood prepared; their bows were already bent
to fend an arrow into the entrails of the firſt,
that ſhould make his appearance. Their eyes
ſparkled with valiant expectation, and were
continually fixed on that part of the wood,
from whence the voice had proceeded. -
Here the father broke off abruptly and they
were all filent full of expectation. But nothing
enfued. At laft they all afked him as with
one voice: why he did not continue? and
the father anfwered:
"To give you an other oportunity to learn
to moderate your defires! You are all probably
very curious, to know the event of that dread-
ful battle, which feems to await our ROBIN-
SON; and I am alfo ready to tell it you, if you
defire it. But what? if you gave it up of
your own accord? if you fuppreft your curio-
fity and deferred the gratification of it till to
morrow? However you fhall have your own
way; fpeak: will you? or will you not?"
We will! we will! was the general reply,
and thus the continuation of the ftory was
poftponed till the following evening. *)
In
*) But our young readers must know, that theſe
children had fince fome time been much exer-
cifed in this way of felfdenial, and that it was not
in the leaſt hard for them to give up their deareſt
pleaſures with a ſmiling countenance; and
they
61
In the mean time every one continued his
ufual work, and they held an inftructive con-
'verfation, untill the drum beat for fupper.
Some made baskets, others laces and others
again made plans for a little fortification, that
was ſhortly to be made in the great yard; and
the following evening the father continued
his narration, where he had broke off:
ROBINSON and his valiant vaffal remained in
that warlike pofture, in which we left them
yeſterday, till the evening, without feeing
or hearing any thing further. At last they
both conjectured, that the favages had given
up their fruitlefs fearch and returned home in
their canoes.
They therefore laid down their
arms, and ROBINSON went to fetch fome of
his provifions for fupper.
As this remarkable day, which is fo parti-
cularly diftinguiſhed in the hiftory of our friend,
was a friday; he refolved to give that name
to the favage he had faved, and therefore
called him Friday.
ROBINSON had now time to confider him a
little nearer. He was a young fellow, well
grown and of about twenty years of age. His
ſkin was dark-brown and fhining; his hair
was black, but not woolly, like that of a
negro; his noſe fhort, but not flat; his lips
were
they will do well to endeavour to imitate
thefe children, who find it very good for
them.
62
والابو
were thin, and his teeth white as ivory. In.
both is ears he wore cockle-fhells and feathers,
of which he did not feem to be a little proud.
For the rest he was naked from head to foot.
One of our ROBINSON's principal virtues was
modefty. Notwithſtanding he was very hun-
gry, yet he took time firſt, to cut an apron
for his naked companion out of an old fkin
and to tie it about him with fome pack-thread.
Then he made him fit down by him and eat
his fupper. Friday (fot fo we will call him
for the future) drew near with all poffible marks
of respect and gratitude, then kneeled down
before him, laid his head flat on the ground
and placed his deliverer's foot on his neck, as
he had done the first time.
ROBINSON's heart, which could fcarce con-
tain the joy at his having now got this long
wifhed for companion and friend, was ready
to overflow in careffes and tender embraces:
but the thought, that for his own fecurity he
would be obliged to keep his new gueft,
whofe character he did not yet know, for fome
time in the bounds of awe and fubjection,
made him accept of his homage, as fomething
due to him, and play the king for fome time.
He gave him therefore to underſtand by figns
and geftures, that he had indeed taken him
under his protection, but only on condition.
of the ſtricteft obedience: that he muſt there-
fore confent to do or not to do, whatever
he,
63
he, his Lord and King fhould think proper
to order or forbid him. In making him to
understand this, he made ufe of the word Kat-
fchike, a name, by which the americans call
their fuperiors, which he luckily remember'd
to have heard once.
This word made Friday underſtand the mean-
ing of his mafter, more than all the figns with
which he accompanied it, and he expreffed his
fatisfaction by repeating the word Katfchike fe-
veral times with a loud voice and by proftrating
himſelf again at his feet. Nay, to convince him
that he knew very well, what royal authority
was, he took hold of the lance, put it into his
maſter's hands, and placed the point of it on his
breaft,probably to indicate, that his body and life
were in his power. Hereupon ROBINSON kindly
reached him his hand with the dignity of a
monarch as a fign of his royal favour, and
order'd him again to fit down and take his
fupper with him. Friday obey'd; but in fuch
a manner, that he lay at his feet on the even
ground, whilft ROBINSON was fitting on a bank
of Sods.
Look ye, my children, the first kings in
the world took their rife in this and the like
manner. They were men, who furpaft others
in wisdom, courage and bodily ftrength.
Therefore they came to them and begged their
protection againſt wild beafts, of which there
were anciently more than at prefent, and
againſt
64
against fuch people as would wrong them.
For this they promifed to obey them in every
thing and to give them every year fomething
of their flocks and fruit, that they might not
be in the neceffity of getting their own
livelihood, but employ themfelves folely with
the care of their fubjects. This annual gift,
which the fubjects promifed to give their
king, was called a tribute, or annual contri- /
bution. Thus arofe royal authority and the
duty of obedience and fubmiffion to one man
or more, under whofe protection we live.
ROBINSON was now a real king, only that
his dominion reached no further, than over
a fingle fubject and fome lama's, the parrot
included. However his majefty was pleafed
to ufe his vaffal with as much condefcenfion,
as his dignity would allow.
FREDERIC.
Pray, what is a vaffal?
FATHER.
}
It is the fame as a fubject, dear Frederic.
After fupper his majefty was graciously
pleafed to give his orders for the difpofition.
of the night. He thought it proper, not to
let his fubject who was now at the fame
time his first minister of State and his valet de
chambre, his general and his army, his groom of
the bed chamber, high ſteward of his houfhold &c.
Пleep
65
fleep in his own cave as yet, but in his cellar,
becauſe he had fome fcruples to truft his life
and the fecret of the paffage under ground
out of his cave to a novice, whofe fidelity he
had not yet tried, and of which he could con-
fequently have no proofs. Friday was there-
fore ordered to carry fome hay into the cellar,
and to make a bed for himſelf, whilft his
majefty for his greater fecurity carried all the
arms into his own bed-chamber.
Then he was pleafed to give an example
of condefcenfion and meeknefs in the prefence
of his whole empire, which is perhaps the
only one of the kind. You would be aſtoniſhed
at it, and think it incredible, if I could not affure
you, that it is in plain words written in the
annals of our ROBINSON's government, and
by which it has long fince been made known
to all the world: ROBINSON, the monarch,
the abfolute king and governour of the whole
ifland, the fole arbiter of life and death among all
his fubjects, performed in the prefence of
Friday the office of a dairy maid, and with his
own royal hands milked the lama's in his yard,
to fhew his firft minifter, to whom he had
refolved to commit this bufinefs, how to do
it for the future!
Here the father ftopt, to give time for the
general laughter, which this comical circum-
ftance had occafion'd. After which he con-
tinued as follows:
II. PART.
E
Friday
66
GACKO
Friday did not yet know the meaning of
what his maſter was doing; for his weak un-
derſtanding and that of his country-men had
not yet hit upon the notion, that the milk of
animals was nourishing and wholefom food.
He had never tafted any milk, and he was
therfore quite ravifhed at the agreeable tafte
of it, when ROBINSON gave him fome.
+
After what they had both fuffered this day,
they longed for fleep and reſt.
ROBINSON
therefore order'd his vaffal to go to bed; and
he did the fame. But before he went to bed,
he did not forget to thank God very fer-
vently, for having turned from him the danger
of the day, and for having fent him a human
creature to affiſt him.
SEVEN-
t
TM
ONKO
67
Now
cobobobobobo
SEVENTEENTH
EVENING.
JOHN.
Tow I long to hear, how many things Ro-
BINSON will do in company with his Friday!
DICK.
Oh now he will be able to do many things
more than before, becaufe he has an affiftant!
FATHER.
You will ever more perceive, my chil-
dren, what great advantages man acquires
from fociety, and how much reafon we have
to thank God, for having implanted in us fuch
a ſtrong inclination for converfation and friend-
ſhip with other men!
The first thing ROBINSON did the next mor-
ning with Friday, was to go to the place,
where the favages had kept their victorious
feaft the day before. In their way thither.
they first came to the place, where the two
favages, whom ROBINSON had flain, lay buried.
Friday pointed to the place, and gave his
mafter pretty plainly to underftand, that he
had a good mind to dig up the dead bodies,
and to make a feaſt of them. ROBINSON made a
dread-
E 2
68
dreadful face, expreffing indignation and
horror, lifted up his lance with a threatening
afpect, and give him to understand, that he
would immediately kill him, if he fhould ever
take it into his head again to eat human fleik.
Friday comprehended his mafter's threats and
fubmitted obedient to his will, though he
could not conceive, what reafon could induce
him to deny him fuch a pleaſure, becauſe he
had no idea at all, that it was loathfom!
Now they had reached the place, where
the fire had been. That was a fight! Bones
were lying in one place, pieces of human flesh
half gnaw'd in an other, and in feveral places
the ground was dyed with blood. ROBINSON
was obliged to turn his eyes from it. He or-
dered Friday to gather them all in a heap, then
dig a hole in the ground and to bury the
lamentable remains of his country-men's in-
humanity; and Friday obey'd.
ROBINSON examined the ashes in the mean
time, to fee, whether he could not find a fpark
offire, but in vain! It was intirely extinguished.
That was indeed very afflicting for him; for
after heaven had granted him a companion, he
had for the prefent nothing left to wiſh, but fire.
Whilft he stood there quite dejected and con-
fidering the dead afhes with melancholy looks,
Friday, after having confidered him for fome
time with attention, made him fome incom-
prehenfible figns, then feizing the hatchet,
he
69
he ran like light'ning into the wood, and left
ROBINSON, who not knowing his defign,
was quite aftonished at his fudden eſcape.
"What may be the meaning of that?"
thought he to himſelf, looking after him quite
amazed. "Could the ungrateful wretch forfake
me, and even deprive me of my hatchet?
could he be cruel enough, to take poffeffion
of my habitation and exclude me from it by
violence, or even betray me to his inhuman
country-men? abominable! abominable!"
he cried, and feized his lance, fired with in-
dignation at fuch an unheard of ingratitude, and
was going to purfue the traitor, to prevent him
from executing his dark defign.
He had already begun his purfuit with hafty
fteps, when he fuddenly faw Friday returning
in full speed. ROBINSON ftood quite ftupified,
and faw with furprife, that his fuppofed
traitor, held a handful of dried grafs in his
hand, as he was running, from which fome
fmoke arofe. Soon after it took fire; Friday
flung it to the ground, and immediately put more
dried graſs and ſome ſticks upon it, and ROBIN-
SON in that moment faw with joyful furpriſe
a clear fine fire flaming up. Now he at
once comprehended Friday's fudden eſcape;
and quite loft in joy, he fell on his neck,
preffed him to his breaft and kiffed him
heartily, and in his thoughts begged a thou-
fand times his pardon for his falfe fufpicions.
E 3
NICOLAS
70
NICOLAS.
But where did Friday get the fire?
FATHER.
}
He ran with his hatchet into the wood, to cut
a couple of dry ſticks. Thefe he rubbed together
with fo much quicknets and addrefs, that they
took fire, then he wrapped this burning wood
into a little hay, and with this hay in his
hand, he ran away as faft as poffibly he could.
By this rapid motion they hay took fire and
began to flame.
FRIEND R.
There again I do not like our friend Ro-
BINSON!
Why not?
JOHN.
FRIEND R.
Why, becauſe he could harbour fuch a black
fufpicion against him, without having any
fufficient proof of his infidelity. Fie! who
would be fo fufpicious!
JOHN.
Ay, but what he fufpected might have been
true; and then he was obliged to be on his
guard againſt him?
•
FRIEND R.
Underſtand me right, dear John! I don't
blame him for thinking it poffible, that Friday
:
might
71
might be unfaithful to him; neither do I blame
him for running after him, in order to prevent
him from doing him any mifchief, in cafe he.
intended him any: for this precaution against
fuch an unknown man was indeed neceffary
and good. But I blame him, for being fo
ready to think his fufpicion grounded, and
for falling into fuch a pallion, and his being
fired with indignation, and not once taking
a thought, that Friday might ftill be inno-
No, our diffidence of other people
muft never go fo far, if we have not the fureft
proofs of their infidelity before us. In doubt-
ful cafes we must always fuppofe the beſt, but
never the worst.
cent.
FATHER.
1
A very good rule! Mind that, my children,
and obferve it.
Now our ROBINSON was, as I was faying,.
out of his wits for joy, when he faw his
fufpicion vanish, and found himſelf again in
poffeffion of fire, which he had fo long wiſhed,
and fo long wanted. He delighted his eyes a
long while by looking upon the burning fla-
mes, and could fcarce fatisfy them.
At
laft he took a fire-brand, and ran in company.
with Friday to his habitation.
Here he made directly a clear fire in his
Kitchin, put fome patatoes before it, and flew
like lightening to his flock, in order to fetch.
E 4
a young
72
a young lama. This was directly killed, fkin-
ned, cut up, and a quarter of it fpitted, and
Friday was ordered to turn the ſpit..
་
Whilft Friday was doing his office, ROBIN-
SON cut a piece off of the breaft, washed it and
put it into one of his pots. Then he pealed
fome patatoes, bruifed a handful of maize into
flour between two ſtones, put both to the meat
into the pot, and poured fo much clean water
upon it, as he thought neceffary. Neither
did he forget to put fome falt into it, and then
he placed the pot upon the fire.
CHARLOTTE.
I know what he was going to make of
that! fome broth!
FATHER.
Very right; which he had not eaten
thefe eight years at leaft! You may eafily think,
how his mouth water'd at it!
Friday ſtared at all thefe preparations, be-
cauſe he could not conceive, what all that
was for? He had never heard or feen any
thing about cooking; therefore he could by
no means gueſs, what the water in the pot was
for on the fire? Now whilft ROBINSON was
gone into his cave a few moments, and the
water in pot began to boil, Friday was ſtartled,
becauſe he could not conceive, what could
bring the water in motion all of a fudden?
But when it boiled up and began to run over
on
73
on all fides, he took the foolish whim in his
head, that perhaps there might be fome living
creature in it, which caufed this fudden mo-
tion; and to prevent this fuppofed animal
from flinging all the water out of the pot, he
at once thruft his hand into it, in order to
catch it. But in the fame inftant he fet up
fuch a dreadful roar, which made the rock of
the cave tremble.
Fear and horror feized our poor ROBINSON,
when he heard this terrible outcry, becauſe
in the first moment he could expect nothing,
but that the favages were come, and had already
got hold of his. poor Friday. Fear and felf-
love prompted him to efcape thro' his concealed
way under ground, and to fave his own life.
But he rejected this thought preſently, becauſe
he justly thought it fhameful, to abandon his
new companion and friend. He therefore fal-
lied out of his cave without any further hefi-
tation with the firm refolution, to deliver Fri-
day again from the hands of thoſe monſters at
the peril of his own body and life.
•
FRIEND B.
So I like you friend ROBINSON !
FATHER.
Thus he fallied out with his hatchet in his
how great was his aftoniſhment,
hand: but
when he faw Friday quite alone, jumping
E 5
about
74
about like a madman, roaring without inter
miffion and making very fingular contorfions.
He ſtood a good while quite ſtupified, not
knowing what to think of it? At laft they
came to an explanation and he was informed by
figns, that the whole mifchief confifted in
Friday's having burnt his hand a little.
It was not very eaſy to pacify him. But to
make you underſtand (what ROBINSON could
not comprehend till a year afterwards, when
Friday could ſpeak with him) why he made
fuch a dreadful noife for fuch a trifle, and why
he made fuch wry faces: I must first tell you,
what ignorant, untaught people generally think
in their youth, when any thing happens to
them, of which they can not conceive the
reaſon.
Theſe poor fimple folks then generally be-
lieve, that fome invifible being, fome fpirit,
is the cauſe of what they can not comprehend;
and they think, that fuch a fſpirit produces
fuch an effect at the command of fome man,
to whoſe will it is become fervile.
Such a
man, whom they fuppofe to have power over
one or more fpirits, they call a forcerer or
wizard, and if it be a woman, a forceress or
witch.
If a horfe or a cow belonging to a poor
ignorant country - man be fuddenly taken ill,
and he can not conceive the cauſe of their
fick-
75
fickness, he is very apt to conceit, there muſt
be fome wizard or witch in the village, who
has bewitched his horfe or his cow, that is,
made them fick by means of fome invifible
evil spirit.
•
CHARLOTTE.
Oh ay, Papa, that's what our Nanny faid,
when our cow gave fo little milk!
FATHER.
Take care therefore, dear Charlotte, to
undeceive the poor girl, if you can, when
you affift in the kitchin to morrow.
Now when fuch fimple folks are fo fuper-
ftitious, there are generally fome cunning,
malicious cheats, who take advantage of their
ignorance and fuperftition, in order to get
money from them. Such deceivers confirm
them in their errour, give themfelves an im-
portant air, tell them they are much in the
right, the beaft is really bewitched; but if
they will give them fo much money, they are
able to cure them by countercharms or force the
forcerer or evil fpirit to defift. Then theſe
fimple folks give them what they demand, and
the conjurer, (fo they call fuch a cheat) plays
all forts of foolish tricks before them. Then if
the beaſt gets well again by accident, they fwear,
it has really been bewitched, but counterchar-
med by the cunning man, (which is an other
name for fuch deceivers.) But if the beast
•
hap-
76
happens to die; the cunning man can give a
thousand reafons, why his charm has proved
fruitless.
The more stupid men are, the more they
are addicted to this fatal fuperftition. You
may therefore eafily think, that it is very much
in vogue among favages. Whatever their
fimple underſtanding can not comprehend, they
afcribe to the working of evil ſpirits; and
this was the cafe with our Friday at prefent.
He had never heard nor experienced, that
water may be heated; he had never felt what
fenfation it caufes, when one puts one's hand
into boiling water: he could therefore by no
means comprehend, whence that very pain-
ful fenfation proceeded, which feized him as
foon as his hand touched the boiling water.
He therefore firmly believed, that it was witch-
craft, and that his mafter was a forcerer.
Now, my children, -you alfo muft expect,
that in future times you will meet with fome-
thing or other, the cauſe of which you will not
be able to comprehend. You will fee jugglers
and conjurers, who can do wonderous things,
who, for inftance, can in appearance change
a bird into a moufe, cut a bird's head off and
bring it to life again &c.; and with the grea-
teſt attention you will not be able to diſcover
the fraud; now if at any fuch time you ſhould
conceive the thought: that must be done by
evil means; the man must be a wizard! then
think
77
think of our Friday, and be affured; that you
are in the fame cafe, he was in; and that from
ignorance you believe a thing to be fupernatu
ral, which nevertheleſs is produced by very na-
tural means. We will occafionally explain
fome of thofe juggler's tricks to you, to pre-
pare you for fuch things, and enable you to
conclude from them what others may be.
It was not very eafy, as I told you before,
to pacify poor Friday, and make him fit down
again to turn the fpit, However at laft he
was prevailed on, but he ſtill continued to
look at the pot with fecret horror, and his
maſter he now confidered with fear and refpect
as fome fupernatural being. He was ftreng-
thened in his belief by ROBINSON's white euro-
pean complexion and long beard, which gave
him a quite different appearance, from what
Friday's tawny and beardlefs countrymen had.
NICOLAS.
Have the favages in America no beards?
FATHER.
No, it has been generally believed, that na-
ture had not given the american men any beards:
but now fome people have obferved, that they
have no beard, only because they very care-
fully pluk out the hairs from their chins, as
foon as they appear.
Now his broth, patatoes and roaſt meat, all
was ready. As he had no fpoons, he poured
fome
78
fome broth into two other pots, to drink it
out of them. But Friday could in no wife be
prevailed upon, to take one, becauſe he thought
the broth was fome bewitching potion; and he
fhuddered with horror, when he faw ROBIN-
SON lifting the pot to his mouth and drinking
the fuppofed bewitched broth, whereas he
ate very hearty fome of the roaft meat and
patatoes. You may eafily imagine, how de-
lightful it was for ROBINSON to eat warm and
nourishing victuals. It made him forget all
the hardships he fuffered during the former
years ſpent in mifery, it made him forget, that
he was still in his illand, he thought himfelf
in an other country, nay in the midſt of Eu-
rope. Providence can thus by the balm of
unexpected joy in a fingle moment heal the
wounds of our hearts, that were ſtruck for our
good, and which, during the fenfation of pain,
we think incurable! I think it will be needlefs
to tell you, that ROBINSON did not forget to
thank the giver of all things with love and
gratitude, whilft he was enjoying this new gift
of his divine bounty.
After his repaft he placed himſelf in his
fcheming corner, to make ferious reflections
on the happy change of his fituation. Every
thing had now a quite different, a much more
agreeable appearance. His life was no longer
folitary; he had now a companion, with
whom he could indeed not as yet ſpeak, but
his
79
his bare company now afforded him comfort
and affiſtance; he had again fire and good-
tafted and wholefom provifions plenty, to
fatisfy the cravings of the palate and the
ftomach. "What can hinder me now, thought.
he, from living fatisfied and at eafe? I will
therefore enjoy the manifold gifts of heaven;
I will eat and drink the beft of my flock and
of the fruits of my land, (for I have abundance
of every thing) and make myſelf amends for
the hardships and want, I fuffered thefe laft
years, by eafe and good eating and drinking!
Friday may work for me; he is young and
ftrong, and I merit, that he fhould be my
fervant." Here his reflections ftopt; for an
other thought came into his head.
"But how? thought he, if all my prefent
happiness fhould at once ceafe? If Friday
fhould happen to die? If I fhould again lofe
my fire?" A cold fhivering ran thro' all his
limbs at this thought.
"And, thought he, if by a foft and vo-
luptuous life I indulged myfelf fo much, that
it were impoffible for me to return to the hard-
fhips and mifery of my former way of life?
And if I were nevertheleſs forced to return to
it?" Here he fetched a deep figh.
Then thought he moreover: "To what do
I owe my having, with God's affiftance,
abandon'd ſo many weakneffes and vices,
which I was fo much addicted to before? cer-
tainly
80
tainly to that active and frugal way of living
I was forced into. And fhould I now risk lofing
that health of body and mind, which I have
acquired by frugality and labour? God forbid!"
thought he, jumping up from his place, and
walking haftily up and down his yard. Friday
was in the mean time carrying the victuals,
that were left into the cellar, and now he went
at ROBINSON's command to milk the lama's.
ROBINSON thus continued his meditation:
And, thought he, how long would it be,
before I should forget all the hardships I
fuffered and the paternal affiftance, which God
almighty has hitherto lent me, if I were
henceforth to lead an eafy and voluptuous
life? how foon might I not grow prefumptuous,
arrogant and even forget God almighty? that's
dreadful! dreadful! he cried and fell on his
knees, to pray God to preſerve him above all
things from fuch deteftable ingratitude.
He remained a few minutes longer quite
abſorbed in thought; then his foul took the
following manly and truly falutary refolution:
"I will indeed, thought he, enjoy the new
gifts of divine bounty, but always with the
greatest moderation. The moft fimple victuals
fhall alſo be my food for the future, however
great and manifold my provifion may be. I
will alfo continue my labour with as much
induſtry and as uninterruptedly, as I have
done hitherto, tho' it be not as neceflary.
One
One day every week, and this fhall be the
faturday, I will live on the fame raw food,
which has fuftained me hitherto, and I will
ſpend the last day of every month as folitary, as I
have been obliged to do all the paft time of my
stay here. Then Friday fhall ftay a whole day
and night far from me in my Summer-palace."
After having taken this virtuous refolution,
he felt that pure heavenly joy, with which every
mental endeavour after higher perfection is
always attended. His face glow'd, his heart
anticipated the happy confequences of this free
facrifice and beat more chearly; his mind was
unfpeakably eafy. But now he knew the in-
conftancy of the human heart, and of his own
too, and confequently he forefaw, that it was not
impoffible, but he might again forget all theſe
his good refolutions. He thought therefore,
that it would not be improper, to make fome
fenfible mark, at the fight of which he might
be daily reminded of them. In this defign he
took hold of his hatchet, and cut in the wall
of the rock over the entrance of his cave thefe
two words: Induftry and moderation. Now, my
children, I give you time till to-morrow, to con-
fider this inftructive circumftance in the life of
our friend, and fee, whether there be any thing
in it, which you might imitate for your advan-
tage. When we meet again, you will tell me
your thoughts of it, as I fhall tell you mine.
EIGH-
II. PART.
F
82
0): (000
EIGHTEENTH EVENING.
The
he following day there was fuch a whiſper-
ing and fuch a commotion among the little
folks, that one could perceive, there was
fomething of importance on the carpet.
However it was not poffible to diſcover, what
it was, till the hour for ROBINSON's hiſtory
had ſtruck. But then they came running and
crowding about the father, that he was obliged
to retreat to a grafs - bank, to prevent his
being crushed by them.
FATHER.
Well, what's the matter, what's the matter?
ALL.
One favour! dear Papa! one favour!
FATHER.
And pray, what is it?
ALL AT ONCE.
Oh I should like
oh I fhould be glad
oh and I
FATHER.
Hufh! Nay, I don't understand a fingle
word, if you will all ſpeak together. Let one
fpeak after the other! Dick, do you begin!'
DICK.
83
DICK.
I and Nicolas and John would beg leave
not to eat any thing at dinner to-morrow.
THEOPHILUS.
And I and Frederic and Charlotte would beg
to eat nothing but a bit of dry bread for
breakfaſt to-morrow, and nothing at all for
fupper.
And why, pray?
FATHER.
JOHN.
Nay, we would fain learn to conquer our-
felves.
NICOLAS.
And we would accuftom ourſelves to bear
a little hunger, that it might not feem hard
to us, in cafe we fhould ever be forced to do it.
THEOPHILUS.
Ay, and then we would beg Papa, to give
us leave, not to go to bed to-morrow, but fit
up the whole night.
FATHER.
:
I am glad, my children, that you perceive
the neceffity of denying yourſelves fometimes,
what is agreeable to you on purpoſe, that
you may learn to bear the want of it in cafe ::
of need. That ftrengthens the body and foul
F 2
at
!
84
1
at the fame time. I therefore grant your re-
queft, but on condition, that you do it wil-
lingly and gladly, and that you tell me freely,
in cafe it fhould be too hard for you.
ALL.
Oh it will certainly not be too hard for us.
FRIEND R.
I'll follow your example, you little ones, and
faft with you to-morrow night.
FRIEND B.
And I'll follow your example, Dick, Nicolas
and John; we'll faft together at dinner time,
and I'll watch with you all.
FATHER.
Bravo! Bravo!
Now fhould I alone be
left behind on the road to goodneſs? -
what I have refolved to do!
Hear,
You know, I have been greatly fpoiled in
my youth. I had coffee and tea, beer and
wine to drink. When I was a youth I had
the folly to accuftom myſelf to take fnuff and
to fmoak. All theſe things debilitate the body
greatly, and create fo many wants, and make us
diffatisfied every moment, when we can not
have them. I have often the head-ake, which
I should probably not have, if I had not been
accuſtom❜d to ſtrong and heating liquors from
my youth. This and the example of our Ro-
BINSON has made me refolve to give them all
פון
-85
up from this very moment. From this day
therefore I'll neither fmoak nor take any fnuff;
from this day forward I'll drink no more tea
nor coffee, no beer nor wine, except on
birth-days and other feftivals, then we will
all drink a little wine and rejoice in that gift
of God and give our thanks for it to the giver
of all things. *) People will make many ob-
jections against this; one will fay: "he will
play the fingularift, he will copy **) Diogenes.”
An other will fay: "the man is hypochondriac,
he finds pleafure in tormenting himself!"
That's what people will fay; but my dear
children, if we will do any thing, that is
right and good before God and according to
our own confcience, we must never afk: what
will the world fay to it? we muſt rather let
the world fay what it will, and do what we
think right. Even phyficians will ſhake their
heads at me and prophefy me, God knows,
F 3
what
* And will that do? faid fome people and fhook
their heads, when they heard of this refo-
lution. It will certainly do, anfwered the
father; and experience has fhewn, he was
in the right, becauſe the family gained health
and ftrength in proportion as they returned
to a natural and fimple way of living.
***) Diogenes was a man, who denied himſelf of
every thing, what was not abfolutely neceffary
for the ſupport of life.
86
what diftempers, becaufe I will no longer be
fick in body and foul; but, my children, if we
have courage enough to return to the path of
Nature, we must never confult phyſicians,
who have themſelves deviated from it.
I thought proper to tell you all this before
hand, that you might learn by example, that
we can do much, if we will, and that no ill habit
is fo ftrong, which, with the affiftance of
God we should not be able to conquer, if we
earneftly fet about it. -
Now, my children, theſe exerciſes of ab-
ftinence and ſelf-denial which we have refolved
upon, will be fufficient to begin with. After
we have happily conquered thefe, every follow-
ing taſk will be the eafier. Thus
every
one will do, what he has freely refolved to
do; and now again to our ROBINSON.
His fituation was now happier, than it had
ever been fince his arrival in his ifland. The.
only thing, that made him now very uneafy,
was, that it was likely the favages would foon
return to look for their companions, that had
not returned with them; and that it would then
moft probably come to a very bloody action
between him and them. He trembled at the
thought of being again obliged to fpill human
blood, and his own uncertain fate made him
no lefs uneasy.
In theſe circumftances the duty of felf pre-
fervation forced him to provide for his own.
fafety
87
fately as much as poffible. He had long fince
wished to make proper fortification works
about his caftle: but the execution of this plan
feemed impoffible for him as long as he was
alone. But now, as he had an affiftant, he
might undertake fuch a thing. He therefore,
got on the top of the hill, from whence he
could overfee the whole place, in order to
make a plan, which was foon ready. He
needed only make a pretty broad and deep
ditch on the outfide of the wall of trees, which
he had made round about his caſtle, and plant
palifades on the infide of it.
FREDERIC.
Pray, what are palifades?
JOHN.
Have you forgot that again! Don't you
remember the pointed pofts, which Papa
planted cloſe together about one of the rave-
lins of our little fortrefs,
Why, thoſe
are palifades.
FREDERIC.
Oh ay! Let's hear further.
FATHER.
Into this ditch he intended to lead the
fpring, that arofe at a ſmall diſtance from his
dwelling, fo that part of the brook fhould
flow thro' the middle of his yard, that he
F 4
might
*88
might not be in want of water in cafe of a
regular fiege.
It was difficult to make Friday comprehend
all this by figns. However he fucceeded at
laft; and Friday ran directly to the fea-fhore,
to look for all kinds of tools to dig and fhovel
with, viz: large mufcle fhells, and flat fharp
ftones. Upon which they both fell a working.
You may eafily think, that this was not a
very cafy talk. They were obliged to make.
this ditch at leaft fix foot deep, and eight
foot broad, if it was to be of any ufe. The
length of it might be from cighty to a hundred
fteps. And as he had no iron inftrument, no
pick-ax, no fpade, no fhovel, confider what
work that muft be! They needed almoft four
hundred palifades; and thefe muft all be cut
fquared and pointed with one ſtone-hatchet:
they were allo obliged to dig a Canal almoſt
as deep from the ſpring to the ditch, to lead
the water thro'; and there was moreover a
rifing ground between this fpring and his
dwelling, thro' which they were obliged to
dig!
But all theſe difficulties did not deter our
refolute friend. His moderate and active
life had made his courage in every impor-
tant undertaking much greater, than it is
generally found with men grown up in foft-
nefs, idleness and plenty. With God and
good courage! was the motto, with which he
began
89
began every important undertaking; and then
we know, he did not ceafe, till he had carried
his point.
It was the fame now. Both he and Friday
worked from early in the morning till late at
night with fuch vigour und earnestnefs, that
it is furprifing, how much they did every
day, nothwithstanding their wretched tools.
Luckily the wind blew from fuch a quarter
during two months, that it was impoffible for
the favages to vifit ROBINSON's inland. Confe-
quently they needed not fear being ſurpriſed
by them during their work.
Whilft ROBINSON was thus working, he was
befides endeavouring to teach his companion
fo much of the German tongue, as to make
him underſtand him, when he spoke to him;
and Friday was fo defirous of learning, that
he could in a fhort time comprehend a great
deal of it. In this ROBINSON did juft as we do
with you, when we teach you latin or french;
he fhew'd him as often as he could the thing
he fpoke of, and then he pronounced the name
of it aloud and diftinctly. But when he ſpoke
of things, which he could not fhew him, he
made fuch comprehenfible looks and geftures,
that Friday could not chufe but underftand him.
Thus before fix months were paft, he had
learned fo much German, that they could tole-
rably well communicate their thoughts to
each other.
F 5
A new
90
A new encreaſe of happiness for our Ro-
BINSON! Hitherto Friday had been but a dumb
companion to him; now he was enabled to
be his real companion and his friend. Oh
how infignificant was now the trivial pleaſure,
which the thoughtless chattering of the parrot
had given him, when compared to this!
For
Friday ftill fhew'd himself more and more
as a good-natured, faithful young man, in
whom there was no guile; and feemed to have
the fincereft affection for his mafter.
which reafon his mafter became every day
fonder of him, and ſometime after he did not
fcruple to let him fleep along fide of him in
his own cave.
In less than two months their ditch was
ready, and now they might very quietly ex-
pect every attack of the favages. For before
any one of them could get over the ditch and
mount over the palifades, it was eafy for them
to kill him with their arrows or with their
long lances. They had therefore pretty well
provided for their fecurity.
One day, when ROBINSON and Friday were
on a rifing ground near the fhore, from whence
they had a free profpect of the fea, Friday
ftood staring to where they could but dimly
diſcover fome iflands at a great diftance. At
once he began to hop and jump for joy and
made all forts of geftures. On ROBINSON'S
afking him: what was the matter; he cried.
out,
1
I
out, joyfully, ftill continuing to caper: cheer
up! cheer up! There is my country! There is
my nation! From his glowing face and fpark-
ling eyes, with which he accompanied theſe
exclamations, there appeared an exceffive love
for his country and a defire of returning to it.
His maſter was not at all pleaſed, when he ob-
ferved this, tho' it was very praife-worthy
in Friday to love his own country more, than
all other countries, and the friends and rela-
tions he left there more, than all other men.
ROBINSON, Who. had reafon to apprehend, that
he might one time or other leave him for the
fake of his country-men, endeavour'd to found
him. He therefore began the following dia-
logue with him, which will make you ſtill
better acquainted with honeft Friday.
ROBINSON.
Would you then wiſh to live among your
country-men again?
FRIDAY.
Oh ay! I fhould be glad to be with them
again.
ROBINSON.
You would then perhaps eat man's fleſh
with them again?
FRIDAY.
(with a ſerious countenance.)
No, I would teach them not to be ſo ſavage
any more, and to eat the fleſh of animals and
milk, but no human flesh.
Ro-
192
ROBINSON.
But, fuppofe they ſhould eat you?
FRIDAY.
That they won't do.
ROBINSON.
Why, but they do eat human flefh!
FRIDAY.
Yes, but only the fleſh of the enemies, they
have flain,
ROBINSON.
Could you make a boat pray, to go over in?
Oh yes!
FRIDAY.
ROBINSON.
Well, then you may e'en make one and go
over to them.
(At which Friday looked at once ferious and
caft down his eyes.)
ROBINSON.
Well, what is the matter? what makes
you forrowful?
FRIDAY.
It grieves me, that my dear mafter is angry
with me.
•
Angry? how fo?
ROBINSON.
FRIDAY.
Nay, becauſe you will fend me away.
Ro-
93.
ROBINSON.
Why, don't you wish to return to your own
country?
FRIDAY.
Ay, but if my mafter is not there, Friday
does not wiſh to be there neither.
ROBINSON.
Your nation would think me their enemy
and eat me; fo you may e'en go alone.
At theſe words Friday fnatched his mafter's
hatchet from his fide, put it into his hand and
held out his head for him to cleave it.
ROBINSON.
What do you want?
FRIDAY.
+
Kill me, better kill me, than fend me away!
At which words the tears gufhed into his
eyes. This affected ROBINSON, who fell into
his arms and faid: "Be unconcerned, my dear
Friday! Neither do I ever wish to part with
you: for I love you heartily. What I faid,
was only to try, whether you loved me fo much
as I do you." Upon which he embraced him
again and wiped away a tear of joy, that ſtarted
from his eye.
ROBINSON was however very glad to hear,
that Friday could make a boat. He took him
therefore by the hand and led him to the place,
where he had been working during fome years,
in
94
in order to make one. Here he fhew'd him the
tree, the third part of which was not yet
fcooped out, and told him, how much time he
had already ſpent at that work.
Friday fhook his head and fimiled. On Ro-
BINSON's afking, what he had to object against
it? he anſwer'd: that he had not needed all
that work; fuch a tree could he hollow'd out
much better and fafter with fire. Who could
be wore rejoiced at theſe news, than ROBIN-
SON! The boat was already finiſh'd in his fancy;
he thought himſelf already at fea, and after
a profperous voyage, was landing in fome part
of the continent, where he found Europeans!
How his heart leap'd for joy at the thoughts
of fo near a deliverance! It was refolved
to begin the work at day-break the following
morning.
THEOPHILUS.
Now our joy will foon have an end!
Why
Why fo?
FATHER.
THEOPHILUS.
Nay, if he once has a veffel, he'll foon fail
away; and when he is returned to Europe;
Papa can tell us no more of him.
FATHER.
And would not you gladly give up this plea-
fure, if by fo doing you could procure poor.
ROBINSON's deliverance?
THEO-
95
THEOPHILUS.
Oh ay, that's true! I did not think of that..
FATHER.
However, who knows what obſtacles may
occur to defer their finishing the boat and hinder
their departure? The time to come is uncertain
and variable and generally proves quite different
from what we expected. We are not ſeldom
disappointed in our hopes, tho' they feem ever
fo fure; and it is therefore very wifely done
to be prepared for the worft. - ROBINSON,
who had often found this from experience,
now went home in company with Friday, with
a pious refolution, to leave the accomplishment
of his ardent wifh to the alwife and moſt boun-
tiful Providence, who knew much better
than himself, what was moft expedient for him.
NINE-
96
W
NINETEENTH
EVENING.
hen the company was again affembling
the next evening, they had already in
part begun thoſe exerciſes of abftinance, that
had been refolved upon. They were all merry
and in good humour; and the father began
the converfation as follows:
Well, my children, how do you like fafting?
ALL.
Oh very well! very well.
FATHER.
You fee, I am alive too, though I had
nothing to day but water and milk.
NICOLAS.
If that be all, I think I could faft ftill longer!
ALL.
So could I! And I too! Why that's nothing
at all!
FATHER.
It would be needlefs to faft any longer; it
might alſo be hurtful to your healths: but if
you defire it, I'll propofe fome other exerci-
fes, that fhall be full as ufeful.
ALL.
97
ALL.
Oh yes, yes, dear Papa!
FATHER.
Every one of us has done enough for to
day, eſpecially as we are to watch to night.
But, if you really have a mind to become very
good men, found and ftrong in body and mind,
and confequently able to contribute much,
very much to the happiness of your fellow-
creatures: hear, what I propofe to do!
I'll read the works of ancient fages to you,
who were the teachers of thofe great and
excellent men, whom you liked fo much, when
I was relating the ancient hiftory. Thefe
works contain the precepts, which thofe wife
men gave their difciples, and by the accom-
plishment of which their fcholars becan.e fo
great and good. Every week I will write one
of those precepts on a table covered with pa-
per, and explain it to you. Then I'll tell you
at the fame time, what exerciſes you are to
perform during that week, in order to convert
the accomplishment of fuch a precept into an
eafy and agreeable habit. But this indeed can not
be done without renouncing to a great many
agreeable things, and without freely refolving
to give up fome very agreeable pleatures, nay
even fometimes to fuffer fomething very dif
agreeable, in order to acquire by degrees that
ftrength of mind, which enables us, to with-
II. PART.
Ꮐ
stand
98
ſtand every unwarrantable defire and to fuffer
every lofs and want with wifdom and equani-
mity. We grown people will indeed be your
examples in theſe exerciſes, and require no-
thing of you, but what we ourſelves have cou-
rage enough to accomplish. Will you agree
to this propofal?
. All gave their affent by a loud affirmation,
and a joyful clapping of their hands. A fchool
of wisdom was therefore erected among them
from that very moment, which was particu-
larly different from other fchools, that every
week one leffon only was given of half an hour,
which ferved for a whole week's earneſt exer-
cife. We may perhaps fome time or other
communicate thefe exerciſes and their happy
confequences to our young readers, to teach
them the means of becoming very good, ufe-
ful and happy men. *)
Now
*) Something to ferve as a proof of the happy con-
fequences.- Moſt of the children, that are in-
troduced ſpeaking in this book, had bad teeth,
becauſe their drink in their infancy had been
chiefly ſweet and warm, and they had been uſed
to eat many forts of dainties. It was thought
neceffary, to have their bad teeth drawn. The
Father therefore called them together and
faid: "My children, we think it neceffary
to have your hollow and rotten teeth drawn,
in order to ſave you from future pain. It is
indeed painful! But rejoice, it gives you an
excel-
G
99
After the
Now again to our ROBINSON!
abovemention'd agreement was made, the fa-
ther continued as follows.
What I faid last night at the conclufion
of my narration, to be poffible, has really
happened.
ALL.
What was it, pray? what, pray?
G 2
FA-
excellent opportunity of exercifing your cou-
rage and patience, and of preparing you to bear
pain like men for the future. But this exerciſe
muft again be voluntary and without force, or
elfe it is without ufe. Whoever will therefore
undergo it freely, let him fay yes!". They
all cried: yes, yes, yes, with a cheerful coun-
tenance; aud vied with each other, who fhould
be the first; then they placed themſelves by
turns before the dentist with undaunted cou-
rage, and had — I fay no more than the truth -
one three, the fecond four, the third five teeth
drawn, most of which were large grinders with
long roots, without the leaft cry; nay, moſt of
them were conftantly laughing. The dentiſt
was aftonifhed, and teftified, that he had
never seen any grown perfon, not any man,
who had fhewn fuch extraordinary courage
and the father dropt the most grateful tear
of joy, the like of which had never ran
down his cheek.
This, my young reader, I tell you likewife,
that you may fee, what ftrength of mind we
may acquire by progreflive exerciſes of
firmness.
100
ON
FATHER.
I faid, that in human life, we are often
fuddenly disappointed in our fureft hopes; and
that therefore ROBINSON, however probable and
however near his deliverance feemed to be,
might meet with fome unforeſeen obftacle, to
force him to remain longer there. This obftacle
appeared the very next day.
The rainy ſeaſon began that very day, which
ROBINSON from experience knew to be twice
a year, that is: when day and night are equally
long, or at equinox as it is called. During
this rainy feaſon, which generally lafted one or
two months, it was impoffible for him to do
any thing without doors; fo hard and inceffant
was the rain at fuch times! ROBINSON had alſo
obſerved, that going out and getting wet was
at this feafon very hurtful to his health.
What could he therefore do now? He could
not continue his fhip-building, and was obliged
to paſs his time with domeſtick occupations.
It was now very agreeable to our ROBINSON
during this rainy feafon and long dark eve-
nings, to have fire again; and ftill more fo,
to have a companion, a friend, with whom he
could pafs his time with familiar difcourfes
during their domeftick occupations! Formerly
he was obliged to paſs theſe diſmal evenings
alone in idleneſs and darknefs; now he fat
with Friday by a lamp and near the kitchin-
fire,
ΙΟΙ
fire, worked and talked, and never felt the
trouble of tedioufnefs, which is fo oppreffing.
Friday taught him feveral little arts, by
which the favages make their fituation tole-
rable; and then ROBINSON taught him again
other things, which the favages know noth-
ing of. Thus both encreafed in knowledge
and dexterity, and by their mutual induſtry they
made a number of little works of art, which,
had every one been alone, would have been
impoffible for either. Now they both felt,
how good it was for mankind to be kept to-
gether by fociableneſs and friendſhip, and not
to be roaming about the world fingle, like
wild beaſts!
Friday among other things underſtood the
art of making bafs- mats, which he made fo
clofe, that they might ferve them to make
clothes of. ROBINSON learned it of him; and
then they both made fo many of them as were
fufficient to make a whole fuit of clothes for
each of them. How did ROBINSON rejoice,
that he could now do without thofe trouble-
fom clothes made of hard uncurried ſkins!
Friday moreover underſtood the art of mak-
ing ropes of the filaments, which inclofe the
cocoa-nuts and of ſeveral kinds of flaxy herbs,
which were far fuperior to thofe, which Ro-
BINSON had hitherto made. He could make
fishing-nets of thread in a particular manner;
G 3
an
102
an occupation, with which both spent many
a long evening very agreeably.
During thefe domeftick occupations ROBIN-
SON'S chief aim was, to clear up the understand-
ing of his poor favage friend and by degrees
to convey fome true and worthy ideas of God
into his mind. How weak and erroneous Fri-
day's knowledge of religion was, you may
eafily perceive from the following dialogue
between him and his mafter.
ROBINSON.
Can you tell me, Friday, who has made
the fea, the earth, the animals and yourself?
FRIDAY.
Oh yes! Toupan made them.
ROBINSON.
And who is Toupan, pray?
Why, the thunderer!
FRIDAY.
ROBINSON.
But pray, who is the thunderer?
FRIDAY.
An old man, a very old man, who has lived
before all things, and who makes the thun-
der. He is much older than the Sun, Moon
and Stars; and all creatures fay Oh to him. (By
which he meant: all creatures adore him.)
•
Ro-
103
ROBINSON.
Do then your country-men go to any place,
when they dye?
FRIDAY.
To be fure; they go to Toupan.
ROBINSON.
Where does he live then?
FRIDAY.
He dwells on high mountains.
ROBINSON.
Has any body ever feen him there?
FRIDAY.
No body ever gets up to him, but the Owo-
kakee's; (by which he understood priefts) who
fay Oh to him, and then they tell us again,
what he has faid.
ROBINSON.
Are then the people happy with him after
their death?
FRIDAY.
Oh yes, if they have killed and eaten a great
many enemies.
ROBINSON ftartled at this deplorable errour;
and began directly to give him jufter ideas af
God and of the life after death. He taught
him, that God is an invifible, moft powerful,
moft wife and moft bountiful being; that he
has created every thing that exifts, and pro-
vides for every thing; but that he himſelf
G 4
never
104
never had any beginning; that he is prefent
every where, and knows all we think, fpeak
and do that he finds pleaſure in whatever is
good, and abhors whatever is bad; that he
can therefore only make thofe happy in this
and our future ftate, who have with all their
hearts endeavour'd, to become good.
Friday hearken'd to theſe fublime and com-
fortable inftructions with refpectful attention,
and they made a deep impreffion on his me-
mory. He ftill defired to know more of them,
and ROBINSON being as eager to teach him, as
he was to learn, he in a thort time conceived
the principal truths of religion fo diftinctly
and with fo much conviction, as his inftructor
could explain them to him. From this time
he eſteem'd himſelf infinitely happy, to have
come from his own country to this ifland,
and he even obferved, that God's intention
had been very good with him, when he
fuffer'd him to fall into the hands of his
enemies, becauſe otherwife he would pro-
bably never have made ROBINSON's acquain-
tance. "And then added he, I fhould never
have got any knowledge of this bountiful God
in this life!"
From this time forward ROBINSON always
faid his prayers in Friday's prefence; and it
was an affecting fight, to fee, with what joyful
devotion he follow'd his example. And now
they
105
they both lived fo fatisfied and happy, as two
men feparated from the rest of mankind can
poffibly do.
Thus they paffed the rainy feafon without
perceiving it. The fky already began to clear
up; the ftorms were hufhed, and the heavy
rain-clouds were paft. ROBINSON and his faith-
ful companion now again breathed the clean
gently warming air of the fpring, they both
felt themselves ftrengthen'd, and therefore went
with great cheerfulness to the important work
they had refolved upon before the rainy feafon.
Friday, as Mafter in the art of ship-building,
began to burn the infide of the trunk with
fire. This went fo faft and fo well, that Ro-
BINSON could not forbear calling himfelf a
dunce, becauſe he had not hit on this method.
But, added he to his comfort, fuppofe I had
thought of it, yet I could not have done it
for want of fire! I hope you will spare me the
trouble of giving you a circumftantial account,
how their work advanced every day, becauſe
fuch a relation would be neither agreeable nor
inftructive. I fhall therefore only tell you,
that the boat, which ROBINSON would perhaps
never have ended, at least not in many years,
was now by their united ſtrength finifh'd within
two months. They only wanted a fail and
oars. Friday undertook to make the former,
and ROBINSON the latter.
G 5
THEO
106
THEOPHILUS.
Ay, but how could he make a fail? why,
he could not make one without linen!
FATHER.
!
It is true, he did not understand to make
linen; neither had he a loom for it: but he
could, as I have already told you, make fine
mats of the bark of trees, and thefe the fava-
ges ufe inftead of fail cloth.
They both got their work ready about the
fame time, ROBINSON his oars, and Friday his
fails; and now they had nothing more to do,
than to launch the veffel they had made.
FREDERIC.
What's the meaning of that?
FATHER.
Did you never fee, when they let a new
built-fhip run from the fhore, where it was
built, into the Elbe?
FREDERIC.
Oh yes! I have feen it already.
FATHER.
Well, then you have ſeen, that the fhip
ftands on a frame made of beams. Theſe are
called the ftocks. Now as foon as the wedge,
which holds the fhip, is removed, it runs
along a beam into the water, and this is,
what they call launching a fhip. The place,
where they had built their boat, was unfor-
tunately for them fome thoufand paces from
}
the
107
the fhore, and now the
they should get it there?
fhove it, or to roll it,
for it was much too heavy.
therefore do now? This
culty for them!
DICK.
question was: how
To carry it, to
feem'd impoffible:
What could they
was a freſh diffi-
Why, ROBINSON needed only make fuch
levers again, as he lately ufed, to roll the
two large ftones out of his cave, when he had
no body to aſſiſt him!
FATHER.
He had not forgot the advantage, which this
fimple inftrument affords; he therefore made
uſe of it now too: but this method of moving
the boat advanced fo flowly, that he forefaw,
it would employ them a whole month at leaſt.
He luckily at laft recollected fuch an other
fimple inftrument, which carpenters and other
mechanicks generally ufe in Europe to remove
heavy burthens, I mean rollers
FREDERIC.
What are rollers, pray?
FATHER.
Long round pieces of wood, that eafily
roll along, becauſe they are round. Thefe
they place under the burthen they defire to
remove to an other place, and if they pufh
it forward but with moderate ftrength, it
runs along of itſelf on thefe rollers.
Rom
108
ROBINSON had fcarce made the trial, when
he perceived, how eafily and quickly they
could move their boat forward! In two days
they got it into the water, and it was no
fmall joy for them both to fee, that it anfwer'd
their expectation perfectly.
They had now therefore nothing more to
do, than to make the neceffary preparations.
for their departure, to provide themſelves
with fo many provifions, as their boat could
carry, and then to begin their wifh'd for
voyage. But where fhould they now go to?
Friday wifhed to go to his own home; Ro-
BINSON on the contrary defired to fail to the
continent of America, where he hoped to
find fome Spaniards or other Europeans. Fri-
day's country was but about four german
miles, the continent on the contrary was
above twelve till fifteen miles diftant. If
they first went to the former, they went
fome miles further from the latter, and the
danger of the voyage was confequently en-
created. On the other hand Friday only knew
the road, that is, the navigable way of the
fea, to his own country; whereas the way
to the continent was interely unknown to
him. ROBINSON knew ftill lefs about the
matter, becauſe he had never been in thoſe
feas before. Thus they were again involved
in fresh difficulties.
At lait ROBINSON's defire of returning among
civi-
109
civilifed people got the better of all his com-
panion's difficulties and objections. It was
refolved to make all the neceffary preparations
for their departure the very next morning,
and then to fail with the firft favourable wind
to where, according to Friday's fuppofition,
the next coaft of the continent was fituated.
And let this be enough for to day; for it
is time to prepare ourſelves for our intended
watch.
Upon which they affembled in a watch-
room, where the mother had feveral kinds
of domeftick occupations in readiness for
thofe, who were to watch, with which they
might amuſe themfelves during the night.
Two were placed as centinels into the re-
moteft corners of the garden, but ſeparately,
and after the expiration of a quarter of an
hour they were again relieved with fife and
drum, and then two others took their
pofts. Every hour they got fome fruit to
refreſh themſelves.
It was a glorious night. The half moon
appeared on the one fide of the ſky, and on
the other a diftant dark cloud, from which
the lightning darted inceffantly; the air was
fo warm, and all fleeping nature fo quiet,
that they all confeffed the next morning, that
they had never paft a day, much leſs a night
with more pleafure, than this.
TWEN-
110
bbb.
TWENTIETH EVENING.
Now, my
FATHER.
ow, my children, ROBINSON and Friday
have pack'd up their alls, and the wind
is favourable. Prepare therefore, to bid
them farewell for ever: for who knows,
whether we fhall ever hear or fee any thing
of them again!
Oh!
ALL. (Surpriſed and ſorry)
FATHER.
So it is in the world! we can not always
be with our friends; the pain of feparation is
unavoidable; we must therefore endeavour to
be prepared for it before hand.
he
When ROBINSON had left his caſtle,
ſtopt on the hill above it in a penfive poſture,
and bid his companion walk along before him.
Then he revolved in his mind all the paſt
fufferings of his folitary life in this place; and
the wonderful guidance of heaven, which
had hitherto directed him, moved his inmoft
heart. A flood of grateful tears of joy burſt
from his eyes. Then he raised his open arms
to heaven, and pray'd with fervent devotion:
"Oh,
ONCKO
III
"Oh, thou my dear, dear heavenly father,
how fhall I thank thee for all thou haft hi-
therto done for me? Behold (falling on his
knees) here I lie in the duft before thy all-
feeing eyes, unable to exprefs my ardent
feelings in words! But thou fee'ft this heart,
thou fee'ft the inexpreffible fentiments of gra-
titude, with which it is intirely filled. This
heart, which loves thee above all things,
which thou haft fo often amended, this heart,
that has been fo often wounded by affliction,
and fo often healed by thy goodneſs, is all I
can give thee in return, my bountiful father,
for all thy inumerable benefits. Accept of it,
my father, oh take it intirely, and accompliſh
the work of my amendment, which thou haft
begun! Behold, I caft myfelf again into thy
paternal arms! Do with me according to thy
paternal pleaſure. Only let me never again
Forfake the path of virtue, to which thy mercy
has brought me back. Only preferve me from
that, my father, only preferve me from that!
For the reft, let my fate be whatever thy
divine wisdom has decreed. I go, wherever
thou fhalt lead me; I go with courage, con-
fiding in thee, to meet every new danger,
that may await me. Be thou with me with
thy invifible prefence; watch over my im-
mortal foul, and ftrengthen it in every
temptation of defpondency, impatience, and
ingratitude towards thee, which I may
\
chance
II2
chance to fall into towards thee, oh thou
eternal heavenly love, towards thee, my
creator, my father, my God! God! God!
Now his feelings became fo violent, that
he was unable to continue any regular feries
of thoughts. He flung himſelf with his face
on the ground, to give a free vent to his
tears. Thus ftrengthen'd by divine comfort,
he got up again, and once more ſurvey'd that
country, which was now fo dear to him,
and which he was now to leave. His feelings
were the fame as thofe of a man, who is to
leave his native country, and who has no hopes
left of ever ſeeing it again. His ftreaming
eyes were with affliction and fondness fixed
on every tree, in the hade of which he for-
merly uſed to folace himſelf, on every work
of his hands, which he had made in the fweat
of his brow. Thefe objects caufed him the
fame feelings, as if he had been obliged to
leave fo many friends. And at laft when he
perceived his lama's grazing at the foot of
the hill, he was obliged to turn away his
face, in order to keep to the refolution he
had taken to depart.
At laſt the ſtruggle was over. He took cou
rage, and with open arms,
as if he was
going to embrace the whole country and all
that was in it, he cried aloud: fare well, ye
witneffes of my paft fufferings! fare ye well! -
which laft word was loft in loud groans.
Now
113
Now he once inore lifted up his eyes to
heaven, and fet out with refolution on his
way to the ſhore.
On his way he perceived his faithful Pol
flying along from one tree to an other at
his fide. He could not withstand his defire of
taking the bird along with him; he therefore
ftretched out his hand, crying: Pol! Pol! and
the poor thing hopt down on its mafter's
hand, from whence it got on his fhoulder,
where it remained. Thus ROBINSON join'd
Friday, who waited for him with impatience,
and they both went into the boat.
It was on the thirtieth day of November
about eight o' clock in the morning, in the
ninth year of his being in this folitary iſland,
when our friend went to fea, the wind blow-
ing freth and favourable. They had not
fail'd far, when they came against a chain of
rocks.
CHARLOTTE.
Oh! tell us firft, what is a chain of rocks.
FATHER.
Seamen thus call a row of rocks connected
together, which are either hid under water
or feen' here and there above the furface.
This chain of rocks ran from one promon-
tory of the iſland above two german miles
into the fea. To get over them feemed
dangerous to both; they therefore fhifted
II. PART.
H
their
114
their fail to give their boat an other direction
and thereby to avoid this chain of rocks.
NICOLAS.
But how could they know, how far theſe
rocks went into the fea, when they were co-
vered with water?
FATHER.
That they could fee by the breaking of the
waves, which rife higher in fuch places,
where there are any rocks hid, and foam,
because they are ftopt and broken by the
rocks underneath.
They had ſcarce got to the end of this
chain of rocks, when their boat was fuddenly
bore away, as if they had had twenty fails up
in the most violent form. They were both
frighten'd, and took in their fail, fuppofing
it to be the effect of a fudden blaft. But to
no purpose; the boat ran with as much fwift-
nefs as before: and now they perceived with
terrour, that they were in the midst of a rapid
current.
FREDERIC.
Pray, what is a current?
FATHER.
The bottom of the fea is as unequal as the
furface of the continent, and there are moun-
tains, hills and vallies, as well as in the
country here, this makes the water run with
great
115
great rapidity in the lower parts, which form
great rivers in the midft of the fea, the fame
as our Elbe, which are generally very rapid,
and very dangerous for veffels, especially for
fmall ones, if they happen to get into fuch a
current; becauſe it is hard for them to get
out of it again, and they are often carried fifty
miles or more out at fea.
THEOPHILUS.
Oh, poor ROBINSON, what will be your
fate now?
CHARLOTTE.
Had he but ftaid in his ifland! I thought
fome miſchief would again befall him!
FATHER.
This time it was not forwardness or levity
that impelled him to this voyage. On the
contrary his motives were the most reaſonable.
Thus all what now befell him, he might look
upon as fent by God, and he was now quite
refign'd.
They both exerted all their ftrength with
their oars to get the boat out of the current;
but in vain! An irrefiftible force carried them
away with the rapidity of an arrow, and now
they faw nothing more of their iſland, except
the hills. Their deftruction now ſeemed
unavoidable: for in less than half an hour the
tops of the highest mountains would be like-
wife
H 2
116
wife out of fight; and though the violence.
of the current ſhould fooner or later ſubfide,
yet it would be impoffible for them to find
their way back again to the island, becauſe
they had no compaſs.
No ?
FREDERIC.
FATHER.
No compafs, I fay. Nicolas, who will
be a Captain of a fhip, will tell you what that is.
NICOLAS. (laughing)
If I knew but all the reft belonging to it as
well as that? Frederic, it is a magnetick
needle in a little round box
FREDERIC.
Ay, but what is a magnetick needle?
NICOLAS.
That is a needle made of fteel, which has been
rubbed on a certain ftone, called a loadſtone or
magnet, by which it gets a wonderful quality,
to wit: that it always points towards the
north that way towards Wandsbeck.
By this compaſs the mariners fteer their courſe,
when they can fee nothing but ſky and water,
elfe they would foon lofe themfelves on the
great ocean and not know, to what part of
the world they were failing.
FATHER.
Did you underſtand that, Frederic?
FRE-
117
FREDERIC.
Yes! well go on!
FATHER.
AS ROBINSON had not fuch a compaſs, it
would be impoffible for him to find his way
back again, as foon as the iſland ſhould be
intirely out of fight. And how terrible muſt
then be his fituation? To be toft about on the
wide ocean in a fmall unfafe boat, and to have
provifions only for a few days.
be a fituation more dreadful?
Can there
But here we may plainly fee, what an inex-
preffibly great treaſure true piety and a good
confcience are in need and diftrefs! If ROBIN-
SON had not had them, how could he have
born the opprefling burthen of theſe new fuf-
ferings? He would have faln into defpair and
made an end of his tormented life, to avoid
ftarving to death in a flow and dreadful manner.
His companion, who was not yet fo well
grounded in piety, and who was not yet for-
tified in it by fo many and long fufferings, as
his mafter, was very near defpairing. Unable
to work any longer, and quite dejected he
laid down his oar, and with a piteous afpect
afked his mafter: whether it would not be best
for them to jump over board, in order to avoid
all the mifery, that awaited them, by dying
at once? Upon which ROBINSON firft talked to
him with mildnefs, and endeavour'd to en-
courage him; then he reproved him in a
friend-
H 3
1
118
friendly tone for his want of faith in the all
directing divine providence, and reminded
him of what he had taught him concerning this
matter. "Are we then, added he, only in God
almighty's hand, when we are on shore, think
ye? Is not he likewife Lord of the ocean, and
can not he, if he pleaſes, compel thoſe furious
waves to carry us again to fome place of
fafety? Or do you think, you can eſcape
his power by jumping into the fea? Know,
thoughtless young man, that your immortal
foul will be for ever a ſubject in the immenſe
Empire of God, and that it can not poffibly be
happy, if it quits this life like a rebel againſt God,
and does not wait, till it be called by its creator!”
Friday felt the truth of this remonftrance in
his inmoft foul and was afhamed of his defpon-
dency. On ROBINSON's perfuafion, he took
up his oar again, and both continued to work
with vigour, though they had not the leaft
hopes, that it would be of any fervice. This,
faid ROBINSON, is our duty. As long as there
is a ſpark of life remaining in us, we muſt do
our utmost to preferve it. Then we may die,
if it must be fo, with the comfortable con-
ſciouſneſs, that it was the will of God. And
his will, dear Friday, continued he, raifing
his voice, and with undaunted courage fpark-
ling in his eyes, his will is always good,
always good and wife, tho' we fhort fighted
mortals can not conceive it!
In
119
In the mean time the rapid current conti-
nued, carrying the boat along with it, and now
they could fee nothing of the diftant island, but
the tops of fome mountains. At laſt they could
fee nothing but the fummit of a fingle mountain,
that was the higheſt in the inland; and now
they loft all poffible hopes of faving themſelves!
But when all earthly help vani.hes, when
the calamity of wretched man is at the higheſt
pitch, and no means of escaping feem left
any where; then, my children, the hand of
all-ruling divine providence appears moft vi-
fibly to interpofe, and to fave us by fuch means
as we could in na wife forefee. This was the
cafe now. Whilft ROBINSON himſelf had given
up all hopes of life, and left off rowing, being
quite ſpent with fatigue, he fuddenly perceived,
that the rapid motion of the boat began to™
abate. He looked into the water, and found
it lefs troubled, than it had been before. And
looking a fecond time on the furface of the
water, he was convinced, that the current
was here divided, and that the largeſt arm of
it ran to the north, whilft the other, which
was lefs rapid, and on which their boat was
now floating, turned towards the fouth.
With unspeakable joy he now cried to his
companion, who was almoſt dead: "Cheer up,
Friday! God almighty will not let us die yet!"
Then he fhew'd him the vifible foundation
of his hope; and fhouting for joy, they both
took
H 4
120
took hold of their oars again, which they had
juft before dropt, being quite ſpent with fatigue.
Encouraged by the unexpected hopes of life.
they labour'd with unspeakable vigour againſt
the ftream, and perceived with extafy, that their
endeavours were not now in vain. ROBINSON,
who was by a long feries of misfortunes ac-
custom'd to fix his attention on every parti-
cular circumftance, now faw, that the wind
would alſo be of advantage to them, immedia-
tely unfurled his fail, which the wind pre-
fently filled, and as they both uſed all their
efforts with their oars, they had in a fhort
time the inexpreffible joy, to fee themfelves
freed from the current and on the calm furface
of the fea.
Friday wept aloud for joy, jump'd up, and
was going to embrace his mafter; but he defi-
red him, to moderate his joy for the prefent,
becauſe they had a tough piece of work to go
thro' yet, before they could think themſelves.
intirely out of danger; as they were now fo
far out at fea, that they could fee nothing of
the iſland, except fome obfcure little black
fpots on the horizon.
FREDERIC.
Horizon? what's that?
FATHER.
When you are without in the open field,
does not it appear to you, as if the fky round
about you reach'd the ground, like a large vault?
FRE-
121
}
Yes!
FREDERIC.
FATHER.
Now that circle, where the earth feems to
have an end, and joined to the fky, is called
You shall hear more about it in
the horizon.
a fhort time.
Our cheerful mariners rowed with fo much
fpirit, and the wind blew them ſo faſt towards
the eaft fide of the island, to which they were
failing, that they could in a fhort time fee the
mountains again. "Cheer up! cried ROBINSON
to his companion, who was fitting in the fore
part of the boat, and had confequently his back
turned towards the inland; cheer up, Friday!
our mifery is drawing to an end!" He had
fcarce pronounced thefe words, when the boat
got fuch a violent fhock, that they both fell
head long from their feats into the boat. In
the fame moment the boat ſtood ſtill and the
waves began to rush into it.
MOTHER.
Nay, my children, however willing I am to
give up my fupper, as well as you, if we could
fave our friend by it: yet we must now get up.
Supper waits, and Jenny has already called us
rwice.
1
ALL.
Oh!
H5
TWEN-
1
122
GNCRE
TWENTY FIRST
EVENING.
O
(Some of them perking at the fame time.)
, make hafte, dear Papa, that we may hear,
what is become of poor ROBINSON!
Juft when he thought himſelf ſafe, he again
fell into a new misfortune, as you have already
heard, and which was likely to have proved
more fatal, than that, which they had juft
before escaped. The boat ftuck faft on a fud-
den, and the waves began to rufh into it..
Now if the boat had been ftopt by fome pointed
rock, they were in all appearance loft.
ROBINSON began as faft as poffible to found
the bottom under the water with his oar, and
finding it firm round about the boat, and not
above half a yard deep, he did not heſitate a
moment, but jumped over board. Friday
follow'd his example, and they both found to
their great comfort, that they were only got
on a fand-bank and not on a rock.
They now uſed all their ftrength to get the
boat off into the deep water. They fucceeded;
they got their boat afloat, and then they both
jumped in again.
CHARLOTTE.
Now poor ROBINSON will furely get a cold,
becauſe he has got wet feet!
FA-
123
FATHER.
When people are fo harden'd by an active
and natural way of living, as ROBINSON was,
they don't get cold of fuch trifles. Don't be
uneafy about that!
JOHN.
Why, we don't fo much as get a cold by
that; how often have not we had wet feet
laft winter?
FATHER.
That's a fign, that our manner of living
has already harden'd you a little.
After having taken the water out of the
boat as well as they could with their oars and
hands, they refolved to be more careful and
to take in their fail, that they might be the
more able to govern their boat. Thus they
rowed along the fand-bank, in hopes, that they
would foon be at the end of it. But they were
obliged to row four long hours, before they
could fee their hopes accompliſhed: for this
fand-bank ran fo far from the north to the
fouth. ROBINSON perceived that it reached to
the very place, where he had fuffer'd fhip-
wreek nine years ago, and that it was con-
fequently the fame, on which his ſhip had
ftranded at that time.
FREDERIC
What is ſtranded, pray?
THEOPHILUS.
·
Oh, why do you always interrupt Papa?
FA
124
FATHER.
Why, it is good of him to defire to be
inſtructed! But not fo good of you, dear
Theophilus, to be diffatisfied with it! Beware
of that for the future! To ftrand, dear Fre-
deric, is, when a veffel runs, on fuch a fand-
bank or upon a rock, and can not get off of
it again.
Very well!
FREDERIC.
FATHER.
At last they got intirely clear of the fand-
bank, and rowed with all their might towards
the island, which they could now fee very
plainly. At laft they reached the fhore, when
the fun fhot his laft beams on the tops of the
mountains, and landed quite fatigued, tho' ex-
ceedingly glad at their happy prefervation.
Neither of them had ate a bit the whole
day. They could therefore not wait till their
return to the caftle, but fat down on the fea
hore and made a plenteous meal of the provi-
fions they had taken on board.
drew the boat into a ſmall creek
what that is, I fuppofe?
JOHN.
Then they
you know
Oh yes! where the water runs into the
land. It is almoft the fame as a bay.
FA-
125
FATHER.
Only that a bay is larger!
fay, the boat into a creek,
They drew, I
and went home
loaded with all they had had in the boat. -
NICOLAS.
Oh it is not out yet, I hope?
FATHER.
ROBINSON and Friday have betaken them-
felves to reft, and the latter is already in a
profound fleep, whilft the former is giving
his hearty thanks to God for this new prefer-
vation. We might therefore do the fame;
but it being yet foon, I will pafs over the
night and relate, what happen'd the follow-
ing day.
"Well, Friday," faid ROBINSON at breakfaſt,
"have you a mind to take fuch an other trip
with me, as we did yesterday?"
God forbid!
FRIDAY.
ROBINSON.
So you are refolved to end your days with
me in this iſland?
FRIDAY.
If my father was but here!
ROBINSON.
So you have a father ſtill?
FRI-
126
FRIDAY.
If he did not die, fince I am gone!
Here he laid down the potatoe he had in
his hand, and a couple of big tears roll'd
down his cheeks. This put ROBINSON in
mind of his own parents, and he was alfo
obliged to wipe his eyes. Both obferved a
mournful filence for fome time.
ROBINSON.
Take comfort, Friday! Your father is pro-
bably yet alive, and pleafe God, we will
fhortly go over and fetch him to us.
This joy was too great for poor Friday! He
jumped up roaring aloud, flung himſelf on
ROBINSON's knees, embracing them, and could
fcarce utter a word for fobbing.
"My children! cried the mother, what an
example of filial piety in a favage! in a favage,
who has no obligations to his father for any
education, or any inftructions, who owes
him only his life, and a wretched life too!"
So certain it is, added the father, that God
has implanted love and gratitude into the
hearts of all men to their parents! And what
a monfter muft he not be if there were
any fuch among us civilized people who
could ftifle this innate impulfe, and grow in-
different to his parents, nay even cauſe them
anxiety and forrow! If you should ever meet
with fuch a monfter: oh never ſtay with him
under one roof; flee from him, as from a peft
to
127
to fociety, as a perfon able to commit any
other act of inhumanity, and whom the
judgment of God will follow at his heels!
After Friday was come to himſelf a little,
ROBINSON afked him, whether he knew his
way home fo well, that they needed not ex-
poſe themſelves to fuch dangers, as they had
fuffer'd yesterday? Friday declared, that he
knew the way fo well, that he would venture
to go over in the night time, becauſe he
had often been of thoſe parties, that had come
over to celebrate their victories.
ROBINSON.
So you have been often among them, when
they killed men?
FRIDAY.
Oh yes!
ROBINSON
And did you help to eat them?
FRIDAY.
f
I did, alas! I did not know then, that it
was any thing bad!
ROBINSON.
In what part of the inland did you uſe to
land then?
FRIDAY.
Always on the fouth fide, because it was
the neareſt, and becauſe there are cocoa-trees.
By this ROBINSON faw more plainly, how
much reafon he had to thank God for cafting
him
128
him on the north fide of the inland and not
on the fouth fide, becauſe he would otherwiſe
in a fhort time have been a prey to the
favages. Hereupon he repeated his very
agreeable promife to Friday, that he would
Shortly go over with him to fetch his father.
For the prefent it was not yet poffible, be-
cauſe their garden work, for which it was
now the ſeaſon, demanded their prefence.
To this they now went. ROBINSON and
Friday dug as if for a wager, and in their
hours of relaxation they never neglected to
make fome ufeful inftruments. ROBINSON,
whofe power of invention and patience were
equally inexhaustible, even fucceeded in making
a rake, tho' he was obliged to make the
holes for the teeth you may eafily guefs,
how flowly! with a pointed ftone. Friday
on the contrary made by degrees two fpades
of a very hard kind of wood with his ftone-
knife, that they were almoft of as much fervice
to them, as if they had been of iron.
And now ROBINSON was no longer fatisfied
with the most neceffary things, but by de-
grees he began to think of embellishing his
habitation. And thus it always happens in
the world, my children. As long as men muft
employ all their thoughts in getting their
fuftenance and in providing for their fafety,
they never think of applying to thofe arts,
which ferve to embellish the objects about
them
129
1
them and to procure the mind more refined
pleaſures, than the mere animal pleaſures of the
fenfes are. But as foon as they have provided
for their fuftenance and fafety, they begin
to unite beauty with utility and pleafure with
the neceffary. Thus arofe architecture,
painting, fculpture, mufick and the reft com-
priſed under the name of LIBERAL ARTS.
ROBINSON began with improving and em、
bellishing his garden. He divided it accord-
ing to a proper plan in regular fields, theſe
fields he again divided by ftraight paths made
with the line into beds; he planted hedges,
arbours and walks; appointed one part for a
flower garden, a fecond for a kitchin-garden,
and a third for an orchard. In the latter he
planted all the young lemon-trees he could
find in the island, together with a number
of other young trees, on which he grafted
the bread-tree; (I have forgot to tell you, that
in his walks about the woods he found an other
tree of that kind) at this laſt work Friday ftared
exceedingly, becauſe he could not comprehend,
what it was for, till ROBINSON explain'd the
matter to him.
Now they planted potatoes and indian cori
in abundance, and as the land had perhaps
not been used fince the creation, every thing
grew up in great plenty.
Sometimes they alfo went out a fiſhing,
becauſe Friday, as I have already mention'd,
II. PART.
I
had
130
had made nets for that purpofe during the
laft rainy feaſon. They always caught more,
than they needed, and therefore threw thofe
they did not want into the fea again: for, faid
ROBINSON, we must never take any more of
the gifts of God, than we need to fatisfy our
wants; and it is wicked to take away the lives
of any more of those harmless creatures, than
we want for our daily fuftenance.
On these occafions they generally ufed to
bathe themſelves too; and ROBINSON could
not forbear admiring the aftonithing dexterity
of Friday in ſwimming and diving. He ge-
nerally chofe fome rocky fhore, againſt which
the furious waves were breaking in a fright-
ful manner, into thefe he fportingly jumped
down and remained fome minutes under water,
fo that poor ROBINSON often was in the
greatest fear for him, then he came up again
on the furface of the water, laid himself on
his back and lay rolling on the waves; playing
all forts of tricks, the circumftantial defcription
of which would almoft appear incredible.
ROBINSON Could not help admiring the afto-
nishing capacity of human nature, which is
fit for every thing, that has been exercifed
from one's youth.
On other days they diverted themſelves with
hunting, becaufe Friday was alfo mafter in
making as well as in ufing the bow and arrows.
They shot birds and young lama's; but never
any
ONKO
131
any more than they wanted, becaufe ROBIN-
SON, as I faid before, thought it a fin, to
torment and kill any animal whatever merely
for sport's fake.
Though ROBINSON furpaffed Friday in un-
derſtanding and many other things, yet he
underſtood many little arts, that had been
hitherto unknown to his mafter, and that were
now of great ufe to them. He could make all
forts of inftruments of bones, ftones, thells
and other things, with which they could
make many things as well, as if they had
been made with inftruments of iron. Thus for
inftance he made a chiffel of a man's theigh-
bone, which he had found by chance; a rafp
of coral; a knife of a fhell; a file of the fharp
ſkin of a fish. With thefe he made a great
many pieces of furniture, which greatly en-
creafed the conveniencies of their lives.
Friday fhew'd his mafter moreover to make
dough of the bread-fruit, which was almoſt
as nouriſhing as our bread and even fomething
like it in tafte, which was a matter of particu-
lar importance. The favages commonly eat this
dough quite raw; but ROBINSON baked it firſt
on a hot stone, and ufed it afterwards as we
do bread.
Befides this Friday fhew'd him the uſe of co-
cao-kernels, which he had found in fome of his
former rambles about the iſland, and of which
he had by chance taken fome home with him.
I 2
He
132
:
He placed them before the fire as potatoes, and
roafted them; after which they were very
palatable food, and at the fame time very
nourishing and wholeſome.
ROBINSON, who was always very fond of
making new trials, pounded fome of them
between two ſtones, after they were roafted,
mixed the powder of them with fome lama's
milk in a pot, and put it on the fire. How
great was his aftonifhment and at the fame.
time his joy, when tafting it, he found, it
was real chocolate.
Oh! Chocolate?
FREDERIC.
FATHER.
Yes, except that fpices and fugar were
wanting in it. Thus the proviſions of our
good ROBINSON encreated by degrees, and
with them the fource of his pleafures! But to
his praiſe I muft fay, that he was neverthe-
lefs true to his late refolution, and continued
to live as moderately and as fimply as he had.
begun.
Now they both took frequent and long jour-
neys all over the iſland, eſpecially on fuch days,
when the wind was fo, that the favages could
not come over; and on fuch occafions they
difcovered many things, that might be of uſe
to them for the future.
At
ONKY
F33
At laft their garden - work was intirely
at an end, and now a day was appointed to
go over to Friday's country, and fetch his
father. But the nearer the day of their depar-
ture approached, the oftener the following
fcruple arofe in ROBINSON's heart: fuppofe,
they fhould yet treat me as an enemy? fuppofe
they should not mind the remonftrances of
Friday and I fhould fall a facrifice to their abo-
minable and inhuman appetite? He could not
help communicating thefe apprehenfions to
his friend. But Friday affured him by all that
was facred, that he had nothing to fear; that
he knew his country-men too well, and that
ho was fure they never hurt any body, but
their enemies. ROBINSON was convinced, he
would not fay fo, if it were not true. He there-
fore fuppreft all his fearful apprehenfions,
trufted to the honefty of his friend, and re-
folved in the name of God to fet out with him
the next morning.
For this purpoſe they drew the boat, that
had hitherto lain in the creek, into the fea
again, and faften'd it to a pole they had drove
into the ground. They now spent the evening
in roafting potatoes, and preparing other pro-
vifions, which they intended to take along
with them, that they might have enough for
eight days at leaſt. On this occafion Friday
fhew'd his mafter, that he was not quite un-
experienced in the art of cookery; for he
I 3
roasted
134
roafted a whole young lama, which they had
fhot, in much less time and made it far tenderer,
than it could have been done on a fpit. This
he did in the following manner.
He dug a hole in the ground about two foot
deep, into which he first put a layer of wood,
and then a layer of ftones alternately. Then
he put fire to the wood. After which he
•
held the young lama over the fire to finge off
the hair; this done, he fcraped it with a fhell
fo clean, as if it had been fcalded with boiling
water. With the fame thell he open'd the
body of the animal, and took out the entrails.
Whilft this was doing, all the wood was burnt
to coals, the hole was thorougly heated and
the ftones were red hot. Upon which he
threw all the ftones together with the coals.
out of the hole as faft as ever he could; then
he put fome of the hot ftones at the bottom
of the hole, covering them with green cocoa
leaves, upon which he placed the lama, cover-
ing it again with leaves and putting all the
hot ftones upon it; and then he filled the hole
intirely with earth.
Some hours after he open'd the hole again
and took out the lama. ROBINSON, who tafted
a bit of it, confeffed, that it was much ten-
derer, more juicy and more relifhing, than
it would have been, had it been roafted on
a pit; he therefore refolved to do it the fame
way for the future.
· JOHN.
135
JOHN.
That's the fame way as they do in Otahite,
when they roast their dogs.
It is fo.
FATHER.
THEOPHILUS.
Do they then eat the flesh of dogs?
JOHN.
To be fure! Did not we read fo laft winter;
and the english men, who ate with them,
confeffed it was very good.
Fie!
SOME OF THEM.
FATHER.
But you must know, that the dogs there
live in a quite different manner, as ours do.
They eat no flesh, and live only upon fruits,
for which reaſon their flesh may be of a quite
different tafte as that of ours would be.
Now, my children, all the preparations.
for their intended voyage were now made.
We will therefore let our two travellers feep
first, and then fee, how it will be to morrow.
I 4
TWEN-
136
ONKY
oooooooooooooooo)(cobobobotohoctocado
TWENTY SECOND
EVENING,
R
FATHER.
OBINSON and Friday had ſcarce been an hour
afleep, when the former was fuddenly
awaked by a violent thunder ftorm. The wind
howl'd and the thunder rumbled fo dreadfully,
that it made the earth tremble, "Do you hear
that, Friday?" faid ROBINSON, awaking his
bed-fellow. "Good God!" faid Friday; "if
we had been at fea now!" He had fearce pro-
nounced theſe words, when they heard a fud-
den clap, fomething like the report of a canon
at a distance,
Friday thought it was a clap of thunder;
ROBINSON On the contrary firmly believed it to
be the report of a gun, and it excited in him
the most agreeable furprife. He preſently
jumped up from his bed, ran to the kitchin
and defired Friday to follow him. Here he
took hold of a flaming fire-brand, and ran up
his ladder. Friday follow'd his mafter's exam-
ple without knowing, what he defign'd to do.
NOW ROBINSON made a large fire on the top
of the hill in the greatest hurry, as a fignal
to let the fufferers know, that they might
find
A
137
find a place of fafety here; for he thought
there was fome diftreffed veffel in the neigh-
bourhood on board of which they had fired,
But the fire had fcarce begun to burn, when
the rain began to pour down fo violently, that
the fire was out in a moment, ROBINSON and
Friday were therefore obliged to retire into
their cave to fave themfelves,
Now the ftorm raged, the rain gufh'd down
and the thunder rumbled with unfpeakable vio-
lence. One thunder clap was fucceeded by an
other, and tho' it now and then appeared to
ROBINSON, as if he heard more guns fired:
yet at laſt he grew dubious, whether it might
not all be thunder? During the whole night
he nevertheleſs indulged the pleafing thought,
that there was fome fhip near to deliver him;
that it might perhaps efcape the danger it now
was in, and carry him with is faithful Friday
to Europe, Above ten times he tried to make
a new fire, but the inceffant rain always put
it out again. He could therefore do nothing
but pray for the people in diftreſs, which he
did with the greateſt fervency.
THEOPHILUS.
Is not he then fo much afraid of thunder
now,
as he uſed to be?
FATHER.
You fee, this foolifh fear has left him now;
and what may be the reaſon of it?
15
JOHN
138
ولو
JOHN.
Becauſe he has a good confcience now.
FATHER.
Very right and befides he is now tho-
roughly convinced, that God is a God of love,
and that nothing can befall thofe, who are
good and righteous, but what muft in the
end tend to their real good.
The ſtorm did rot ſubſide till break of day;
and ROBINSON in company with Friday ran
between fear and hope towards the fea-thore,
to fee, whether what he had fuppofed was
true or not? But the first thing they faw, was
extremely grivous to both, efpecially to poor
Friday; for the ftorm had torn the boat from
its hold and carried it out into the open ſea. It
was lamentable to behold the affliction of Friday,
when he found the fond hope of feeing his
father again at once baffled! He turn'd as pale
as death, and ſtood for fome time quite ſpeech-
lefs, his ftaring looks fixed on the ground
and his whole foul feemed to be abſent. Then
he broke out in a flood of tears, wrung his
hands, beat his breaft and tore his hair.
ROBINSON, who by his own misfortunes
had learn'd to fympathize with the unhappy,
pitied his diftrefs, and endeavour'd by his
kind and friendly remonftrances to bring him
again to reafon. "Who knows,' faid he,
"what it may be good for, that we have loft
our
139
>>
our boat now? Who knows, of what advan-
tage the ftorm, that is the cauſe of it, may
be to us or to other men?” "Fine advan-
tage!" anfwer'd Friday with fome bitternefs;
"it has deprived us of our boat; that's all!
So, replied ROBINSON, becauſe you and I,
with our fhort fighted eyes, can perceive no
other effect of the ftorm except the lofs of
our boat you imagine, that God the alwife
director of all things had no other reaſon for
fending it? Senfelefs wretch, how dare you
pretend to judge of the defigns of God al-
mighty!
"Ay, but of what advantage could it be to
us?" faid Friday. Is that a queftion, which
I can anſwer? faid ROBINSON. Am I om-
nifcient, to be able to underſtand the defigns
of the ruler of the world? I can indeed ſup-
pofe fomething: but who can tell me, whether
I have gueffed right? Perhaps there were fo
many unwholefome vapours gathered together
in our iſland, that a ftorm was neceffary to
diſperſe them, to prevent our falling fick and
dying! Perhaps our boat would have been
our ruin, if it had not been deftroy'd! Per-
haps But why fhould I repeat my fuppo-
fitions, as it is enough for us to know, that
it is God, who commands the ftorm, and
that this God is a most wife and bountiful
father of all his creatures?
Friday
140
#
Friday recollected himself; repented of his
rafhnefs, and acquiefced in the will of provi-
dence. In the mean time ROBINSON's eyes
were wandering about on the furface of the
ocean, to fee, whether he could not diſcover
a fhip fome where or other? But in vain!
There was none to be feen. He faw there-
fore, that he had been mistaken, and that
the repeated noife, which he miftook for the
report of cannon could have been nothing,
but the claps of thunder. Quite dejected at
finding himself deceived in his agreeable hopes,
he returned home.
But he had neither reft nor peace at home,
becauſe he always imagined he faw a fhip at
an anchor near his ifland. Therefore he
went out again, and got upon the hill, from
whence he could overlook the western coaft:
but there he could not difcover, what he had
feen in his agreeable dream. Still diffatisfied
and uneafy, he ran to an other hill, that was
much higher, in order to explore the eaftern
coaft of his ifland. In a moment he was at
the top, and looking towards the eaſt
Heavens! how his whole foul was agreeably
furprifed, when he faw the accomplishment
of his dream!
Oh!
ALL.
FATHER.
141
FATHER.
He faw a veffel, and notwithstanding its
great' diftance, fo diftinctiy, that he could
no longer doubt of its being a real and at the
fame time a pretty large one. My good chil
dren, you will fpare me the needlefs trouble
of defcribing his joy and unspeakable raptures.
He ran almoft breathlefs back to his cave, ſeized
his arms, without which he never uſed to go out,
and was unable to fay any thing to Friday, who
ftared at him with furprife, except: there
they are! quickly! quickly! and thus he got up
his ladder again like lightning.
Friday concluded from his maſter's confufion,
from his hurry, and from his broken words,
that the favages were come. He therefore
took up his arms likewife, and ran after his
mafter in all the hurry imaginable.
They were obliged to run above two long
miles before they reached that part of the
fhore, which feemed to be oppofite to where
the fhip was at an anchor. And Friday was
not till now informed, what was the matter.
ROBINSON fhew'd him the fhip at a distance,
which made him ftare exceedingly, becaufe
he could fee very plainly, notwithſtanding the
great diftance, that it was a hundred times
bigger, than any he had ever feen before.
ROBINSON did not know, what to do with
himſelf for joy. Sometimes he caper'd about,
fome.
142
fometimes he rear'd aloud, and then again he
flung himself into Friday's arms and begged
him with tears in his eyes, to rejoice!
to
Now they were going to Europe
Hamburgh! Then he fhould fee, how the
people lived in Hamburg! What houfes they
could build there! How conveniently, how
quietly, how agreeably people lived there!
The torrent of his words was inexhaustible.
I believe he would have continued fpeaking
till the next day without intermiffion; if he
had not at once recollected, that it was
foolish, to spend his time in needlefs words,
and that he ought above all things to endea-
vour, to make himſelf known to the people
on board.
But how could he? That was
now the queſtion.
He tried to raife his voice; but he foon
perceived, that his endeavours would be
fruitless, though the wind was turned fince
the ſtorm, and now blew from the iſland
towards the fhip. He therefore defired his
friend to make a fire in all poffible hafte, which
the people on board would fee. Friday
foon made a fire, and ROBINSON made the
flame of it rife as high as a tree. And now
his eyes were fteadfastly fixed on the fhip,
becauſe he expected every moment to fee a
boat come away towards the shore. But there
was no boat to be feen.
At
яка
143
At laft, when the fire had burnt a whole
hour in vain, Friday propofed to fwim to
the fhip, tho' ever fo far, and beg the people
to come on ſhore. Upon which ROBINSON
embraced him and begged him by all means
to be careful of his life. Now Friday pulled
of his clothes, that were made of mats, took
a green branch in his mouth, and boldly
jumped into the water. ROLINSON fent the
warmest wishes for his prefervation along
with him.
CHARLOTTE.
Pray, what was he going to do with the
green branch?
FATHER.
A green branch is among the favages a token
of peace; and they never to do harm to any
one, who thus approaches them. He took it
along with him for his fecurity.
Friday at laſt arrived at the fhip, fwam a
couple of times round about it, and cried out
halloo! But no body anfwer'd him. At laft
he perceived a ladder hanging down by a rope;
he fwam to it, and got up with his green
branch in his hand.
When he had got fo high, that he could
look upon deck, he was frighten'd at an animal,
the like of which he had never feen before.
It was black and rough; and the moment it
got fight of Friday, it lifted up its voice, the
like
1
144
like of which Friday had never heard be-
fore. Prefently after it was again filent, and
feemed fo friendly, that the fear it had at
firſt excited in Friday, began to fubfide. It
came creeping towards him in the most humble
pofture, wag'd its tail, and whined fo lamen-
tably, that Friday foon perceived, it fought
his protection. He therefore ventured, when
it had crept cloſe to his feet, to ftroke it,
and it ſeemed almoſt mad for joy.
Friday now walked about the deck, and
continued to call out with a loud voice; but
he could not fee any body.
He stood now
ftaring at the wonderful things he faw upon
deck, with his back turned towards the ftairs,
that go down between decks; when he fud-
denly got fuch a hard and violent pufh from
behind, that he fell down at his full length.
Quite terrified he got up again, and looking.
behind him, he was almoft petrified at the
fight of a pretty large animal with long crooked
horns, and a very long beard, which was
again rifing on its hinder legs, to give him
a fecond wellcome. Friday gave a loud outcry,
and without hefitating a moment, jumped over
board into the fea.
The above mention'd black animal, which
you probably know by the defcription
JOHN.
Oh yes! a spaniel!
FATHER
1
J45
کچھ
FATHER.
Very right!- Well, this fpaniel follow'd
Friday's example and jumped over board, in
order to fwim after him. Friday, who heard
fomething paddling behind him, thought the
other horned monster had jumped in after him,
and was fo terrified, that he was fcarce able to
fwim and ready to fink to the bottom. This
is another example, how prejudicial cowardice
is, and how it expofes us to dangers, which
we might otherwife have avoided!
He fearce dared to look behind him, and
when he had recover'd himself a little, he fwam
fo faft, that the dog could fcarce follow him.
At last he reached the fhore and fell quite
ſpeechlets and exhaufted at ROBINSON's feet.
The dog landed foon after him.
He
ROBINSON ufed all poffible means to recover
the faithful friend of his folitary life.
embraced, ftroked, and shook him, calling
him aloud by his name.
But it lafted feyeral
minutes, before he had the joy of feeing Fri-
day open his eyes, or give any other fign of
returning life. At laft being again able to speak,
he related to him, what terrible adventure he
had had; how the veffel feemed to be a huge
wooden mountain, on which three very high
trees were growing; (meaning the mafts) how
friendly the black animal had been to him, and
how the other horned and bearded monfter was
II. PART.
going
K
146
going to kill him afterwards; and that he be-
lieved this monster to be the mafter of this
wooden floating mountain, becaufe he had
feen no man upon it.
ROBINSON liften'd to him with great furprife.
He concluded from his defcription, that the
horned monfter was nothing but a goat,and from
the rest of the circumstances he infer'd, that the
fhip had ftranded, and that the crew had faved
themſelves in their boats, and left the fhip;
but he could not conceive, what was become
of them. If they had faved themfelves in the
ifland, they should in all probability be in
the fame place, where he was now with Fri-
day: but they could neither fee nor hear any
thing of them; and had they been overfet in
their boats, their bodies and boats muſt have
been driven on fhore. At last he recollected,
that the wind had fuddenly fhifted from the
eaft to the weft during the tempeft. This
feemed to clear up the whole miftery.
Theſe people, thought he, have certainly
been hinder'd from reaching our fhore by the
wind's fhifting fo fuddenly to the eaſt. The ſtorm
muſt have driven them towards the weft, and
they must either be loft, or got into the cur-
rent or driven to fome wefterly iſland.
God grant the laſt may be true, faid he figh-
ing; and communicated his fuppofitions to
Friday, who found them probable likewife.
But
مولا
147
But what can we do now? faid ROBINSON.
Whether the people be dead or alive, or only
driven away by the ftorm, the beſt thing we
can do is, to fave fo many things from the
fhip as poffible. But how? We have no boat
now! Here he felt the lofs of the boat almoſt
as grievouЛly, as Friday had fit it before. He
rubbed his forehead, to find out fome means
to fupply the lofs of it; but he could find none
for a good while. To make an other boat
would have taken up to much time. He would
not venture to fwim to the fhip, becauſe it
was too far: and then what could he have
carried along with him, when fwimming?
JOHN.
I know, what I fhould have done.
FATHER.
And what would you have done?
JOHN.
I would have made a raft.
FATHER.
The very fame thing at laft occurred to our
ROBINSON! A raft, he thought, would be
fooneft made.
FREDERIC.
Pray, and what is a 1aft?
·
K 2
JOHN.
148
JOHN.
Did not you fee, when we lately went on
board of the yacht, there were a great many
rafts lying on the Elb near the gate?
FREDERIC.
Oh ay, a great many beams faften'd toge-
ther, that one could ftand and walk on it, as
on board of a ſhip?
FATHER.
Very right! Such a raft our ROBINSON in-
tended to make, and to go with it to the ſhip,
and fetch as many things as they could. Upon
which he agreed with Friday, as he was the
fwifteft on foot, to run home and fetch pro-
vifions for a whole day, together with all the
ropes and other tools they had, whilft Ro-
BINSON Would ſtay there, and cut down trees
to make a raft.
It was almoſt night before Friday returned.
ROBINSON in the mean time diverted himſelf
exceedingly with the dog, who was very dear
and eftimable to him as his european country-
man. The dog alfo feemed no lefs rejoiced,
and of his own accord play'd all the trick be-
fore him, which he had learned. When Fri-
day returned, ROBINSON gave him the firſt.
portion of the victuals he had brought along
with him, tho' he himself had not tafted any
thing the whole day.
·
As
149
As it was luckily moon-light that night,
they worked on without interruption till after
midnight. But then they grew fo fleepy,
that they could not poffibly refift any longer.
NICOLAS.
That I believe; for they had watched the
whole night before!
DICK.
And had run about fo much that day; par-
ticularly Friday!
FATHER.
They therefore laid down on the grafs, and
committed the care of watching them to the
dog. The dog laid down at their feet and thus
they enjoy'd the benefit of a foft and re-
freshing fleep till day- break.
K 3
THREE
150
acobdoo bocobococo
THREE AND TWENTIETH
EVENING.
The
FATHER.
'he breaking day had fcarce redden'd the
utmoft verge of the eaſtern horizon,
when our awaked ROBINSON roufed his com-
panion, in order to end the work, which
they had begun the day before. They worked
the whole day with fuch affiduity, that they
got their raft ready the very fame evening.
They had faften'd a double row of beams,
partly with ropes and partly with pliable and
tough indian withes fo tight together, that
it formed a perfectly fafe vehicle, of about
twenty foot long and almost as broad. They
had alſo uſed the precaution to make it clofe
by the fea-fide and on rollers, that they might
without lofs of time and without any great
trouble push it into the water.
At break of day the next morning the fea
began luckily to ebb, they therefore did not
lofe a moment's time, to get their raft into
the fex, and go with the tide to the flranded
veffel; and in less than half an hour they got
there..
How
ISI
HOW ROBINSON's heart jumped for joy,
when he faw the large european fhip before
him! He had almoft kiffed the fide of it for
joy, becauſe it came from his country and
had been built and brought hither by europeans!
But alas! theſe beloved europeans themſelves
were not to be found, and had perhaps been
fwallow'd up by the waves! This afflicting
thought greatly grieved poor ROBINSON'S
heart. He would willingly have given half
of his future life, if he could have got the
loft crew again, and have fail'd with them to
Europe! But that being an impoffibility, he
had nothing better to do, than to fave as
much as he could of the loading, and employ
it to his greater conveniency,
THEOPHILUS.
But might he take any of thofe things, that
were not his own?
FATHER.
What do you think, John, might he?
JOHN.
Yes, he might take them out of the fhip,
and carry them on fhore; but if the people
were found, he was bound to return them.
FATHER.
Very right! For if he did not take them
out, they would by degrees become a prey
K 4
to
152
to the waves. Therefore he might alſo with
a good confcience appropriate to himself
whatever he needed nioft, and account for it
to the owners, if ever they returned, for the
trouble and labour he had been at, in faving
the goods from the fhip.
As to ftranded fhips in general, it is a
point agreed upon among fome civilized na-
tions, that the goods faved are always di-
vided into three fhares. One ſhare falls to
the owners, if they be alive, or to their
heirs, if they be dead; the fecond falls to
him, who has faved the goods; and the third
to the king or Prince of the country.
L
NICOLAS.
To the king? Why does he get any of
them?
FATHER.
This is a queftion which I can not anſwer
However I may tell you
you very well.
fomething, which you can already comprehend.
Look ye, my lads, the king or the Prince,
or whatever title the lord of a country may
have, keeps certain people on the fea-coaft,
to take care, that nothing be robbed from
fuch a ftranded veffel, and that every thing,
which is taken out of it, be carried to a place
of fafety. If this were not done, the mer-
chant, who owns the loading, would feldom
get any thing back again, becauſe the goods
would
153
would be either fpoiled or ftolen. Now the
people appointed for this purpoſe, are paid
by the Prince of the country; it is therefore
juft, that thofe fhould pay for it, who reap
the advantage of this whole fome inftitution.
It has therefore been agreed upon, that a
third part of the goods faved fhould fall to
the fhare of the Lord of the land; and this
fixed agreement is called: the laws of wreck
and falvage.
According to this ROBINSON had a right to
ufe two thirds of the goods, which he could
get on fhore, as his lawful property and as
he fhould think fit.
Two thirds?
JOHN.
FATHER.
1
Yes, one part for his trouble and labour,
the ſecond as fole and lawful lord of the iſland,
on which the fhip had ftranded.
DICK.
Ay, but who made him lord of the iſland?
FATHER.
Common fenfe. A piece of land, that never
was in any body's poffeffion before, naturally
belongs to him, who firft takes poffeffion of
it. And that was the cafe here.
The first wifh that arofe in ROBINSON'S mind,
after being recovered from the violent fenfa-
tions of joy at the fight of an european fhip,
K 5
was,
154
•
was, that the fhip might be undamaged and
get afloat again. In which cafe he was firmly
refolved to go on board of her with Friday,
and fail at leaft to fome european plantation
in America, in cafe he could not get to Europe;
however dangerous it might be, to venture
himself on the open fea on board of a large
unmanned Veflel and without any knowledge
of navigation. He therefore went round the
veffel on his raft, to examine the bottom un-
der the water; and he foon found to his great
forrow, that is was not poffible fhe could
get afloat again; for the ftorm had caft the
veffel between two rocks, where fhe was fo
jam'd in, that she could neither move back-
ward nor forward. Here he must therefore
remain, till the raging waves fhould by de-
grees beat her to pieces. ROBINSON finding
himself fruftrated in his hopes, haften'd to
get on board and to fee, in what the loading
confifted, and whether that was yet undamaged.
The fright, which poor Friday got before,
was ftill fo fresh in his memory, that he
could fearce refolve to follow his mafter upon
deck. However he follow'd him, but not
without trembling, particularly as the horned
monfter was the firft object, that prefented
itſelf to his view.
But the horned monſter was not now fo bold,
as it had been the day before. It lay rather
quite fpiritlefs, as if unable to rife, becauſe
110
155
no body had given it any food for three days.
ROBINSON, who perceived the caufe of its
weakness, firft took care to find fomething
to eat for the poor ftarved animal, As he
was perfectly well acquainted with the inward
conftruction of a fhip, he foon found what
he look'd for, and had the pleafure to fee,
that the goat devoured the fodder he had
flung before her with great eagerness. In
the mean time Friday ftared at the figure of
this unknown animal.
Now ROBINSON began a regular fearch. He
went from one cabin into another, every
where between decks, and faw a thouſand
things, that are fearce regarded in Europe, but
that were of unspeakable value to him now.
There were great calks full of fea biscuits, rice,
flour, corn, wine, gunpowder, balls and hot;
there were cannons, firelocks, piftols, fwords
and cutlaffes; moreover hatchets, faws, chifels,
gimlets, rafps, planes, hammers, iron bars,
nails, knives, fciffors, needles; there were
pots, dishes, plates, fpoons, fire-tongs, bellows,
porringers and other wooden, iron, pewter
and copper kitchin utenfils; in fine, there
were whole chefts full of clothes, linen,
ftockings, shoes, boots and a hundred other
things, for every one of which our ravifh'd
ROBINSON Would willingly have given his
long forgotten lump of gold, if one or an
other of theſe things had been offer'd him to fale.
Friday
156
Friday ftood staring at all theſe things as
one ftupified, becauſe he had never feen any
thing like it and could not guefs the ufe of
the greater part of theſe wonderous things.
ROBINSON On the contrary was quite in extafy.
He wept for joy, and as a little child he laid
hold of every thing he faw, and threw it
down again as foon as his eyes fell on an
object, that feemed more defirable.
At laft
he was going down into the hold: but he
found it quite full of water, becauſe the ſhip
had got a great leak.
Now he began to confider, what he fhould
take with him this time; but for a good while
he could not come to any refolution. Now
he thought one thing the moſt needful, and
then again an other, and therefore he often
rejected, what he had just before chofen,
and took an other thing in the place of
it. At laft he chofe the following things, as
the most valuable, to take on thore for this
time, viz: 1) a finall caſk full of gunpowder,
and an other filled with fhot; 2) Two fire locks,
two brace of piftols, two fwords and two
cutlaffes; 3) Double cloathing from head to
foot for himſelf and Friday; 4) Two dozen
of fhirts; 5) Two hatchets, two faws, two
planes, a couple of iron bars, one hammer
and fome other tools; 6) fome books, fome
writing paper, fome ink and pens; 7) Atinder
box, with tinder and flints; 8) A caſk full
of
157
of bifcuits; 9) fome fail cloth; and 10) the
goat.
FREDERIC.
Oh! he had no great need of the goat!
FATHER.
That's true, Frederic, but the goat had
great need of him, and ROBINSON was too
compaffionate towards all living creatures, to
leave the poor animal on board, as he did
not know, whether the fhip might not be
torn to pieces by a ftorm, before his return,
particularly as he had room enough on his
raft for the most needful things. He there-
fore took her along with him.
On the contrary he left fomething, which
the people in Europe would be moſt eager to
get hold of, which was: a fmall cafk full of
gold-duft, and a box full of diamonds, which
he had found in the Captain's cabbin. It
never came into his head to take them along
with him; becauſe he could make no manner
of uſe of them.
He had spent fo much time in fearching,
opening, unpacking, rejoicing, chufing and
loading, that he had but an hour till the
returning tide. He was obliged to wait
till then, becaufe he could not well get on
fhore without it. This hour ROBINSON fpent
in dining in the european manner.
For
158
For this purpoſe he fetch'd a piece of
fmoak'd beef, a couple of herrings, fome biscuit,
butter and cheeſe and a bottle of wine, then he
put all theſe things upon the table in the Cap-
tain's cabbin, and fat down in company with
Friday on the chairs, that were standing
about it. It was a greater joy for him than
I can defcribe, that he could once more fit at
a proper table, on a chair, and have a plate,
knife and fork to eat with. And to compleat
all, the victuals, particularly bread, which he
had fo often longed for in vain,
Oh! you
can form no idea of it, how all this ravifhed
him! To have a compleat idea of all the joy
he felt, one must be nine whole years de-
prived of all fuch victuals and conveniencies.
Friday was fo little ufed to the european
manner of living, that he did not know, how
to use a knife and fork. ROBINSON fhew'd
him how; but when he was going to imitate
him and took a bit of meat on the point of his
fork, he carried the bit of meat, as he had
been hitherto accuftom'd up to his ear, and
the handle of the fork to his mouth. He would
by no means drink any of the wine, which Ro-
BINSON offer'd him, becaufe his palate, which
had hitherto been uſed to nothing but water,
could not bear the taste of any ſtrong liquor. The
bifcuit on the contrary he liked exceedingly.
Now the tide was returning; they both
therefore got down upon their raft, and put
to
1
159
to fea, that they might reach the fhore with
the return of the tide. In a fhort time they
landed, and haften'd to bring their goods on
fhore.
Friday was now very curious to know, what
all these things were, and of what uſe they
could be? The first thing ROBINSON did to
fatisfy his curiofity, was this: heftept behind
a bufh, put on a fhirt and a whole fuit of
clothes, viz: an officer's uniform, together
with ſhoes and stockings; then he put on a
fword, and a laced hat on his head, and thus
accoutred he fuddenly appear'd before the
aftoniſhed eyes of Friday. The poor fellow
quite aftonifh'd ſtarted back fome paces, be-
caufe at first fight he really doubted, whether
he faw his mafter, or fome other fupernatural
being. ROBINSON, who could not forbear
fmiling at his aftonishment, kindly reached
him his hand, affuring him, that he was ftill
the fame ROBINSON and his friend, tho' his
clothes and circumftances were altered. After
which he took a whole failor's drefs, fhew'd
him, how to put on every particular piece,
and defired him to ſtep behind the buſh and
drefs himſelf likewife.
Friday obey'd; but it was long before he
could get ready. Sometimes he put one thing
on the wrong way, and fometimes another. In
putting on his fhirt, for inftance, he first put his
legs thro' the fleeves, as if he had put on a pair of
breeches.
160
breeches. He did the fame with the breeches,
putting in his feet in at the wrong end, and
alfo with his jacket, which he tried to button
behind on his back. By little and little he per-
ceived his mistake and corrected it, till after
many fruitless attempts he at laſt got ready
with his whole drefs.
When he faw himſelf thus changed and per-
ceived, how commodious this drefs was, and
how well it would preferve him from the
ftings of the mufquetoes, he began to jump.
about for joy like a child. Only the fhoes did
not pleate him, becaufe he confidered them as
fuperfluous and inconvenient. He therefore
begged leave to pull them off again, which
ROBINSON left to his free option.
Now he fhew'd him the ufe of hatchets and
other tools, at the fight of which Friday was
befide himself for joy and admiration. They
began to make ufe of them directly, in cut-
ting down a fmall maft for their raft; that they
might for the future ufe a fail, and not be
obliged to wait always for the tide. ROBINSON
undertook this work alone and fent Friday in
the mean time to the caftle to milk the lama's,
which they had been forced to neglect thefe
two days.
During Friday's abfence ROBINSON loaded
one of the fire-locks, becauſe he had preſerved
to himſelf the pleasure of furpriſing his friend.
with
16r
with the wonderful effect of gun-powder.
When he was now returned, and wondering,
that ROBINSON had done his work fo foon,
the latter difcovered a gull flying with a fish
in his bill. He immediately took hold of his
fire-lock and cried out: Mind me, Friday, I'll
fetch him down! He had fearce pronounced
thefe words, when drawing the trigger, and
down came the gull to the ground.
Figure to yourſelves Friday's aftoniſhment
and terrour! He fell down to the ground, as
if he himself had been fhot, becaufe his former
fuperftition of the Toupan or thunderer, fuddenly
feized his mind, and in the first moment of
his fright, he thought his mafter was the
thunderer. He fell to the ground, as I faid
before; then he got upon his knees, ftretching
his trembling hands out towards ROBINSON,
as if he would beg for mercy; for he could
not speak. ROBINSON was far from being ca-
pable of joking with any thing that regards re-
ligion. He therefore no fooner perceived Fri-
day's thoughts, but he was forry, that he had not
before acquainted him with what he intended
to do; and he made hafte to repair this fault.
He kindly raised his trembling Friday from the
ground, embraced him, and begged him, not
to be afraid, adding he would prefently fhew
him, how to make fuch thunder and lighten-
ing, which was a thing quite natural. Then
he made him obferve the different parts of the
II. PART.
L
firc-
162
!
fire-lock, explain'd to him the nature and ef-
fect of gun-powder; after which he loaded
the piece in his prefence, and put it into his
hand, to let him fire it himself. But Fri-
day, who was yet too fearful, begged him, to
do it himself. Upon which ROBINSON fixed a
mark at two hundred foot diſtance, placed
himſelf next to Friday, and fired the piece.
Friday was again very near falling down to
the ground for what he heard and faw appear'd
quite fupernatural to him. Many grains of finall
ſhot had hit the mark, and penetrated pretty
deep into the wood, which he made Friday
obferve, and thence he made him conclude,
how fafe they would for the future be againſt
all the attacks of the favages, now they had
got this artificial thunder and lightening in
their power. From this and all he had feen
on board of the fhip, Friday conceived fuch
a profound reſpect for all the europeans, and
particularly for his mafter, that it was impof-
fible for him to converfe with his mafter for
many days on their former intimate and friendly
footing.
In the mean time night approached, and
put an end to the bufinefs of this joyful day.
FOUR
163
}
FOUR AND TWENTIETH
The
EVENING.
'he next morning the father continued the
ftory, without any kind of preface, to
the great fatisfaction of the little folks, in the
following manner:
ROBINSON had never before flept fo well,
as that night; for fince the first day of his fo-
litary abode in this ifland, he had never been
fo happy as he felt himself now. Neither is
it poffible, that man ever felt fincerer grati-
tude and love for his heavenly benefactor, to.
whom he owes his happiness, than he did.
When alone, he would often fall on his knees,
and thank the bountiful giver of all things for
what he had given him! He likewife endea-
vour'd to inftill fuch pious fentiments of gra-
titude into the heart of Friday. Before they
went to bed, he likewife taught him the fol-
lowing hymn: Now thank ye all the Lord! and
then they both raifed their voices to the praiſe
of their heavenly father.
The next morning they got up very early;
placed all their things in a thicket, and co-
vered them with boughs, in cafe it ſhould
happen to rain; and when the fea began to
L 2
ebb,
164
ebb, they left the fhore to go on board of the
wreck.
A wreck
FREDERIC.
What's that pray?
FATHER.
A fhip that is ftranded and partly torn to
pieces. As they had the day before brought
off a couple of oars with them, which I forgot
to mention, they went much fafter, than the
firft time. They got fafe on board; and the
firſt thing they did, was to gather all the boards
they could find, and to let them down on the
raft, on which they placed them as a floor
two boards thick, in order to preferve the
things they intended to take on fhore from
being wet, as they had been the day before.
Now ROBINSON examined every thing over
again, in order to make a prudent choice among
the different things, which he could not take
on fhore at once. This time his choice was
attended with lefs difficulty, becauſe he had
got the most neceffary things fafe on fhore.
Yet he acted again with the fame precaution,
as he had done before.
Among other things he this time refolved.
to take one of the fix fmall pieces of cannon
on fhore, which he had found on board of the
veffel.
JOHN.
A cannon? Why I think he might have
taken fomething more needful!
FATHER.
165
FATHER.
So it feems to us, who judge of his fitua
tion at a distance; whereas ROBINSON, who
confidered it more nearly, found this cannon
an effential implement to make his mind eafy.
JOHN.
How fo?
FATHER.
The place, where he firft depofited the things
he brought on fhore, was not fortified, and
was moreover in that part of the iſland, where
the favages generally landed. It is true, he
might now with pretty good confidence rely
on the defence he could make with his fire-
locks and piftols, in cafe of any attack; but
the thought, that he ſhould then be again in
the difmal neceffity of killing fome poor favage
or other, made him fhudder every time it
came into his mind. Now he thought, if he
had a cannon, he might fire a ball over their
heads, in cafe they ſhould approach his iſland
in their canoes, the fear of which would make
them turn back again.
Do you fee, my lad, how unfafe it is to pre-
tend to judge of other people's conduct? We
very feldom know the motives of other people's
actions: how dare we then prefume to judge
of them? A wife man is therefore very flow in
judging of other people; he will never pre-
fume to do it, without fome particular call,
becauſe he has enough to do in thinking and
L 3
judging
∙166
judging of his own actions; and for the future
we will do fo too, my children!
ROBINSON and Friday took this time the fol-
lowing things on their raft, exclufive of the
piece of cannon: 1) a bag full of rye, an other
full of barley, and a third full of peaſe; 2) a
cheft full of nails and ferews: 3) a dozen of
hatchets; 4) a final barrel of gun - powder,
together with balls and fmall fhot; 5) a fail,
and 6) a grind-ſtone.
THEOPHILUS.
What could he do with that?
FATHER.
To whet his hatchets, knives aud other tools,
when they needed it.
THEOPHILUS.
Why, had he no ftones in his iſland?
FATHER.
Stones in plenty; but no grind - ftones!
Did not you obferve,
ticular fort, that is:
ftones?
Yes, yes!
that theſe are of a par-
much fofter than other
THEOPHILUS.
FATHER.
Well, he had not feen any fuch foft ftones
in his ifland; and yet fuch a grind-ftone is
a very useful and neceffary thing for fuch as
ufe sharp tools. He therefore preferred it,
without any hafitation, to the gold-duft and
diamonds, which he again left behind.
Before
167
Before they went on fhore, ROBINSON ex-
amined in what condition the ſhip was, and
found, that the water had rifen fomething
higher in the hold, and that fome of her fide
planks were loofed by the waves and by her
rubbing againſt the rock. He forefaw, that
fhe would be quite torn to pieces by the
first storm. This made him the more eager
to fave whatever he could of her cargo.
As the wind now blew towards the land,
they got on fhore by the help of their fail
and oars, tho' the tide had fcarce half done eb-
bing. On their way ROBINSON made himſelf
reproaches, which was a proof of his honefty.
DICK.
And what was it pray?
FATHER.
That he had not taken the gold and dia-
monds along with him.
DICK.
And what could he do with them?
FATHER.
He did not want them himself; but he
thought it not quite impoffible, that the maſter
of the fhip might be ſtill alive, and return
to fee, whether he could not fave fomething.
Now if a ſudden ftorm fhould arife and deſtroy
the fhip, before he could return to it, and
the gold and jewels fhould be loft: what ex-
cufe, thought he, could I make to the owner,
to God, and my own confcience, for having
faved
L 4
168
faved fuch things only, as may be useful
to me, and neglected what is moſt valuable
to the real mafter of all theſe things? on which
perhaps his and many other people's whole
fortune may depend? ROBINSON! ROBINSON!
added he, flapping his forehead with indigna-
tion, how far art thou yet from being fo
good as thou oughtſt?
He had fearce patience to wait till they
reached the hore, but he again withed to re-
turn on board; fo great was the uneafinefs of
his confcience, beaufe he had neglected a
duty, which juſtly feemed facred to him!
At laft they arrived; but the moment they
reached the fhore, they were in great danger
of feeing their whole loading tumble into the
fea. As the tide was ftill ebbing, the water
near the fhore was fo fhallow, that the fore-
part of the raft ran at once upon the fand, and
was confequently much higher than the hind-
part, which was on the water. ROBINSON
and Friday ftood luckily behind, and could
therefore prevent the loading from fliding
down into the water.
After having faften'd every thing, they
were obliged to wade thro' the water and dirt,
to get their things on fhore. This they did
fo expeditiously and carefully, that nothing
was loft, fo that they had time to go on board
again before the return of the tide.
As foon as ROBINSON was again on board,
he
169
he made all poffible hafte to get the fmall cafk
of gold-duft and the box with diamonds and to
carry them down upon his raft. After which
his heart was deliver'd from an heavy burthen;
this duty being perform'd, he thought he
had a right to provide for himſelf again.
This time he took a couple of wheel bar-
rows along with him, which he found on
board, tho' I can not conceive for what pur-
pofe they had been, befides many clothes and
linen, many tools and utenfils, a lantern,
together with all the writings he found in the
Captain's cabbin; and as the tide was now
returning, they failed back again, and as they
were pushed forward by wind and tide, they
foon reached the fhore. The remaining part
of the day ROBINSON dedicated to an occupation,
which feemed moft preffing to him. He trem-
bled at the thought, left fome heavy thower
of rain might fall, and render his greateſt
treafure, his gun-powder ufelefs To prevent
this danger, he refolved to make a tent that
fame day of the fail, which he had brought
along with him, in which he might fecure all
his riches againſt the rain.
As he now had fciffors, needles and thread,
this work went on very faſt, and Friday foon
learned fo much as to be able to help him. He
could not fufficiently admire the invaluable in-
vention of needles and thread, and confeffed
repeatedly, that he and his country men, in
L 5
coin-
170
compariſon with the fkillful europeans, were
but poor fellows.
They got their work ready before night;
and then ROBINSON did himſelf the pleaſure,
to fhew Friday the aftonishing effects of a can-
non. He charged it with a ball and placed
it fo, that the ball might ſkim along the fur-
face of the water, to let Friday fee diſtinctly,
how far it would go. Now he fired his gun,
and tho' Friday was prepared for this ſpectacle,
by his having feen him fire his mufket twice,
yet he was again fo frighten'd at this ftill
more dreadful report of the cannon, that all
his limbs trembled. The ball danced along
the furface of the fea, till it was loft out of
fight at an immenfe diftance. Friday affured
him fuch a fingle fhot would make all his
country-men run away, tho' there were thou-
fands of them, becauſe they would take him,
who made fuch thunder, for the Toupan.
When it was dark, ROBINSON lit a candle
in his lantern, to look over the writings he
had brought from the fhip, and fee, if he
could not diſcover, to whom the ſhip belonged
and for what place fhe had been bound? But
unluckily the writings as well as books were
compofed in a language, which he did not
underſtand. How greatly did he now regret
his not having employ'd more diligence in
learning of languages! But this repentance
came too late.
How-
1
171
However one circumftance gave him fome
light in regard to the deftination and purpoſe
of the fhip. He found a couple of letters di-
rected for Barbadoes, an island in America,
in which there is a great trade with flaves.
FREDERIC.
A trade with flaves?
FATHER.
I will tell you, what it is. In Africa
don't you remember where that is?
FREDERIC.
Oh! yes; that way, over the green bridge
and the geefe-green!-- Well, and
FATHER.
In Africa then, where the negroes live,
moſt of the people are ftill as uncivilized and
rough as brutes. Their leaders or kings, who
are not much wifer, treat them therefore, as
if they really were brutes. Now when the
Europeans come there, they offer them whole.
herds of thefe black people for fale, juſt as
we fell oxen in our markets. Many fathers
even bring their children to fell them for a
trifle; there the Europeans buy a great num-
ber of them every year, and take them over
to America, where they are uſed for hard la-
bour, and are at the fame time but very poorly
kept. Such a flave (fo they call theſe unhappy
people) is there in a very bad fituation, and
would often rather chufe to die than live.
THEO-
172
THEOPHILUS.
But, it is not at all right to uſe men fo!
FATHER.
It is indeed very wrong; it is alfo to be
hoped, that this abominable trade with flaves.
will be abolished in time
ROBINSON found moreover an account, by
which he could perceive, that there had been
at least a hundred of fuch flaves on board of
the fhip, that were to be carried to Barbadoes.
He made Friday comprehend all theſe things,
and added: who knows, whether thefe unhappy
people do not owe their deliverance to that
ftorm, which drove their veffel on the rock?
Whether they have not reached fome iſland
by means of their boats, where their tyrants
have no more power over them, and where
they may, in their own way, live very happy
and contented lives?
Friday did not find this in the leaft impro-
bable.
Well now Friday! added ROBINSON, whilft
his face began to glow; have you ftill the
heart to repeat the queftion you lately made?
FRIDAY.
Which?
ROBINSON.
Of what ufe that ftorm might be, which
lately made us lofe our boat?
Friday was afhamed, and caft down his eyes
with a repentant look.
Upon
173
Upon which ROBINSON cried out with fer-
vent zeal: 0 Friday! acknowledge the hand
of the Almighty and all-wife God, which has
again worked fo vifibly in this affair! See how
much the ftorm was obliged to return us for
the trifle it was order'd to take from us! Look
at them, this provifion of neceffaries to make
our lives commodious and happy fhould
we have all theſe things, but for the ftorm?
Tho' it be afflicting to owe one's happineſs to
the unhappineſs of other people; but fuppofe
most of them that were on board of the
ftranded veffel lived now much happier, than
before? And it is not in the leaſt improbable,
that this is really the cafe! What think you
now of the divine government of the world?
"That it is unspeakably wife and good, and
that I was a fool!" replied Friday, folding
his hand, and lifting his eyes up to heaven,
to pray God to forgive his fins, which he had
committed from ignorance.
ROBINSON kept all the writings, which he had
been looking over, with as much care, as he did
the gold and the jewels; that, in cafe he
ever returned to Europe, he might by their
means be able to find out, to whom he fhould
return thofe treaſures he had faved.
During fix days fucceffively they ſtill conti-
nued to return to the wreck twice or three times
a day, and fetch'd every thing on shore, which
they could maſter. A thouſand trifles were
im-
174
important to them, which we should fearce.
have thought worthy to look at, becauſe we
never yet felt the want of them, and they
accordingly took them on fhore. One part of
the loading confifted in ivory; which they left
on board, becauſe they could make no uſe
of it. They alfo left ſome caſks of coffee,
which ROBINSON fcorned to take, becauſe he
did not intend ever to accuſtom himſelf again
to furperfluous and hurtful delicacies. On the
other hand they endeavour'd to get as many
boards as ever they could break loofe, becauſe
they appear'd to him to be of greater utility,
and confequently of greater intrinfic value.
They even carried the five remaining guns on
fhore, as alfo all the iron they could find or
break loofe.
Now after having been eighteen times back-
wards and forwards, and after getting every
time their loading fafe on fhore; they per-
ceived, when they were again on board of
the wreck, that there was a ftorm coming on.
They made therefore all poffible hafte to com-
pleat their loading, and left the wreck in hopes.
of reaching the fhore before the ftorm came
on. But their endeavours proved in vain.
Before they had made half of their way, there
aroſe ſo violent a ftorm with thunder, lighten-
ing and rain, that the waves rolled over the
raft, and waited every thing upon it into the fea.
They held themfelves for fometime, that the
foaming
175
;
foaming waves might not wash them over
board, tho' now and then they went above a
yard over their heads.
But at last their weak built raft could not
refift the fury of the waves any longer. The
ligatures by which the beams were faften'd
together gave way; and the whole raft fe-
parated.
CHARLOTTE.
Oh, poor ROBINSON.
ALL.
Oh, be quiet! be quiet!
FATHER.
Friday endeavour'd to fave himfelf by fwim-
ming, ROBINSON on the contrary got hold of
a beam, with which he was fometimes caft down
as into an abyfs, and fometimes lifted up on
high. He was oftener under water, than above
it and quite ftun'd, fo that he could neither fee.
nor hear. At laft his ftrength forfook him to-
gether with the knowledge of himself. He gave
a loud cry, and then diſappear'd under a mon-
ftrous wave,which tore him loofe from his beam.
Happily for him his faithful Friday had been
conftantly near him, tho' he might have.
ſaved himſelf much ſooner, if he had choſen
it, who now feeing his mafter go to the bot-
tom, did not hesitate a moment, but dived.
down after him, took hold of him by his left
hand, and worked himself upwards with his
right. And now he exerted his utmoſt en-
deavours
176
deavours to fuch a degree, that in fome mi-
nutes time he got on fhore together with the
corpfe of his dear mafter.
ALL. (Quite terrified)
Oh oh the corpfe?
FATHER.
So I call it, becauſe there did not appear
any remains of life in him.
Friday carried the pale corpfe quite on fhore,
threw himself upon him in a fit of deſpair,
called him, thook him, rubbed his whole body,
and preffed his lips above ten times on his
mouth in order to blow breath into him. To
his unspeakable joy he at laſt faw fome
fymptoms of life returning; he continued his
endeavours, till at last ROBINSON recover'd his
fenfes.
"Where am I?" faid he at laft in a weak.
and trembling voice, opening his eyes again..
"In my arms, dear maſter!" anfwer'd Friday,
whofe tears gufhed down his cheeks. And
now it was a moving fcene. Whilft ROBINSON
was thanking his deliverer, Friday did not
know, what to do with himſelf for joy at his
dear maſter's return into life.
And now, my children, I think we can not
break off our story with any thing better; fo
enough for to day.
FIVE
177
bobobobobobocop): (ocobo
FIVE AND TWENTIETH
EVENING.
No
ow feveral obftacles occurred, which hin-
dered the Father from continuing the
ſtory. In the mean time the fociety of the
young folks was encreafed by fix new members.
Their names were: Matthew, Ferdinand, Con-
rad, Hans, Chriftopher and Charles.
Now there arofe a great bustle among
the elder ones, which of them fhould relate
to their new friends, what they had already
heard of ROBINSON! The one knew this, and
the other that of him; then again the one had
omitted one thing, and the other another,
for which he was interrupted by a third, to
fill up the chafm in the ftory! Now as they
thus all talked together, it occafion'd fuch a
confufed noife, that one could not hear one's
own word. To put an end to this confufion,
the Father faw himfelf obliged, to relate the
ſtory over again, till he came to the place,
where he had left off. Then he continued
to the general fatisfaction as follows:
Now, my children, our ROBINSON is once
more recover'd. The fleep he enjoy'd over
II. PART.
night
M
178
night in his tent on real beds, has fo refreshed
him, that he now ftands again at break
of day in his full bodily ftrength, thanking God
for the prefervation of his health and life.
The ſtorm had continued to rage the whole
night. He had therefore waited for day-light
with anxious curiofity, to fee what was be-
come of the wreck?
At laft the fun arofe, and now he ſaw to
his great forrow, that the wreck had quite
vanih'd. Single boards and beams, that were
caft on fhore, fhew'd, that it had been quite
torn to pieces by the ftorm. At the fight of
which, he found himself happy in the con-
ſciouſneſs of his not having fpared any trouble,
to fave fo much of the loading, as ever had
been poffible; and happy is the man, who
regulates his conduct fo wifely, that on every
occurring disagreeable accident, he can fay to
himſelf like ROBINSON: It is none of my fault!
Oh this conſciouſneſs can greatly affuage things,
that otherwife would extreamly imbitter our
hearts!
ROBINSON and Friday now drew all the re-
maining pieces of the fhip on fhore, which
they found on the ftrand, becauſe they fore-
faw, that every board and every lath would
be uſeful to them. Then they made a regular
plan for their future occupations.
The things were now to be taken to the
caftle; but to leave them alone, whilft they
were
179
were removing them, feemed dangerous. Ro-"
BINSON therefore made the difpofition, that
one of them should alternately watch the goods,
and the other take fome to the caftle on a
wheel-barrow, one was to work in the fore-
noon and the other in the afternoon. He
charged the guns and planted them near the fea-
fhore with their muzzles towards the fea.
Then they made a fire, that was to be kept
up by him, that had the watch; clofe by their
guns they had alfo a match in readiness to fire
them in caſe of need.
ROBINSON made the beginning in removing
the things to the caftle. He now likewife put on a
common failor's drefs, in order to fave the better
fort of clothes, and instead of his former arms,
he now wore nothing but a cutlafs and a brace
of loaded piftols in his girdle. He firft took
fome fmall calks of gun-powder and other
things, that were moft liable to be ſpoiled by
water; and thus he proceeded on his journey.
The dog too, that was always with him, accom
panied him not as a quite ufelefs companion.
ROBINSON had fomehow faften'd a rope
round his breaft, which was again tied to
the wheel-barrow, that he might affift ROBIN-
SON by drawing. Now as this dog was na-
turally very tractable, he foon got used to his
new calling, and did his bufinefs fo well, as
if he had been an old cart horfe. He carried
M 2
more-
180
•
moreover a bundle between his teeth, which
he had been taught to do before.
At his return ROBINSON took all his tame
lama's, that had already been used to carry
burthens, to make ufe of them in removing
the goods. As there were feven of them,
and each was able to carry a hundred weight
and a half, you may eafily imagine, how much
this whole caravan could tranfport at once.
But as there was not room enough for fo
many things in ROBINSON'S cave and cellar,
they quickly pitched a fecond tent in the yard
of the caftle, to ferve as a receptacle, till
they had more leifure. In eight days every
thing was removed, except a heap of boards,
which they carried into a cloſe thicket to be
left there for the prefent.
CHARLOTTE.
Why, Papa, you did not tell us any thing
further of the goat?
FATHER.
Oh, I had almoft forgot that. Well, the
goat they took along with them, as you may
eafily imagine, and put her into the inclofure
among the tame lama's, with which the agreed
very well.
And now ROBINSON and Friday had agreeable
occupations in abundance, fo that they ſcarce
knew, where to begin firft. But ROBINSON,
who loved an orderly and regular divifion in
his
181
his bufinefs, foon made a diftinction between
the more and lefs neceffary occupations, and
proceeded first to the former. The moft ne-
ceffary of all was the building of a fhed or ſmall
barn, to keep those things, for which they
had no room in the cave, more conveniently
and fafer, than could be done in the tent.
Now the great point was, that they ſhould
exercife themſelves in working like carpenters,
which indeed none of them had learned.
But what could now be too difficult for the
induftry of our ſkillful ROBINSON, feeing him-
felf in poffeffion of all the tools he wanted?
The moft laborious and unaccustomed work was
now a trifle to him, after he had brought fo
many other things to bear without either tools
or affiftant. He now felled trees, fquared
them, he joined and raiſed the beams, made
the walls of bricks, and made a double roof
on the top of it, the one of boards and the
other of cocoa-leaves all this he did with
wonderful expedition..
Now the building was ready and bore fome
refemblance to the fmall dwellings of our
country-people. Our ROBINSON had very wifely
brought the windows of the fhip's cabin on
fhore with him; and theſe were now of very
great fervice to him, to enlighten the building
without leaving any hole open. The glafs
was for Friday a particular object of admira-
tion, becauſe he had never feen any before,
M 3
and
182
and he was now informed, what great con-
veniency it affords.
Now after every thing was ready, ROBINSON
conceived the thought of making a convenient
entrance into his caftle without impairing
the ftrength of it. The making of a proper
gate and draw bridge, feemed to him to be
the best method. Now as he had every thing
requifire nails, chains, hinges, hafps,
locks &c. in abundance, he proceeded directly
to the execution of his reſolution. Firſt they
made every thing ready; then they made an
opening in the wall, according to the fize of
the gate they had made, they raifed and fixed the
gate, and the bridge was fo contrived, that when
drawn, it covered the whole gate. Then they
planted their fix pieces of cannon upon the wall,
and loaded them; they placed them fo, that two
commanded the right flank, two the left and
two the front of the caftle. And now they might
be quite eafy in respect to every attack of the
favages, and they had at the fame time the
convenience of a regular entrance into their
habitation.
It was now harveſt time; and ROBINSON uſed
his old fword inſtead of a fickle to reap their
maize; and to take out the potatoes, he took
a pick-ax, which he found among the things
which he had fetch'd from the wreck. All their
work went on without any difficulty with the
help of theſe tools. It would have been a
pleaſure
183
pleaſure to have feen them, and a ftill greater
to have joined in their work.
HANS.
I could wish to have been there, to have
joined in their work!
DICK.
Oh, you need not go to a defert island for
that! You may find work here as well. You'll
fee, what Papa gives us to do, when we have
any leaſure hours! Sometimes we put up wood
with him, fometimes we carry fmall wood into
the kitchin, then again we dig in the garden,
or we carry water, to water the plants, or we
weed oh, there is always enough to be
!
done!
FATHER.
And for what purpofe do I make you do
fuch work?
JOHN.
Why, to accuftom us never to be idle, and
becauſe it makes us healthy and ſtrong!
CHRISTOPHER.
Shall we work with you too, Papa?
FATHER.
Certainly, I fhall not love you lefs, than the
reft, and I fhall confequently let you do every
thing, which I look upon as an ufeful occupation!
MM A
CHAR-
1
184
CHARLES.
Oh that's charming! Then we'll be as difi-
gent as ROBINSON.
FATHER.
ROBINSON, you know, found himſelf well
in doing fo; and we fhall all of us experience
the happy confequences of an induftrious life.
*
Now the hardeſt work was over. ROBINSON
next made two flails, taught him the uſe of
them, and then they threthed all their maize
in one day. They got two facks full, which is
about two bufhel. They had ftill bifcuit enough
to ferve them fome months. But againft that
time ROBINSON refolved to try to bake bread
himself. He had brought a finall hand-mill on
fhore with him. Thus he only wanted a fine
fieve, to fift the flour, and an oven to bake the
bread, which he had made. He was obliged to
contrive both. He took fome thin mullin to
make a fieve, of which he had found a whole
piece among the things he brought on fhore;
and he thought it no great difficulty to make.
an oven. This work too he got ready before
the rainy feafon came on.
And now he made a double trial in baking;
for he made fome loaves of rye and fome of
maize flour. But the former feemed far more
reliſhing; and now ROBINSON took his refo-
lution accordingly, which was: to fow moft
of his fields with rye inſtead of maize, that
he might always have a fufficient provifion of
rye
185
rye to bake bread. This alfo feemed to re-
quire lefs work for him and Friday, becauſe in
this inland they can fow and reap twice a year.
They ftill wanted fomething, which they
had not found among the things on board,
and which would yet have been very uſeful,
to wit a couple of iron fpades. It is true,
Friday had made foine of hard wood; but better
is better, and people may do a deal more with
an iron fpade, than with a wooden one. Now
ROBINSON being refolved to make husbandry
for the future his conftant and chief occupa-
tion, it being the moft agreeable and ufeful
bufinefs: he conceived the thought of making
a forge, in order to make fpades and perhaps
other uſeful inftruments too.
This thought was not fo bold, as it may
perhaps appear to you; for he found every
thing neceffary te make a forge among his
things. For there was an anvil and feveral
tongs, a pretty large pair of bellows, and fo
much old and new iron as would probably.ferve
him all his life time. This refolution was
executed immediately.
By means of a larger roof above the kitchin,
he enlarged it fo much, that it might ferve
him as a shop to work in, even in rainy weather,
They therefore employ'd part of the rainy
feafon in fmith's work; and even this fucceeded
admirably after fome fruitless attempts. When
the ſpades were ready, ROBINSON proceeded
M 5
ftill
186
ftill further and tried, whether he could not
invent a plough, fuited to their strength?
He fucceeded, and his joy was inexpreffible.
This plough was indeed very different from
ours; it was made of a crooked branch of a
tree, at the one crooked end of which the
plough-fhare was faftened, together with the
handle, with which the ploughman governs
it as he pleaſes; on the other end, on the con-
trary, the horſes or oxen ought to have been
yoked, if they had had any. But now this
place was for one of themſelves. In fhort,
this plough was made exactly as thoſe the
Greeks made ufe of, when they begun to apply
to husbandry.
FERDINAND.
That muſt have been a fingular plough!
FATHER.
No, not at all. At the beginning of fo-
ciety all inftruments were as plain and as fimple
as this plough. By degrees men conceived
more advantageous contrivances, altered, im-
proved, and thus they continued to promote
the utility and convenience of thoſe things,
which they needed in their work.
However ROBINSON had fufficient reaſon to
be rejoiced at his invention, particularly as
it was all his own work, and becauſe he had
never ſeen any drawing of it. As far as we
know, many centuries paffed, before men
ever
187
ever conceived the thought of inventing fuch
a fimple inftrument, as this plough was; and
the inventors of it were confidered by their
pofterity as fuch extraordinary wife men, that
they paid divine worship to their memory.
Do you still remember, John, whom the
Egyptians look'd upon as the inventor of the
plough?
JOHN.
Oh yes! Ofiris; whom on that account they
afterwards adored as a God.
FATHER.
1
The Phoenicians attributed this useful in-
vention to a certain Dagon, whom on that
account they alfo thought an extraordinary
being, calling him a fon of heaven.
NICOLAS.
But might not ROBINSON have uſed his la-
ma's to draw the plough?
FATHER.
At firſt he doubted, whether they would
be fit for it, becauſe they ſeemed more proper
for carrying, than for drawing. However he
would not leave this matter untried; and lo!
he fucceeded beyond his hopes. Thefe animals
grew ufed to it by degrees; and at last this
work fucceeded fo well, as if ROBINSON and
Friday had been thorough paced husband-men,
and the lama's oxen or affes.
Now
188
Now they wanted an other inftrument for
the proper management of their fields, which
they could not well do without, and which
they had not found on board.
FERDINAND.
I know, what that was."
FATHER.
And what do you think it was then?
A harrow,
FERDINAND.
FATHER.
Very right! The land can not be well worked
without it, becauſe all the clods are broken
by it, and then the feed falls into foft mould,
and is covered with it.
In the first place ROBINSON forged fo many
iron teeth as he thought neceffary; and after
fome fruitless trials, he alfo completed the
wooden frame, into which theſe iron teeth were
to be faften'd. At last he bored as many holes
into this frame as there should be teeth in
the harrow, fixed them into it, and the harrow
was prefently ready.
After the rainy ſeaſon was over, he ſow'd
two bufhel of rye, one bufhel of barley, and
half a bufhel of peafe; and after five months
time he had the pleaſure of reaping twelve.
times as much, to wit: twenty four bufhel
of rye, twelve bushel of barley and fix buſhel
of
189
of peafe; which was much more than he and
Friday could confume in fix months.
But as
a prudent huſband he did not forget, that he
ought always to have provifion of every thing
in ftore, becaufe, he might chance to have a
bad crop, or it might be deſtroy'd by hail or any
other accident. He therefore refolved to build
a granary, in which he might always keep a
provifion for fix months, in cafe he loft a
crop at any time.
For which purpoſe they again pulled down
the roof of their fhed, whilft the weather
continued fair, in order to make it one ſtory
higher, which was to ferve them as a granary.
This indeed required more art and trouble
than the ground-fior had done, but their con-
tinued and indefatigable induftry overcame all
difficulties; and the work was prefently
finished.
In the mean time their goat got two kids,
fo that this kind of animals was alfo propa-
gated in this ifland. The dog was their watch-
man; and Poll, the parrot, was their com-
panion at table, fometimes alfo at their work.
But the lama's were now more valuable to
them, than ever: becauſe they did not only
procure them milk, cheefe and butter, but
helped them likewife to cultivate their fields.
Thus to compleat ROBINSON's happiness, there
was nothing inore wanting, than what do
you think?
THEO-
190
THEOPHILUS.
To be with his parents!
FATHER.
And that there were only two of them,
one of whom might fooner or later die, and
leave the other as a poor hermit feparated
from all mankind. But ROBINSON thought it
a fin to imbitter his life, by fearing misfor-
tunes, that might poffibly happen. God,
thought he, who has hitherto found means,
can help me further.
And thus every one
of his days paffed in undisturbed contentment,
becauſe he now poffeffed inward and outward
tranquility. And may God grant every one of
you that ftate of mind!
To which the mother replied: Amen! and
the company feparated.
TWEN-
191
TWENTY SIXTH
EVENING.
FATHER.
Now, my children, I have a great deal to
tell you this time!
ALL.
Oh excellent! excellent!
FATHER.
IfI can but get ready with it in one evening!
Some.
Oh! We won't interrupt you at all; then
you'll furely get ready.
FATHER.
Well, I'll try. Prepare therefore for an other
dreadful fcene, of which no body can tell,
how it may end.
(The children expreft their fuppofitions
by geſtures.)
If I was now to continue to tell you every
thing, which ROBINSON and Friday made every
day by the help of their tools, I believe it
would be no great pleaſure to you?
JOHN.
Oh yes; but that every one can eaſily think!
FATHER.
192
FATHER.
I fhall therefore only tell you, that by de-
grees they fucceeded fo well in imitating the
baker, the fmith, the tailor, the fhoemaker,
the carpenter, the joiner, the wheel-wright,
the potter, the gardener, the husbandman, the
huntsman, the fiſherman and many others,
that they learned to make a hundred kinds of
things, for which we lazy Europeans want
the affiftance of as many people. Their ſtrength
encreaſed in proportion as they exerted it;
and during fuch continued ufeful occupations
their minds grew ftill more ferene and more
chearful. A proof, that God almighty muft
have purpoſely created us, to be thus active, be-
caufe it always makes us more healthy, better
and more happy.
They had now spent above fix months with
fuch agreeable occupations, during which time
Friday never ventured to remind his mafter of
their voyage to his country; tho', after their
work was over, he would often get upon
the hill, from whence he could fee the inland,
where he was born, and there he would ſtand
in a profound revery, fighing at the ill fortune
of being perhaps for ever feparated from his
father. ROBINSON On the contrary did not
ſpeak of it on purpofe, becauſe he could not
fullfill the wifh of his friend, till he had made
the neceffary difpofitions, which their new
way of life required.
Now
193
Now when the moſt neceffary things were
ready, ROBINSON was the firft, to propofe the
building of a new veffel, in order to fetch Fri-
day's father. The joy of the good lad at theſe
agreeable news was again as great, as it had lately
been, and he fhew'd his gratitude towards Ro-
BINSON in the fame manner as before. Thus
they began their work the very next morn-
ing, and now they very naturally worked ten
times fafter and better than the first time, be-
caufe they had now good hatchets to work
with.
One morning, whilft ROBINSON was bufy
with fome domeftick occupations, he fent
Friday to the fea fhore, to look for a tortoiſe,
becauſe they had not had any of this agreeable
food a good while. He had not been gone
long, when he returned in the greateſt hurry
almost out of breath with running and affright,
fo that with a faltering voice he could only pro-
nounce these words: There they are! there!
ROBINSON Was ftartled, and asked, who
was there? "Oh Mafter! Mafter! anſwered
Friday, one, two, three, fix canoes!" In his
terror he could not immediately recollect fix.
ROBINSON prefently got up to the hill, and
faw, not without fhuddering, what Friday had
told him, fix canoes full of favages juſt
ready to land. Upon which he got down again,
encouraged Friday, who was quite difmay'd,
and then he aſked him: whether he was re-
folyed
II. PART.
N
194
folved to affift him faithfully, in cafe they and
the favages fhould come to any action?
"With my blood and life!" he anfwer'd,
being now come to himfelf again, and having
fummon'd up all his martial bravery. "Well
then, ¨ſaid ROBINSON, we will try, whether
we can not prevent theſe monſters from exe-
cuting their abominable defign. I'll tell you
my intention as we go along; this is not the
time to fpeak, but to act."
Upon which he took one of the pieces of
cannon, that was on a carriage, from the wall,
fetched fix loaded fire-locks, four piftols, and
two fwords. Each of them faften'd two pi-
ftols, and a fword in his girdle, took three
fire-locks on his fhoulders, and after having
provided themſelves with a fufficient quantity
of powder and ſhot, they marched off, dragging
the cannon after them. And thus the martial
train went in filent and tremendous folemnity
out at the gate.
After they were got over the draw-bridge,
they ftopt. Then Friday was difpatched to
draw up the bridge, to faften the gate, and
then to join his General by afcending the rope
ladder, that was ftill hanging down the ſteep
rock. ROBINSON took this precaution, that
the enemy might not take poffeffion of their
caſtle; in caſe their undertaking ſhould prove
unfuccefsful.
And
195
,
And now ROBINSON revealed his well con-
certed plan.
"We will," faid he, "march
round the hill thro' the thickest part of the
wood, that the enemy may not get fight of us.
Then we will get fo near them, as poffibly we
can without being difcovered, all along
thro' the wood, which reaches almoft to the
very fhore; and when we are come fo far,
we will fire a cannon ball over their heads.
(For which purpoſe he had taken a burning
match along with him.) This will probably
fo frighten thefe barbarians, that they will re-
linquifh their prey, and feek immediate fhel-
ter in their canoes."
Friday thought this fuppofition very pro-
bable.
But
"Then," continued ROBINSON, "we fhall
have the pleaſure of faving thofe unhappy
people, whom they were going to roaft, with-
out shedding a drop of human blood.
if, contrary to all probability, we fhould be
diſappointed in our hopes, if theſe cannibals
fhould rely on their number, and make any
refiftance: then, dear Friday, we muft fhew
ourſelves like men, and meet the danger with
courage, to which we have expofed ourſelves
with the beſt intention. God, who fees every
thing, knows, why we venture our lives,
and will certainly preferve them, if it be for
our good. His will be done!"
N 2
Upon
1
196
Upon which he shook hands with his fellow-
combatant, and both vowed faithfully to affift
each other, to the laft drop of their blood.
In the mean time they had almoft reached
the end of the wood, as privately as poffible,
and now they ftopt. Here ROBINSON whif
pered to his companion, to get behind a large
tree, which he pointed out to him, with as
little noife as poffible, and to let him know,
whether he could from thence overlook the
enemy. Friday returned with the account,
that they could be obferved there perfectly
well; and that they were fitting about the fire
gnawing the broiled limbs of one of the pri-
foners, whom they had already killed: and that
a fecond lay tied on the ground at fome diſtance,
whom they would foon kill too; but he did
not ſeem to be one of his nation, but a white
bearded man.
ROBINSON'S blood glow'd, particularly, when
he heard of the white man. He had a ſpy-
glafs in his pocket, which he had found on
board; with this he went foftly behind the
tree, and there he difcover'd, what Friday
had told him. Fourty or fifty cannibals were
fitting about a fire, and he faw plainly, that
the remaining priſoner was an European.
Now he could fcarce contain himſelf. His
blood began to boil, and his heart to beat;
and
197
and if he had given way to the impulfe of his
paffion, he would have immediately jumped
forth, to butcher them. But reafon was ftron-
ger with him, than blind paffion; thus he was
led by the former, and check'd his indignation.
As the wood in an other place jutted further
out towards the fhore; he took his ftand there;
planted his cannon behind the laſt buſh, which
had a ſmall opening, tho' imperceptible at a
diftance, and levelled it fo, that the bali
went over the heads of the favages, fo that
it could not hurt them. Then he whispered
to Friday: to do every thing as he ſaw him do.
Upon which he laid down two of his fire-
locks, and the third he kept in his hand.;
Friday did the fame. Then he clapt the burn-
ing match to the touch-hole of the cannon,
and bounce! it went off
The moment the report was heard, moft
of the favages fell down on the ground, as
if they had been all fhot at once. ROBINSON
and Friday on the contrary ſtood full of ex-
pectation of the event, and ready for battle
in cafe of need. In half a minute's time the
ftun'd favages got on their legs again. The
moft fearful of them ran to their boats, whereas
the moſt couragions took up their arms.
Unluckily they had neither perceived the
flash of the powder nor the ball paffing over
their
N 3
198
1
their heads; and had only heard the report.
Their terror was therefore not fo great as
might be expected, and when they had looked
round about them, and found nothing to
frighten them again, they foon recovered their
former tranquillity; the fugitives returned:
they all fet up a moft dreadful howl, and with
the most horrible geftures and brandishing
their arms, they began their ufual war-dance.
ROBINSON was ſtill irrefolute, till the war-
dance was ended. But when he faw to his
aftonishment, that this favage company took
their feats again, and that two of them were
deputed to fetch the poor European; it was
impoffible for him to refrain any longer from
action. He looked at Friday, and only whisper'd
theſe words to him: Go you to the left, and I'll
go to the right! And now in the name of God!
At thefe words he let fly at them; and Friday
did the fame.
than Ro-
and only
Friday had taken his aim better,
BINSON; for five fell on the left,
three on the right fide of the fire. Three of
them were really killed, and five only woun-
ded. The furprife, with which all thoſe, that
were unhurt, jumped up and ran away, is not
to be deſcribed. Some ran one way, and fome
an other, and fet up a moft dreadful howl.
ROBINSON was now ready to jump forth and
defeat them intirely fword in hand, in order
to
199
to fave his poor country-man, that lay tied on the
ground: but to his furprife he faw a body of
the fugitives rally, and prepare to defend them-
felves. He therefore took up the fecond fire-
lock in the greateſt hurry, and Friday did the
fame. "Are you ready?" faid ROBINSON; and
being answered in the affirmative, he let fly
at them again and Friday follow'd his example.
This time there fell but two; but fome
others, that were wounded, ran roaring and
howling about like crazy, fome of them were
bloody, others dangerously wounded. Three
of the latter fell down foon after, tho' not
quite dead.
"Now, Friday!" cried ROBINSON, throwing
down the gun he had just fired, and taking
hold of the third, that was ſtill loaded, "ad-
vance!" At theſe words they both rushed out
of the wood into the open plain, and ROBIN-
SON firft ran up to the poor victim, to acquaint
him of his deliverance. When he came up
to him, he perceived, that fome of the fu-
gitives ftopt fhort at the fight of him, rallied
again, and prepared for battle. He made a
fign to his companion, who prefently under-
ftood him, ran a little nearer towards them,
fired, and faw one of them fall.
In the mean time ROBINSON cut the ligatures.
made of ruſhes, with which the priſoner's hands
and feet were tied together in a moft pitiful
N 4
man-
200
manner. Upon which he afked him in Ger-
man and in English: who he was? and the
prifoner anfwer'd him in latin: Chriftianus, a
Chriftian! Hifpanas, a Spaniard! He could not
utter more on account of his weaknefs. Luckily
for him, ROBINSON had taken a bottle of wine
in his bag, in cafe one of them fhould be
wounded, of which he gave the fpaniard fome
to drink and as he foon found himſelf ſtreng-
then'd by it: ROBINSON gave him one of his
piftols and a fword, that he might help them.
to make an end of the battle. Friday was in the
mean time ordered to fetch the guns, which they
had fired off, in order to load them again.
The ſpaniard had fearce got hold of the piftol
and fword, but he fell like a fury on his mur-
derers, and in a thrice laid two of them ſprawling
at his feet. Friday took the fixth piece, that
was ftill loaded, and ran to his affiftance,
and ROBINSON loaded the reft in the mean time.
The two combatants found great refiftance,
and were foon feparated, whilft the fpaniard
and one of the favages got to clofe fighting, and
Friday, after having fired his piece, ran fword
in hand, and drove a whole fwarm of the fugi-
tives before him. Some he hew'd down, fome
jump'd into the fea, in order to fwim to their
canoes, and others efcaped into the wood.
The fpaniard had in the mean time a hard
conteft. He had indeed, notwithstanding his
weak-
201
weakness attacked the favage with fo much
courage, that he had already given him two
wounds in his head: but now the favage grew
enraged, and preft fo violently upon him with
his heavy fword, which was made of a ftone,
that he was fearce able to parry his blows.
At last the favage got hold of him, flung him
down, wrenched the fword out of his hands,
and was just going to cut off his head with it,
when ROBINSON happily perceiving the danger,
fent a ball thro' the cannibal's head.
The fpaniard had fearce got on his legs.
again, but he took hold of one of the guns,
that was again loaded, to purfue thofe, that
had efcaped into the wood, and Friday joined
him. As thefe were but few, and befides moſt
of them wounded: ROBINSON thought proper,
to remain in the field of battle, rather than
run after them too, and to obferve the motions
of the rest of the enemies, who had now
reached their canoes. In a fhort time his two
fellow combatants returned with the account,
that there was not one left in the wood.
Both of them were immediately ſtepping into
one of the canoes, they had left behind, to
purſue thofe, that were endeavouring to eſcape
with all the fail they could make; but ROBIN-
SON prevented them by faying: That's enough,
my friends! We have already fhed more hu-
mah blood, than we ought perhaps to have done.
N 5
Let
202
Let the reft live, as they have neither the
intention nor the power to hurt us any more.
"But, faid Friday, they will perhaps return.
in greater number, if we let them efcape!"
Well, faid ROBINSON, giving him a friendly
tap on his fhoulder, our army is now one
third ſtronger, than it was this morning, point-
ing at the fame time to the fpaniard. Now
we can always face a whole legion of theſe
wretches, eſpecially if we will wait for their
attacks behind our walls and breaftworks.
CHARLOTTE.
That was again very good of ROBINSON,
that he would not kill the rest of the ſavages!
FATHER.
It was indeed well done; for it would have
been cruel, to kill a fingle one of theſe poor
creatures, without the utmoft neceffity, who
had not the leaft idea, that what they did,
was ill done, and who were even under the
fad miſtake, to think it fomething meritorious
to kill and eat a great many of their enemies.
CHRISTOPHER.
Oh, they might very well have known, that
fuch actions are not good!
FATHER.
And how could they have known that, my
dear Chriftopher?
CHRI-
203
CHRISTOPHER.
Why, the leaft child knows, that it is not
right, to kill and eat people!
FATHER.
But whence does the leaft child know that?
Becauſe it has been told fo, is not it true?
Yes.
CHRISTORHER.
FATHER.
;
Now we'll fuppofe, it had not been taught
fo? Suppofe, even its parents and other grown
people, whom the child loved and honour'd,
had from its infancy always told it, that it
was fomething very good, to murder one's
enemies and to eat them?
Nay, then
CHRISTOPHER.
FATHER.
Then a child would hardly ever get a con-
trary idea, is not it true? Such a child would
rather, as foon as it was big enough, begin
to affift the reft in killing and eating. And that
was the cafe with thefe poor favages. Happy
for us, that God almighty has not fuffer'd us
to be born among them, but of civilized parents,
who taught us from our infancy, what is
right and wrong, good and bad!
Our humane heroe went now with tears of
compaffion in his eyes about the field of battle,
to
204
GICKO
1
to fee, whether there was not one among
thofe, that were ftill alive, who might be yet
helped? But most of them were already dead,
and the reft foon died among his hands, whilſt
he was pouring wine into their wounds, and
endeavouring to comfort them all poffible ways,
There were in all twenty one dead. As to
the victorious army, not a man of them had
fallen, nay, not one of them was wounded;
only the fpaniard got a bruife in falling.
MATTHEW.
But how did the favages get the spaniard?
Father.
ROBINSON has had no time yet to enquire
after that; and therefore we muſt alfo fupprefs
our curiofity till to-morrow.
ALL.
What! Done again?
TWEN-
205
*********cooooooooooocco.co/cofo
TWENTY SEVENTH
EVENING.
MATTHEW.
Well, Papa, how did the fpaniard get
among the favages?
FATHER.
Have a little patience, and you fhall hear
it! Something elſe happen'd in the mean time,
which I must tell you firſt.
JOHN.
Well, what can that be?
FATHER.
ROBINSON being curious to examine one of the
two canoes they had left behind; went to the
place where it was, and to his great aftonishment
found another unhappy victim lying in one of
them, with his hands and feet bound juſt like
the fpaniard. He feemed to be more dead than
àlive.
ROBINSON made hafte to loofe his ftrings,
and was going to help him up. But he was
neither able to ftand nor to ſpeak, but whined
moſt piteouſly, becauſe he probably thought,
they were now going to butcher him.
As
206
As this man was no European, but a favage:
ROBINSON called Friday, who was then dragging.
the dead bodies together, defiring him to ſpeak
to him in his own country-language. But Friday
had fcarce looked him in the face, when a
fcene enfued, which ROBINSON and the ipa-
niard could not behold without tears. Poor
Friday was at once befide himſelf. He flung
himſelf into the prifoner's arms, preft him to
his breaſt, cried, laugh'd, caper'd, danced,
wept, wrung his hands, ftruck his face and
breaft, cried again, and behaved in every re-
ſpect like a madman. It lafted a good while,
before he made ROBINSON the following anfwer
to his repeated queftions: my father!
It is impoffible to defcribe all the marks of
extafy and filial piety of this good young man.
Above twenty times he jumped out of the
canoe and into it again. Then again he fat
down, open'd his jacket, put his father's head
into his bofom, to warm it; fometimes he
rubbed his arms and knuckles, that were grown
ftiff, because the ftrings about them had been too
tight; then again he embraced his neck or
his waift, and overwhelmed him with endear-
ing careffes. ROBINSON, who had a little wine.
left in his bottle, gave it him, to wash his
father's fwelled limbs; and then walked afide,
to give a looſe to his joy.
When he returned a good while after, he
afked him: whether he had not given his
father
207
father a bit of bread? "The rafcal has eaten
all himself!" anfwer'd Friday, pointing to
himſelf. Upon which ROBINSON gave him his
own breakfaſt, which he had ſtill in his pocket,
and Friday gave it to his father. He had fcarce
done fo, but he flew like lightening out of
the boat and ran off. Before ROBINSON could
afk him: whither he was going, he was out
of fight.
In a fhort time after he was feen returning,
but much flower, than he had run away. When
he came nearer, he was feen to have a pitcher
of water in one hand, and fome bread and
cheeſe in the other. The water he gave to
his father, and the bread and cheeſe to his
mafter, to make him amends for the breakfaſt
he had given his father. The fresh water
gave the old man new ftrength, becauſe he
was almoſt fainting with thirst.
Now ROBINSON went up to the fpaniard,
who lay on the grafs quite exhaufted. He
defired Friday to give him fomething to drink,
and offer'd him fome bread and cheeſe to re-
freſh himſelf. The fpaniard looked up to him
with friendly and grateful countenance; tried to
get up; but it was not poffible, fo great was
the pain he felt in the knuckles of his hands
and feet, that were extremely fwelled by the
hard binding. Friday was defired to fit down
by him, and rub him foftly with wine, as he
had done his father.
It
208
It was very moving to fee, how this good
fon, whilft he was executing his commiffion,
turned his head every moment towards his
father, to fee how he did? When the old
nan had once laid himſelf flat down, in order
to reſt the better, Friday flew to him, with-
out faying a word, with fuch ſwiftnefs, that
he was fearce feen to touch the ground; but
he returned immediately, as foon as he found,
that his father had laid himſelf fo, that he
might be the more at his eaſe. Upon which
ROBINSON was going to try, whether he could
not with Friday's affiftance lead the fpaniard
to the boat but Friday, being a young ftout
fellow, took the fpaniard on his back, as if
it had been nothing, and carried him alone
into the boat. After they had carried their
cannon, and the fire-locks together with the
arms of the flain into the other boat, Friday
jumped again into the first boat, and tho' it
had begun to blow a fresh gale, he row'd away
with fuch rapidity, that ROBINSON could not
keep pace with him as he walked along the
fhore. ROBINSON had fearce got half way home,
when he faw Friday running by him, to
fetch the other boat; and before he got to the
place, where the firit boat was, with the fick
man, Friday was back again with the fecond. So
great was his dexterity in running and rowing!
1
Now they were just over againſt their caſtle;
and ROBINSON ran home to fetch a barrow, to´
carry
209
On this they placed
and thus they were
Oh what a glorious
carry the two fick men.
them one after the other,
tranſported to the caftle.
prize that was for our ROBINSON, who longed
to have more human creatures about him!
How his heart palpitated for joy at the thought,
that now he needed not fear, to be reduced to
the neceffity of leading a folitary life again!
His joy is not to be defcribed with words.
Now they both feemed to need fleep, more
than any thing elfe. Whilft Friday was pre-
paring a bed for each of them, ROBINSON war-
med fome wine, to wafh their fwelled ancles
and knuckles. After which they were put
to bed.
And now our two hofts prepared a comfort-
able fupper. Friday was dispatched to fetch a
young lama, and ROBINSON took care of the reſt.
He could not help fmiling, when the thought
came into his head, that he was now ftill more
like a king than before. He was mafter of the
whole inland; and his fubjects, who all owed
their lives to him, were intirely dependant on
his will, and confequently obliged to venture
their lives and blood for him in cafe of need. It
was befides a very remarkable circumftance, that
he had just as many religious fects, as ſubjects
in his dominions. Friday follow'd that Chriftian
Religion, which he had taught him, and which
the proteftants profefs. (The great ones among
you know the fignification of that name; and the
II. PART.
little
0
210
little ones muſt have patience, till they get
more underſtanding, then they fhall hear it
too.) Thus Friday, as I faid before, was a
proteftant, the fpaniard a roman catholick Chri-
ftian, and Friday's father ſtill a heathen. "What
can I do now in this matter?" thought Ro-
BINSON to himſelf. "Have not I a right to
force them to profefs themfelves to that Reli-
gion, which I think the beſt?" He reflected
a while on this matter, becauſe it was a thing,
he had never yet thought of.
And what do you think now, my children,
to which fide of the question did his folid un-
derſtanding incline? Had he a right to force
his fubjects to profefs his Religion, or no?
Oh, by no means.
Why not, pray?
ALL.
FATHER.
JOHN.
Why, becauſe it is nothing to any body,
what a perfon believes, if he does but live
as he ought to do.
FATHER.
But if a perfon, who has power over an
other, fees, that he is in an error; fhould he
then not have a right to force him, to relin-
quifh his error?
HANS.
Nay, what good would that do him? If
he
211
he were forced to believe, that would neither
make him any wifer nor better.
FATHER.
Very right! for that does not convince him,
that he has been in an error before. And
what fignifies profeffing a belief, of the truth
of which we are not convinced? - And then,
how does the former know with fuch certainty,
that the latter, whom he is going to force.
into his belief, be in an error? could it not
be poffible, that he himſelf were in one?
HANS.
Oh yes!
Why?
FATHER.
HANS.
Becauſe all men are fubject to errors.
FATHER.
And thus no body muſt prefume to think
his opinion an infallible truth!
Thus, my children, it belongs to God alone,
as the only infallible Lord of all, to be the judge
of our belief. He alone knows exactly, how
much truth or error our opinions contain; he
alone knows exactly, with how much candour
or levity we have fearched after truth; he alone.
knows therefore, how far we are guilty or
innocent in our errors.
Our ROBINSON confidered the matter nearly
in the fame light. Curfed, he therefore cried,
0 2
curfed
212
curfed be that unreasonable zeal of bringing
any body over to one's religion by force!
Curfed be the blind rage of perfecuting and
tormenting one's brother, only becauſe he is fo
unhappy as to be in an error, and fo virtuous,
as to refufe profeffing any thing publickly, of
which he is not convinced in his heart! In
'my iſland at leaſt this inhumanity fhall never
take place. I will indeed do all I can to inftruct my
fellow-citizens: but if I fhould not be fo happy
as to convince them of their error, and of
the truth of my religion: they may e'en believe,
what they can, and be anſwerable for it one
day, not to me their poor erring brother-
but to God almighty.
--
ન
He therefore refolved to grant every one
of them the free exercife of his religion, in
cafe, after proper inftructions, they fhould
not think fit to follow one and the fame religion.
In the mean time Friday returned, and now
they began to boil and roaft. This day, faid
ROBINSON, muſt be a double feftival, becauſe we
have faved two of our brethren from the claws
of tigers in an human fhape, and becauſe you,
Friday, have found your father again. So the
beſt we have, fhall this day appear on our table *
Friday needed no encouragement to be chear
ful. He had never been fo merry as to day.
He fung, jumped and laughed inceffantly; yet
he did every thing he had to do in the moft
nimble
213
nimble and orderly manner; and if people do
fo, mirth is no fault.
Tho
Now the two gueſts were awake.
they felt fome pain yet, they were never-
thelef's already fo refreshed and ſtrengthen'd,
that they could get up with Friday's and Ro-
BINSON's affiftance, and fit at table. And now
the old favage appear'd as furpriſed and afto-
nish'd at the fight of all thefe european things,
as his fon had been, when he firft faw them..
Friday ferved as interpreter, whilft ROBIN-
SON converfed with his father and the ſpaniard,
FERDINAND.
Did he then underſtand ſpaniſh?
FATHER.
1
No! But the fpaniard, who had already
lived fix months among the favages, underſtood
fo much of their country-language, as to make
himſelf understood by them. The chief con-
tents of his ftory were as follows:
"Our fhip was employ'd in the negro trade.
We were returning from the coaft of Africa,
where we had barter'd fome gold-duft, ivory
and blacks for all kinds of european goods. Of
the latter we had an hundred on board, who
were to be carried to Barbados and fold there,
But twenty of them died, becauſe they were
pack'd together like falt herings in a tub. A
continual violent ftorm had driven us off from
our courſe to the coaft of Brafil, and our ſhip
having
0 3
214
having sprung a leak, we did not venture to
keep the main fea, but coafted along the con-
tinent. We were fuddenly overtaken by an
other ftorm from the weſt, which drove us
with great fury from the continent, and caft
us during the night on fome rocks near an
inland. We fired fome guns, and were re-
folved to ſtay on board as long as poffibly we
could. For which purpoſe we took off the
irons of our negros, that they might help us
to pump out the water, that was pouring in;
but they ſcarce faw themſelves freed from their
incumbrance, but they unanimously feized our
boats, to fave their lives and liberties."
"What could we do? force them, we could
not; for there were only fifteen of us, whereas
there were eighty of them, and befides many
of them had feized our arms. But to ftay on
board of a stranded veffel without a boat, was
to be in certain danger of death. We there-
fore uſed intreaty, and endeavour'd to prevail
on thofe, who a fhort time before had been
our flaves, either to stay with us, or at leaſt
to take us along with them. And here I can not
help praifing the generofity and humanity of
theſe poor flaves. Tho' we had used them
very hard, yet they were touched with com-
paffion towards us, and gave us leave to come
down to them, on condition, that we should
take no arms along with us. We accepted
their propofal, and got down into the boats,
that
K
215
that were now fo overloaded, that we expected
every moment to go to the bottom."
"We were however endeavouring to reach
the neighbouring iſland; but the wind ſhifting
fuddenly, drove us, notwithſtanding our
utmoſt exertion in rowing, back to the main
fea. But theſe overcharged boats, toft about
on the fwelling waves, carried us, to our
great aftoniſhment fafe over the fea, till
we were at laft quite unexpectedly thrown
on fhore in a quite unknown iſland, the poor
inhabitants of which received us with uncom-
mon kindneſs."
"Among theſe we have hitherto lived, every
one as well as he could, indeed but miferably,
because thefe poor favages have nothing them-
felves, but fome fish, which they catch, and
a few fruits, which grow in their inland. Yet
they gave us fhare of what they had, and
inftructed us, how we might catch fish our-
felves. Our blacks were moft fatisfied with
this way of living, becauſe they were uſed to
no better, and now they had moreover got
their liberty again.
"Some days ago the iſland was invaded by
a neighbouring nation. Every one took up
armis, and we too thought it our duty to aſſiſt
our good benefactors. I fought at the fide of
this honeft old man, who, like a lion deprived
of his young ones, rufhed in upon the thickeſt
foes. I faw him furrounded, ran to reſcue
04
him,
216
him, and had the misfortune to be taken
with him."
"We have paft two days and nights in this
difmal captivity, our hands and feet tied to-
gether, without eating or drinking. For they
threw nothing but rotten fish before us, which
the fea had caft up.'
>>
"This morning at break of day we were
dragged into canoes, to be devour'd by theſe
monsters at an other place, according to their
cuftom, where divine providence fent you,
generous men, for our prefervation and to
confer on us a benefit, which we fhall never
be able to requite."
Here the fpaniard ftopt, and tears of gra-
titude rolled down his cheeks. ROBINSON Was
charmed to find his late fuppofition fo intirely
confirmed, and Friday admired with him the
wisdom and goodnefs of divine providence.
The fpaniard being afked: Who were the
real owner of the cargo? anfwer'd, two mer-
chants in Cadix; but one of them only had
given orders to buy flaves on the coaft of
Africa; but the other, who abhorred this trade,
had only defired to have gold-duft for his goods.
Hereupon ROBINSON took the ſpaniard by
the hand, led him into his ftore-houfe and
into his cave, and fhew'd him, to his great'
aftoniſhment, the most valuable effects of the
ftranded veffel lying in a heap. Friday was
defired to tell him the particulars of it; and
the
217
the fpaniard's furprife was fo great, that he could
fcarce fpeak a word.
Upon which ROBINSON enquired further:
For whofe account the diamonds had been?
and to whom the officers uniform had belong'd,
which he had found on board? and he was
informed: they had been the property of an
english officer, who had been a long time in the
Eaftindies, and who was taken fo ill on his return
to England, that on his defire he had been put
on fhore, on the coaſt of Africa, where he
died. He had defired them, to take his effects
to Barbados, from whence they were to be
fent to England.
Now ROBINSON fhew'd the fpaniard all the
writings he had found on board, by which he
difcover'd the name of the merchant, to whom
the gold-duft belong'd, as alfo that of the
officer's widow, to whom the diamonds and
the clothes of her deceafed husband were to be
fent. And from that moment ROBINSON took
as much care of the gold-duft, diamonds and
papers, as if they had been fomething facred.
It was now evening, and the fatigues and
dangers of the day had fo much exhauſted all
their ſtrength, that they needed the beneficial
refreſhment of fleep fooner, than ufual. They
therefore did, what we will do, after having
thanked God for the undisturbed tranquility and
happiness, which he has again granted us this day.
TWEN-
0.5
218
***
000000000000000
TWENTY EIGTH
EVENING.
FATHER.
Early in the morning ROBINSON fommon'd
his whole Empire together, to perform
fomething with all their united ftrength, which
could not fuffer any delay.
HANS.
What was that?
FATHER.
The bodies of the flain were ftill lying in
the field of battle, and it was to be fear'd that
their noxious exhalation might occafion fome
dangerous ficknefs. Every one therefore took
a hatchet, and thus they went to the dread-
ful place.
With hatchets?
FERDINAND.
FATHER.
Yes; not to dig graves, for then they would
have taken fhovels and fpades, but to cut
wood, and make a pile, on which they intended
to burn all the dead bodies at once to aſhes.
JOHN.
As the Romans uſed to do with their dead!
FATHER.
219
FATHER.
And other ancient nations. ROBINSON was
refolved, not to follow the example of his
very imprudent contrymen in this particular,
who were at that time ftill inconfiderate enough,
to bury their dead in the heart of cities, nay,
depoſited them even in churches, where they
exhaled plagues and death to the living.
MATTHEW
Why, they do fo ſtill!
FATHER.
Yes, indeed! That is an other example,
how hard it is for men to aboliſh bad cuftoms
again. Therefore I admonifh you ſo often, to
ſtrive to become wife and good. For if we
have once accuftom'd ourfelves to follies and
vices: oh, then it is hard, very hard, ever to
relinquifh them again, tho' we perceive never
fo well, that they are hurtful.
Every one knows now a days, that the
exhalations of dead bodies are poifon to the
living: but do they not ftill continue never-
theleſs to bury them in church-yards, or even
depofite them in vaults in the churches, where
they are not even cover'd with mould? Per-
haps half a century may yet pafs, before they
feriously think of abolishing this bad cuftom,
HANS.
I wish I had but fome authority: and it
fhould foon be aboliſh'd!
FATHER.
220
FATHER.
This, dear Hans, ought to be one of the
chief motives to induce you and all other
young people, to acquire a great deal of merit:
becauſe your fellow citizens will then place
great confidence in you, and advance you to
places of truft, which will intitle you, to
abolith many hurtful abufes and introduce
many useful regulations. Heaven feems to
have deftined you all, to be fuch men of im-
portance, as may be a bleffing to the whole
fociety of their fellow citizens: for kind pro~
vidence has given you all, what is requifite
for that purpofe. You are born of good,
honeft parents, who poffefs the esteem and
confidence of their fellow citizens; you have
a found conftitution, and the powers of your
mind have not been neglected, and befides
you injoy an education, which yet few men
can boaſt of. Thus bountiful Heaven has
granted you every thing neceffary to become
excellent men and of fome weight: It will be
a thame for him, who will not anſwer this
end!
Yet I do not fear that from you. If you
fhould therefore, as I hope to God you will,
attain your great deftination; if you should
come to be fuch men, as have any influence
on the happineſs of thouſands of other people:
oh, then do not neglect to use that authority,
which is given you, to leffen the ill, and ſtill
encreaſe
221
1
encreaſe the good among your brethren, and
to diffuſe joy and happineſs about you! Then
remember the occafion of the paternal admo-
nition, which I give you to day, and if pof-
fible, prevail on your fellow citizens, to
bury their dead in fuch places, where their
exhalation may not occafion a plague among
the living. *)
NICOLAS.
When I get to town: I'll tell my Grand-
Papa and my Uncle of it; they 'll be able to
do fomething!
Now ROBINSON and his companions had
made end in burning the dead bodies, and re-
turned home. Friday had in the mean time
informed his father, that civilized people eat
no human fleſh, which at first he could not
well conceive. But Friday continued to tell
;
him
The father had the fatisfa&tion of feeing the
unexpected good effects of this paffage a few
weeks after the first impreffion of this book.
A generous friend to children, who lay very
Ill of the confumption, defired to have this
little book read to him a few days before his
death, and when they came to the above
mention'd paffage, he defired accordingly to
be buried out of town. This matter met with
great difficulty in refpect to the common pre-
judices; but the request of the dying gentle-
man was more facred to the worthy rela-
tions, than the fenfelefs reafonings of the
multitude. His requeſt was fulfilled.
222
TACK
him every thing, he had learned of his mafter,
and in a fhort time made him have a real
abhorrence againft fuch an inhuman practife.
ROBINSON gave this old men the name of
Thursday, becauſe he had been in the world
before his fon; and fo we will call him for
the future. Upon which ROBINSON fommon'd
them all to council, at which Friday ferved
again as interpreter to the ſpaniard as well as
to old Thursday. ROBINSON, as chief of the
reft, open'd the feffion with the following
ſhort ſpeech:
"My good friends, as we are here affembled,
we find ourſelves in the poffion of every
thing neceffary for a quiet and contented life.
But I for my part fhall not be able to enjoy
this bleffing with an eafy mind, as long as
there are men, who have a greater right to
it than I, and who are nevertheleſs obliged
to languish out their lives in want and mifery.
I mean your country-men, the ſpaniards, my
european friend, who are ſtill left among the
favages. I wish therefore, that every one of you
would tell his opinion concerning the wifeft
means of uniting thefe poor fufferers with us?"
Here he ftopt; and every one now ſpoke
his opinion. The fpaniard offer'd to fetch them
alone in one of the boats, which they had taken.
Old Thursday was ready to do the fame. Fri-
day on the contray adviſed, that his old father
fhould remain, and that he might be permit-
ted
223
ted to accompany the fpaniard. Now as this
caufed great emulation among them, one being
as ready as the other to venture his life: Ro-
BINSON faw himſelf obliged to decide the mat-
ter, to which they all fubmitted with joyful
and becoming obedience; and he commanded,
that Thursday and the fpaniard fhould go, and
Friday ſtay with him.
CHARLES.
Why did not he rather fend Friday, than
the poor old man?
FATHER.
Partly from his affection to Friday, whom
he could not poffibly and without trembling,
expofe to any danger, in which he was not a
fharer, and partly, becauſe the old man feemed
to be better acquainted with the fea, than
his fon. The fpaniard on the contrary was
obliged to go, becauſe his contry - men would
probably not have ventured to come on Ro-
BINSON'S invitation only.
over.
It was therefore refolved, that thoſe two,
who were appointed, ſhould in a ſhort time go
But previous to that, care was to be
taken, that at leaſt ten times as much land
fhould be taken in, and cultivated: becauſe the
encreaſe of their colony would have the certain
confequence, that they should every day want
more food in proportion.
Therefore they all turned farmers for fome
weeks, and as every one worked with vigour,
their
7
224
their labour went on very well and very faft.
In a fortnight every thing was ready, and now
they prepared for their intended voyage.
But before they went off, the fpaniard gave
a proof of his honefty and grateful affection
towards ROBINSON, which at the fame time
fhew'd his prudent precaution. He faid: his
country-men had been common failors like him-
felf, confequently all people without educa-
tion. He did not know them fufficiently to
be answerable for their good characters.
His advice therefore was: that ROBINSON, as
Lord of the iſland, fhould firſt draw up cer-
tain conditions, on which he would take them,
and that he would bring none, but thofe, who
fubmitted to them.
ROBINSON was rejoiced at the fidelity of his
new fubject, and acted according to his advice.
The conditions he drew up were as follows:
"Whoever defires to live in ROBINSON'S iſland,
and to fhare in the conveniencies it affords,
muft bind himſelf:
1) To act in every particular according to the
will of the lawful Lord of the fame, and
willingly fubmit to all the laws and regu-
lations he ſhall think fit, to make for the
good of the whole ſtate;
2) To lead a laborious, frugal and virtuous
life; becauſe no lazy, prodigal or no
vicious man of any kind is to be fuffer'd
in this ifland,
3) To
225
3) To forbear all quarrels and diſputes, and
in cafe of any offence, never to be his
own judge, but to bring his complaint
before the Lord of the iſland, or before
him, whom he fhall appoint to be judge;
4) To do all the occupations, that are necef-
fary for the good of the whole, without
murmurring, and in cafe of need, ferve
the Lord of the inland with his life and
blood;
5) Unanimously to oppofe him, who fhall dare
to transgrefs any of thefe equitable laws,
and either to reduce him to obedience,
or to baniſh him intirely from the iſland.
Every one is adomifhed to reflect feriouſly
on theſe particulars, and fign his name
under them, inftead of an oath, after
being fully refolved, to live accordingiy
in every respect.
ROBINSON.
The fpaniard was defired to translate thefe
Laws in his own country-language, and it was
agreed, that he fhould take pen and ink along
with him, that his country - men might fign
them,
before they came away.
And now they choſe the beſt of the canoes,
which they had taken from the enemy and
prepared for their voyage.
CONRAD.
But was there room enough for all the fpa-
niards in one canoe?
II. PART.
P
FATHER.
226
FATHER.
No! But they wanted this fmall boat only
to go over; for they might return in the boats
of the ftranded fhip, which, as the fpaniard
affured them, were ſtill very good.
After they had carried a fufficient quantity
of provifions into the boat, and the wind
becanie favourable, they took an affectionate
leave of ROBINSon and Friday and fet fail. Fri-
day was exceffively grieved, when he faw
himſelf obliged to part with his dear father.
Even the evening before their departure he
had wept whole hours, and could neither eat
nor drink any thing for grief. But now their
feparation really took place, he was quite in-
confolable. Every moment he embraced his
father and bedew'd his face with his tears.
The old man was at laft forced to tear himſelf
loofe from him; but when he was already in
the boat and had left the fhore, Friday
jumped into the fea and fwam to the fide of
the boat, to embrace him once more and to
fob a laſt farewell. Upon which he returned
on fhore, placed himſelf on a fmall eminence,
and looked after the boat fobbing and weeping,
till he could fee it no more.
ROBINSON, who wifhed to divert his grief,
employ'd most part of that day in hunting and
walking over the mountains. They had not
gone far, before the dog, that had follow'd
them, ftopt at the foot of a rock, that was
grown
227
grown over with wood, and kept harking
at it. They drew near the place, where they
found a hole in the rock, which was only
large enough, that a man could creep, but not
walk erect into it.
ROBINSON, who did not like to leave any
thing unexamined, that had once attracted
his attention, defired his companion to try,
whether he could not get into it? Friday
obey'd. But he had fcarce put his head in,
when he ſtarted back, roaring moft terribly, and
then he ran away like a madman, without mind-
ing ROBINSON's calling him. At laft ROBINSON
overtook him, and with fome furpriſe enquired
after the cauſe of his flight. "Oh! oh!" anfwer'd
Friday, fcarce able to fpeak, "let us run, dear ma-
fter, as faſt as we can; there is a moft dreadful
monſter in that hole, with large fiery eyes, and
a mouth big enough to fwallow us both alive!'
"Well, that muft needs be a very large
mouth; but I muft fee the monſter too."
"Oh! oh!" cried Friday, falling on his knees
before him; "no, for God's fake, don't! He
would certainly eat you, and then poor Friday
would have no mafter more!" ROBINSON an-
fwer'd fmiling: "has he then eaten you?" and
as he could not answer this queſtion in the
affirmative: he ordered him to run home quickly
and fetch the lantern. He himself returned
to the hole to keep watch with his gun loaded.
P 2
"And
228
"And what in all the world can that be,thought
he, the fight of which has put poor Friday in
fuch a terrour? fome ravenous animal? a lion,
a tiger, a panther or fome fuch thing? Nay, if
that were, I fhould commit a rafh action, if
I were to creep into the hole. But if there were
any fuch, I ſhould have known that long ago.
And then Friday would not have returned
unhurt! No, no! it can not be that; his timi-
dity has again impofed on him, and made him
fee fomething, that does not exift. I muft
therefore examine it, to cure the good lad of
this childish paffion."
>>
In the mean time Friday returned with a
candle burning in the lantern, and tried again
with tears in his eyes to prevail on his maſter,
not to venture himfelf into fuch eminent dan-
ger, in which he would certainly perifh. But
ROBINSON knew no fear, as foon as he had ma-
turely confidered a thing; and could therefore
not be withheld from his purpofe. He begged
Friday, to have courage, took the lantern
in his left and a loaded piftol in his right hand,
and thus he boldly went to meet the adventure.
He had ſcarce put his head in, when he difco-
ver'd fomething by the dim light of the
lantern, that made him fhudder.
But yet
he would not run away directly, but reached
out his hand with the lantern, that he might
view this nameless monfter more diftinctly.
And then he faw, that it was neither more, nor
lefs,
229
lefs, than an old he-lama, juft expiring with
age and infirmity. After having looked round
about him, and feen nothing, but this very
harmless animal, he crept intirely into the hole,
and called Friday to follow him.
Friday trembled, like an afpen leaf; yet he
could not find it in his heart to forfake his
mafter. He therefore took the generous felf-
denying refolution, to creep in after him,
and now he faw to his aftoniſhment, how
greatly he had been mistaken in the bigness
of the eyes and mouth of this animal.
Do you fee now, Friday, cried ROBINSON
to him with a mild voice, how timidity can
impofe upon us? Where are now thofe large
fiery eyes? Where is the monftrous mouth,
which you thought you faw before?
FRIDAY.
It really appear'd to me, as if I faw them;
nay, I could have fworn to it.
ROBINSON.
I don't doubt, but it appear'd fo to you;
but you ought to have known, that timidity is a
liar, that makes us fee many things, that do not
exift. Do you fee, Friday, this is the firſt rife
of all old women's ftories about hobgoblins, and
I know not what other nonfenfe! The authors
of thefe infipid ftories were fearful old women,
or cowards of men like them, who, like you,
imagined to fee fomething, that does not exiſt,
and
P 3
3
230
and who afterwards, like you, vowed, that
they had really feen fuch things. Be a man,
Friday; look twice an other time, and baniſh
from your heart all womaniſh timidity!
Friday promiſed to do his poffible. In the mean
time the old he- lama died, and ROBINSON en-
deavoured with Friday's affiftance to get him
out of the hole and to bury him. And now
they examined the place, where they were,
with greater attention, and found it to be a
very fpacious and agreeable grotto or cave,
which would for the future be of very good
ufe for them. It was, as if it had been hewn
by art, very dry and cool, and the walls, that
feemed to be of cryftal, reflected the light of
the lantern on all fides with fo much strength,
as if they had been loking glaffes.
ROBINSON refolved directly, to use this
agreeable grotto as a place of refreshment,
against the fultry heat of the fun, and at the fame
time as a cellar for fuch things, as could not bear
the exceffive heat. This place was happily not
above a quarter of an hour's walk from his
caftle. Friday was therefore defired to run
immediately for fome tools. With theſe they
began directly fo enlarge the entrance, that
they might afterwards make a regular door be-
fore it. And this work afforded a very agree-
able paftime during the abfence of the two
others.
NINE
231
NINE AND TWENTIETH
EVENING.
Now
NICOLAS.
ow I am always in fear, when Papa is
going to tell us our ftory.
FATHER.
Of what, dear Nicolas?
NICOLAS.
Why, that the story will foon be at an end.
THEOPHILUS.
If I were in Papa's place, I would make it
fo long! oh fo long, that it fhould laft for
ever.
FATHER.
All our joys here on earth must one day
have an end; and this confequently likewife.
You will therefore do well to be prepared for
it before hand. There is again a ſtorm ga-
thering on ROBINSON's horizon, the iffue of
which I can not answer for. Be therefore
always prepared for it.
Eight days were already paft, and no fign
of the Embaffadors. They began to be con-
P 4
cerned
232
cerned about them. Friday ran every day above
twenty times up the hill or to the fhore, and
looked till his eyes were tired, without being
able to diſcover any thing. One morning,
whilſt ROBINSON was bufy at home, he fud-
denly came finging and jumping, and cried
from afar to his mafter: they are coming!
they are coming!
ROBINSON, who was no lefs rejoiced at
theſe agreeable news, took his ſpy-glaſs, and
ran with it upon the hill. Here he really faw
at a very great diſtance a confiderable boat
failing towards their illand; but after he had
looked thro' his fpy-glafs, he fhook his head,
and faid: Friday, Friday, I fear, every thing is
not right! Friday turned pale.
ROBINSON looked once more, and appear'd
ftill more aftonifh'd. At laft he could no
longer doubt of what he faw, and therefore
communicated his own furprife to his affrighted
Friday: Friday, faid he, theſe are not our
fpaniards with your father; it is an Engliſh
floop (a large boat) and I perceive armed
Engliſhmen in it! Friday trembled in all his
limbs. Come along, faid ROBINSON, going
haftily to an other hill, from whence they
could overlook the northern coaft.
They had ſcarce reached the top of the hill,
they had fcarce turned their eyes towards the
fea, but they stood both fpeechlefs and as
petrified. For they faw at a diſtance of about
a league
233
a league
an anchor.
a confiderable Englifh Veffel at
Surprife, fear and joy alternately took pof-
feffion of ROBINSON's mind; joy at the fight
of a ſhip, that was perhaps come for his
deliverance; furpriſe and fear on the contrary
at the real intention of her arrival. She could
not have been driven hither by a ftorm: for
there had been no ftorm fince many weeks.
Neither could fhe come this way by her
proper courfe: for what could make an Engliſh
captain come to thefe parts, where the English
had no fettlements, and confequently no
trade. He therefore apprehended, they might
be pirates.
FREDERIC.
What fort of people are they?
FATHER.
"
There are ſtill a few people here and there,
who have had fuch ill inftructions in their
youth, that they don't even know what
great crime it is to steal. Thefe wretched people
therefore do not think it any matter of con-
ſcience to take other people's property either
privately of by force, and fo make it their
own. If this be done by land, fuch people
are called thieves or robbers; if it be done by
fea, they are called pirates.
CHRISTOPHER.
But theſe were Engliſhmen!
P 5
FATHER.
234
K
FATHER.
So they feemed to be indeed, but ROBINSON
thought: who knows, whether thofe wretches,
in cafe they be pirates, have not perhaps taken
this veffel by force, and then dreffed them-
felves, as if they were Englishmen. In the
firft helpless years of his folitary abode in this
ifland, he would have thought it a happiness,
to have been difcovered by pirates, and to
have been drag'd away by them as a flave,
only to get among his own fpecies again. But
now, as his condition was much happier, the
danger of falling into the hands of fuch villains
made him fhudder. He therefore communi-
cated his apprehenfions to Friday, and they
both went to watch the motions of thoſe,
that were approaching in the boat.
They got upon an eminence overgrown with
trees and bulhes, from whence they could fee
all their doings, without being feen them-
felves. Here they faw the floop, in which there
were eleven men, land about half a mile from
them on the beach. They all went on fhore.
Eight of them were armed, but three not.
Theſe latter, who were fetter'd, were fet
free as foon as they came on fhore. One could
perceive by the pitiful looks of one of them,
that he intreated thofe, that were armed;
for he fell on his knees before them in a
fupplicating posture. The two others lifted
up their hands to heaven every now and then,
as
235
as if they were befeeching God, to help and
deliver them.
ROBINSON was quite confounded at this fight,
he did not know, what to think of it. But
Friday approached him with a kind of triumph
in his looks, faying: Do you fee, Mafter,
your country-men will eat their prifoners too?
Get away, anfwer'd ROBINSON with fome in-
dignation, that they will not! and thus he
continued to obferve them thro' his fpy-glafs.
\
With horror he obferved fome of the armed
men draw their fwords upon the prifoner, who
lay in a fupplicating pofture before them. At
laft he faw them leave the prifoners, and
difperfe about the wood.
They all three fat down in one place with
looks of forrow and defpair. This reminded
ROBINSON of his own wretched condition, the
day when he was firft thrown on fhore in
this iẞand, and he refolved at all events to
allift thefe unhappy people, if they deſerved it.
Friday was therefore order'd to fetch as
many fire-locks, piftols, fwords and amuni-
tion, as he could carry.
CHRISTORHER.
What is amunition, pray?
FATHER.
Powder and ball. ROBINSON thought it
neceffary to ſtay where he was, to obferve,
what they would further undertake.
After
every
236.
every thing was in readiness and their pieces
loaded, they obſerved with pleature, that the
ftraggling failors lay down in the fhade, one
here and an other there, to fleep away the
fultry heat of the noon fun. ROBINSON Waited
a quarter of an hour longer; then he went
boldly up to the three unhappy men, who were
ftill fitting in the fame place. Their backs
were turned towards him; and now ROBINSON
cried to them: who are you? at which they
ftartled, as if they had been thunder-ftruck.
They jumped up, as if they were going
to run away; but ROBINSON called to them
in english: to fear nothing; that he was come
to deliver them!
"Then you must have been fent down from
heaven!" faid one of them, refpectfully pul-
ling off his hat and ftaring at him. All affi-
ftance comes from God, faid ROBINSON; but
quickly tell me, good people, of what nature
your misfortune is, and how I can help you?
"I am the captain of the ſhip," anſwer'd the
other; "this man is my mate, and the other a
paffenger;" pointing to his companions. "My
failors have mutinied againſt me, and taken
poffeffion of my fhip. At first they were going
to murder me and thofe two honeft men, be-
cauſe they did not approve of their conduct;
at laft however, they were prevailed on to
fpare our lives. But the mercy they fhew us
is even more cruel, than death itſelf. For
they
1
237
they have now put us on fhore in this defert
ifland, to perifh in want and mifery."
"Under two conditions," faid ROBINSON,
"I will venture my life and blood for your
deliverance!"
"What are they, generous man?" faid the
captain. "In the first place," anfwer'd Ro-
BINSON, "that you fhall act according to my
will, as long as you are in this ifland; and
then that you carry me and my companions
to England, in cafe I fucceed in putting you
again in poffeffion of your fhip."
"We, the fhip and every thing on board
of her," replied the captain, "are intirely at
your command."
כל
"Well then," faid ROBINSON, there is a fire-
lock and a fword for every one of you, on
condition, that you do not uſe them, till I
judge it neceffary. Your murderers are all
aſleep, one here and an other there, let us
therefore try, if we can get them in our power
without fhedding any blood."
They went, and Friday was order'd to take.
the ropes, with which the three men's hands
and feet had been tied. Now they came to
the firft, who lay on his face, and was fo
faſt afleep, that they got hold of his hands
and feet, and put a hankerchief in his mouth,
before he was well awake. They tied his
hands behind his back, order'd him to remain
lying in the fame spot without ſtirring, or
without
238
without uttering a fingle fillable; otherwife
they would blow his brains out directly. They
had laid him fo, that his face was towards the
fea, fo that he could not know, how it was
with his comrades.
Now they went to the fecond, who fhared
the fame fate. He was tied, placed and
threaten'd in the fame manner, as the firft.
Fortune or rather divine providence here.
proved a protector of innocence and an avenger
of wrongs. There were already fix of thefe
wretches tied in the fame manner; when the
laft two of them fuddenly awoke, jumped up,
and took hold of their arms. "Wretches,
cried ROBINSON, look at your companions,
fee our fuperiority, and furrender this moment!
a minute's delay will coft you your lives!"
"Oh mercy! mercy! captain!" they cried,
throwing down their arms and falling down.
on their knees. Upon which they were tied
like the reft and conducted to prifon to the
newly discovered cave, where they were told,
that the first, who fhould venture to break
the wooden door, fhould be directly fhot by
the centinel, who was to be left there. All
their knives were taken from them, before
they were left alone.
NOW ROBINSON and Friday together with
their new allies went to the floop, dragged it
intirely on fhore by means of fome levers,
and
239
and knocked a hole in the bottom of it, that
it might be quite ufelefs for the prefent.
FERDINAND.
Why did they do fo?
FATHER.
They forefaw, that they would fend a
fecond boat from the fhip, in cafe the firſt
did not return. They would therefore pre-
vent them from taking the firſt back again
with them.
Their fuppofitions proved true. Towards
three in the afternoon they fired a gun on
board, to recall the failors, that were on
fhore. And this fignal not being anfwer'd
after being repeated three times, they faw
a fecond boat coming off towards the fhore.
Upon which ROBINSON retired to the eminence
with his companions, to fee, what was
further to be done.
The boat landed. They ran to the firft
boat and their furpriſe was exceffive at finding
it on dry land and a hole in it. They looked
about, called their invifible comrades by their
names, but there was none to answer. There
were ten of them all armed.
ROBINSON, who had been informed by the
captain, that there were three honeft lads
among the prifoners, who had confented in
the mutiny, only for fear of the reft, difpatched
Friday and the mate to fetch them in all pof-
fible
240
fible hafte. They arrived, and the captain,
who had in the mean time open'd his defign
to ROBINSON, made them, after fome reproof,
the following queftion: whether they would
be true to him, in cafe he pardon'd them?
,,Till death!" they anfwer'd trembling, and
falling on their knees before him. The
captain continued: I have always known you
as good lads; I will therefore believe, that
you had no fhare in the mutiny, and that by
your greater fidelity, you will make amends for
your paft conduct. The three failors wept
aloud for joy and gratitude, and kiffed the
captain's hand with the ftrongest marks of
repentance. Upon which he gave them their
arms, ordering them to obey the commands
of their common leader with exactnefs.
The crew of the fecond boat had in the
mean time continued calling and firing by turns,
in hopes that their ftraggling comrades would
return. At laft, when they faw that all was
in vain, they feemed towards night-fall to
grow apprehenfive for themfelves, and rowed
about a hundred yards from the fhore, where
they caft anchor. Now it was to be feared,
that they would in a fhort time return to the
ſhip, and that the whole crew would then
give up their comrades for loft, and fet fail;
a thought, which made both the captain and
ROBINSON tremble.
·
ROBIN-
241
A thought happily occurred to the latter,
which feemed very promiſing to them all. He
ordered Friday and one of the failors to run
to a woody place, about a couple of thoufand
paces from the boat, and from thence to answer,
when any of the crew called. As foon as they
perceived, that they liftened to their call and
were getting on fhore, they were by degrees
to retire further into the wood, and draw the
failors after them as far as poffible. Then
they were to return to them an other way
with the utmoſt expedition.
This well contrived ftratagem had the de-
fired effect. The failors in the boat had no
fooner heard a voice anfwering them, but they
rowed in all hafte towards the fhore, and
with their firelocks in their hands ran towards
the place, from whence they heard the voice.
Two of them were left behind to watch the boat.
Friday and his companion did their bufinefs
extremely well; for they decoy'd the failors.
almoſt two miles up into the wood. Then they
returned with unparallelled fwiftnefs to their
leaders. ROBINSON had in the mean time com-
municated his whole plan to the captain, which
was that they would again endeavour to get
the whole crew in their power, without fhed-
ding a drop of blood.
During this time it grew quite dark. ROBIN-
SON and his companions advanced towards the
boat as foftly as poffible, and were now only
II. PART.
Q
about
242
about twenty paces from it, without being in
the leaſt obſerved by the two failors, who
were upon the watch. Upon which they all
jumped forth with a dreadful noiſe and a loud
clattering of their arms, and threaten'd to kill
and deſtroy them, if any one dared to ſtir.
The two failors begged for quarters, and they
fell upon them and tied their hands.
This done, they made hafte to drag this
boat likewife a good way on the beach. Then
they retired with their two priſoners into the
neighbouring wood, to wait for the arrival of
the reſt. Theſe however did not all come at
once, and were quite jaded with their fruitless
rambles. Their aftoniſhment and lamenta-
tions at the lofs of their boat were unspeakable.
As there were five of them, one of the failors,
that had been pardon'd, was ſent to ask them:
whether they would immediately and by fair
means lay down their arms and furrender? If
not, the governour of the island had fifty
men poſted at thirty fteps from them, who
were to kill them immediately. Their boat
was taken, all their comrades were prifoners,
and they had no choice left, except death and
captivity.
Hereupon ROBINSON ordered all his compa-
nions to make fome clatter with their arms,
that the report of the failor might have more
appearance of probability. "May we hope for
pardon?" eried one of them at last, to whom
the
243
the captain called without being feen: Thomas
Smith, you know my voice: lay down your
arms immediately, and all your lives fhall be
fpared, except Atkins: for he had been one of
the ring leaders of the mutiny.
That moment they all flung down their fire-
locks, and Atkins cried out: "Oh! for God's
mercy fake, captain, pardon! pardon! Why, they
have been all as bad as I. Oh, pardon! pardon!
The captain anfwer'd; all he could do, was,
to ſpeak a good word for him to the governour.
What effect that would have, he muft wait to fee.
ThenFriday was fent with the failors to tie their
hands. In this interval the three laft arrived
likewife, and as they faw and heard, what had hap-
pen'd, they did not venture to make any refiftan-
ce, and fuffer'd their hands to be tied likewife.
Now the captain and ROBINSON, who was
looked upon as an officer of the Governour,
came up, and the former chofe fuch from
among the prifoners, as he thought capable
of fincere repentance for the crime they had
committed. Theſe were led to the entrance
of the caſtle, and the reft to the grotto. Two
of thoſe, who were already in the grotto,
were alſo fetched back, becauſe the captain
thought them capable of fincere repentance
for the crime, they had committed.
What he did with them, and what further hap
pen'd,that, my children, I fhall referve to tell you
to-morrow.
Q a
THIR-
244
THIRTIETH EVENING.
Now, my
FATHER.
1
ow, my children, the fate of our ROBIN-
SON is near being decided. His lot will
be determined in a few hours; we fhall fee,
whether he muft again ftay in his ifland, with-
out hope of any deliverance, or whether his
ardent wifh of feeing his parents once more,
will be granted him at laft?
Now the queftion is, whether or not the
captain can get poffeffion of his fhip again,
with the affiftance of thoſe failors, whom he
has pardon'd? If he does, all the miferies of
our friend are at an end; if not, every thing
remains as it was, and he muft not think of
any deliverance.
There were ten of thofe pardon'd failors
now affembled before the caſtle. ROBINSON
told them, in the name of the governour, that
their crime ſhould be pardon'd on condition,
that they ſhould affift their lawful maſter in
taking poffeffion of his fhip again. Now as
they all gave the moft folemn affurances, that
they would willingly and faithfully accompliſh
this condition: ROBINSON added, that this
would be a means not only of faving their own
lives,
245
lives, but alfo thofe of their comrades, that
were ftill in confinement, who, in cafe the
Ship were not retaken, were all to be hanged
the next morning at break of day, without
any diſtinction.
This fentence was likewife communicated to
the prifoners. Then the captives were brought
to an interview with thofe that were pardon'd,
in order to ftrenghten the fidelity of the latter
by the intreaties of the former. In the mean
time the carpenter was ordered to mend the hole,
they had made in the firft boat in all poffible
hafte; this done, both boats were again put to
fea with all poffible expedition. Upon which it
was concluded, that the captain fhould com-
mand one boat, and the mate the other, and
the crew was to be divided between them.
They were all provided with arms and amuni-
tion, and after ROBINSON had embraced the
captain and wifhed him fuccefs in his under-
taking, they fail'd off,
NICOLAS.
I wonder, ROBINSON did not go with them!
FATHER.
It was not timidity, but fond judgment, that
retained him, dear Nicolas. The prifoners
might have broke loofe, they might have
taken poffeffion of his caſtle during his abfen-
ce; and this only fecure retreat, which at
the fame time contained all the means of his
Q 3
happi-
246
happiness, was too important, to be riſk'd
with ſo much levity. Even the captain ad-
viſed him to ſtay there with Friday, to defend
that place.
ROBINSON, whofe whole fate was now to
be decided, could not be eafy in any place for
anxiety. Sometimes he fat down in his cave,
fometimes he mounted on the wall, then again
he got up his rope-ladder, to hearken from
the top of the hill during the ftillneſs of the
night, whether he could not hear any thing
from on board of the ſhip. Tho' he had not taſted
a morfel the whole day, yet is was impoffible
for him to eat any thing now. His uneafinefs
encreaſed every moment, eſpecially about mid-
night, becauſe he did not hear them fire the
three guns, which was the fignal agreed upon,
in cafe the undertaking proved fuccefsful. He
recollected however, that it was wrong in
him to abandon himſelf intirely to fear and
hope, and in due time remembered the leffon,
which he had but lately given to his Friday,
and which was: that in doubtful cafes he muft
always expect the worst. If this worſt cafe
does not happen, fo much the better for
you! But if it does, it will not confound you
with furpriſe.
According to this principle ROBINSON ima-
gined the ill fuccefs of the undertaking as cer-
tain, and ſummon'd up all his firmneſs and
con-
1
GACKO
247
confidence in divine providence, to bear this
ſtroke of fortune alfo? He had almoſt intirely
given up all his hopes, when fuddenly he
really heard the diftant report of a gun.
ROBINSON jumped up, as roufed from his
flumber by fome fudden found. Bounce! went
the fecond, and again the third. And now
he did not in the leaft doubt of their fuccefs
in taking the fhip, and of his approaching
deliverance.
In the greatest tumult of joy, more flying,
than walking, he hurried down the rope-
ladder, embraced Friday, who fat nodding on
a bank of fods, preft him to his bofom and
bedew'd his face with many tears, without
ſpeaking a ſingle word. "What's the matter,
mafter?" faid Friday, awaking from his
flumber, quite furpriſed at theſe impetuous
carreffes. But ROBINSON in the excefs of his
joy could utter nothing, but: oh, Friday!
"God have mercy on my maſter's head!"
thought Friday, becauſe he began to fuppofe, he
was grown delirious. "Come, lay down to fleep,
dear maſter!" faid he to him, and was going to
take hold of his arm, to lead him into the cave.
But ROBINSON looked with unfpeakable affability
in his face and anfwer'd: to fleep, dear Friday?
I, fleep now, the moment Heaven has granted
me the accomplishment of the only and long
defired
Q 4
248
GKO
defired with of my heart? Did not you hear
the firing of the three guns? Don't you know
as yet, that the ſhip is taken?
Now Friday's eyes were open'd. Now he
alfo rejoyced, not fo much for his own fake,
as for the fake of his dear mafter. For the
thought of leaving his own native climate for
ever, imbittered the pleafure of going with
ROBINSON and his father to a country,
of
which he had already feen fo many furpriſing
things, and in which he expected to fee ftill
greater wonders.
ROBINSON was now more uneafy, than ever,
with mere extafy. Sometimes he got up the
hill, fell down on his knees under the ftarry
canopy of heaven, to thank God for his de-
liverance; then he got down again, embraced
his Friday, ſpoke of nothing but Hamburgh,
and began already to pack up his things. Thus
he paft the whole night, without ever once
thinking of reft.
At break of day his eyes were fixed to where
the fhip lay at an anchor, and he waited with
impatience for the moment of perfect day-light,
that he might behold the fhip, the inftrument
of his deliverance. The moment arrived;
but oh Heaven! how great was his terror,
when he faw with perfect certainty, that
the fhip had diſappear'd! He gave a loud out-cry,
and fell down on the ground.
Friday
KICKO
249
Friday came running to him, and could not
conceive for a good while, what was the mat-
ter with his mafter. At laft he ftretched out
his trembling hand towards the fea, and faid
with a weak dying voice: look there! Friday
looked; and now he knew what was the mat-
ter with his mafter. (The young company
did not know, how to behave in this place.
They would willingly have abandon'd them-
felves to joy, becauſe the ftory was now to
be lengthen'd, as they hoped; but their fenti-
ments of compaffion at ROBINSON's former mis-
fortunes fuppreft this rifing joy, and did not
fuffer it to break out. They all obferved
therefore a profound filence; and the father
continued.)
Our ROBINSON here gives us an example,
that may teach us, how much good people alfo,
who have improved their minds, ought to be
on their guard, that they may not be over-
come by the violence of their paffions. If
ROBINSON'S joy had not been fo exceffive be-
fore he would not now be fo exceffively
grieved; and if his grief had not fo intirely
obfcured his underſtanding: he would have
known, that he muft likewife fubmit in this
particular to divine providence with patient
refignation, tho' his greatest hope was baffled
by it. He ought particularly to have confider'd,
that divine providence knows always means
for our deliverance, when we do not think any
poffible;
Q 5
250
poffible; and this thought would have pacified
him. Look ye, children, how much good
people ftill find to mend in themſelves!
Whilft ROBINSON lay there in this comfortleſs
condition, and Friday endeavour'd to footh
him, they fuddenly heard a ruſtling on the
other fide of the hill, that feemed like the
ſteps of many people. They jumped up, looked
towards it, and faw with agreeable aftonifh-
ment the captain with fome of his people
coming up the hill. At one jump ROBINSON
had him in his arms! When he turned about, he
faw the fhip at an anchor in a fmall creek on
the weſtern coaft, and in that fame moment
all his grief vanish'd. The fight of this only,
convinced him, that the captain had alter'd
the fituation of his ſhip before day-break, and
brought her to that fide of theifland, where fhe
might lie at an anchor in a convenient harbour.
ROBINSON lay a long while in filent extafy
♦n the neck of the captain, who was no lefs
rejoyced than he, till at laft they began to
congratulate and thank each other. Then the
captain told him, that he fucceeded in the taking
of his fhip, without wounding or killing one
man, becauſe as he was not perceived on ac-
count of the darkness of the night, they made
no difficulty in admitting his companions.
The worst of the mutineers had afterwards
indeed offer'd to make refiftance; but their re-
fiftance
251
<
fiſtance was in vain. They were feized and put
in irons. Upon which he indulged his grati-
tude to his deliverer. It is you,
It is you, faid he,
whilst a tear ſtarted in his eye; it is you, ge-
nerous man, whofe compaffion and prudence
has faved me and my fhip. There it is! it is
yours; difpofe of her and of me, as you think
fit." Then he fent for fome refreshments,
which he had brought from on board, and
now they ate an agreeable breakfast with a
cheerful heart.
In the mean time ROBINSON related his fin-
gular turns of fortune to the captain, which
more than once caufed him the greatest afto-
niſhment. Then the captain begged ROBIN-
SON to tell him, what he should do for him
now; and ROBINSON anfwer'd: "Befides the
conditions I made with you for my affiftance,
I have three other things to beg of you. The
first is to stay here, till my honeſt Friday's
father returns with the fpaniards; the fecond
is, to take all the fpaniards, befides me and my
houfhold on board, and fail firſt to Cadix, to
put them on fhore there. The third is to par-
don the chief mutineers, and leave them in
the iſland inſtead of any other punishment; be-
caufe I am fure, this is the best method of
mending them.
The captain affured him, that every thing
ſhould be punctually done according to his de-
fire;
252
fire; he fent for the prifoners; chofe the
worſt from among them, and announced them
their fentence. They were very glad to
hear it, becauſe they knew, that accor-
ding to law, they had forfeited their lives.
Our good-natured ROBINSON gave them in-.
structions, how to get their livelihood, and
promiſed to leave them his whole ftock of
tools, furniture and cattle. He admonish'd
them at repeated times, to put their trust in
God, to be laborious and live in unity toge-
ther, affuring them, that thefe virtues would
make their abode in this ifland exceedingly
agreeable.
Whilft he was thus difcourfing, Friday
came running almoft out of breath for joy,
with the glad tidings, that his father was
coming with the fpaniards, and that they
were ready to land. The whole company
therefore went to meet them; but Friday flew
before all the reft, and was hanging on his
father's neck, long before the reft came up.
ROBINSON faw with furpriſe, that there were
two women among his new gueſts; and upon
inquiry, old Thursday informed him: that they
were the wives of two fpaniards, whom they
had chofen among the native favages. As
foon as the two fpaniards were informed, that
ROBINSON was going to quit the iſland, and
leave fome failors there, they begged ROBIN-
SON'S
253
SON's leave, to ftay there likewife with their
wives, becauſe they did not wish to live in
a better place, according to all the reports they
had of it.
·
ROBINSON heard and fullfilled this request
with pleaſure. He was glad, that a couple
of men ftaid there, who got the beſt character
for honefty from their comrades; becauſe
he hoped, they would keep the other bad
fellows in an orderly and peaceful courſe of
life. For which purpoſe he reſolved to make
all the reſt dependant on them.
He ordered them before him, to let them
know his will. There were in all fix english-
men, and the two fpaniards with their wives.
ROBINSON fpoke to them as follows:
"None of you I hope will difpute me the
right I have of difpofing of my property as I
pleafe; and this is
this whole iſland and
every thing in it. But as I wiſh, that every
one of you that ftays here, may do well. This
requires à regular difpofitions of things, and
I have a right to make it. I declare there-
fore, that the two fpaniards fhall fill my place
for the future, and be the lawful Lords of
this ifland. It is therefore the duty of the
reft of you, to pay them the ſtricteft obedience.
They alone fhall inhabit my caſtle; they alone
ſhall have the keeping of all the arms, all the
amunition, and all the tools; but they fhall
likewife
254
likewife be obliged to lend the rest of you,
what you need of them, on condition, that
you live peaceably and orderly in every re-
fpect. In cafe of danger, you fhall affift each
other; if there be work, either in the fields
or garden, you fhall all work together and
divide the crop among you. Perhaps I may
once have occafion to enquire after you; per-
haps I may refolve one day to return myſelf,
and ſpend the reft of my days in this inland,
that is now fo dear to me. Woe to him then,
who fhall dare to overturn my difpofitions!
He fhould be put in a finall boat, without
mercy, and committed to the fea in a ſtorm."
They all teſtified their fatisfaction at this
difpofition, and vowed the ftricteft obedience.
And now ROBINSON made an inventory of
the few things he would take along with him,
that they might be fetched on board. It con-
tain'd: 1) the clothes, which he had himſelf
made of skins, together with the umbrella and
mafk; 2) the lance of his own making, the bow
and the ftone-hatchet; 3) his Poll, his dog
and two lama's; 4) all forts of tools and in-
ftruments of his own making, when alone;
and at laſt 5) the gold-duft, diamonds, and his
⚫wn large lump of gold.
After having got all theſe things on board,
and the wind favourable, the following day
was appointed for their departure. Upon which
ROBIN-
255
ROBINSON and Friday prepared a feast for the
entertainment of the captain and the colony,
that was to ſtay there. They took the beſt
they had, and the victuals were fo well dreffed,
that the captain could not fufficiently admire
ROBINSON'S ſkill in the art of cookery. To fol-
low the noble example of his hoft and at the
fame time to contribute fomething to the hap-
piness of the colony, he fent on board for a
quantity of provifions, gun-powder, iron and
tools, which he gave as a preſent to the colony.
Towards evening ROBINSON begged to be
an hour alone, becaufe he had ftill fome bu-
finefs of importance to do before his depar-
ture. Every body left him; and he went up
the hill, to reflect once more on the whole
hiftory of his abode in this ifland, and to pour
out his whole heart in filial gratitude to God.
It is impoffible for me to express his pious and
grateful fentiments in words; but whoever
has a heart like his, needs none of my de-
fcription; he will read them in his own.
Now the moment of their departure was
come. ROBINSON admonished thofe, who were
to ſtay there once more with tears in his eyes,
to lead an agreeable, laborious and pious life,
and then he recommended them with a fraternal
heart to the protection of the Almighty, who
had led him in fo wonderful a manner. Then
he looked about him once more; and thanked
God
256
God for his miraculous prefervation and pre-
fent deliverance; then with a voice half
ftifled, he gave them his laft farewell! and went
on board, attended by Friday and Thursday.
SOME.
Oh dear! Now 'tis all over.
JOHN.
Have patience! Who knows, but ſomething
may come between!
FATHER.
The wind was fo freſh and favourable, that
the island feemed to fly away behind them..
As long as ROBINSON could fee it, he ftood filent
and dejected on deck with his eyes fixed on
the beloved inland, which had been his abode
for twelve years; and the manifold hardſhips
he had fuffered there, had endear'd it fo much
to him, as if it had been his native country.
Having at length loft fight of the top of the
highest mountain, he look'd up to heaven, re-
peating the following hymn in his thoughts:
Now thank ye all the Lord! Upon which he went
down into the captain's cabin, together with
Thursday and Friday, to give vent to his
oppreffed heart by friendly difcourfes.
In
Their voyage was very profperous.
four and twenty days they reached Cadix,
where the fpaniards were put on fhore.
ROBINSON went along with them, to look
for
G
257
1
for the merchant, whofe gold-duft he had
faved. He found him, and had the fatis-
faction, of freeing this honeft man from the
greateſt difficulties by his arrival. The lofs of
his ship had been the caufe of his becoming
a bankrupt.
FREDERIC.
What is a bankrupt?
FATHER.
When a man owes more, than he can pay:
every thing he has left, is taken from him,
to be divided among his creditors, and that
is called becoming a bankrupt.
The little barrel of gold-duft was more than
fufficient to pay the merchant's debts. The
grateful man offer'd the reft as a prefent to his
benefactor; but he was far from accepting it,
because he was, as he faid, fufficiently re-
warded by the concioufnefs of having pre-
vented the ruin of an honeſt man.
Upon which they fet fail for England.
During this voyage they had a melancholy ac-
cident. Old Thursday fell fuddenly fick, and
died notwithſtanding all their endeavours to
fave him. You may eafily imagine, what
Friday fuffered on this occafion, and how ex-
ceffively he lamented the death of fo beloved
a father. Neither could the two lama's bear
the fea, and fo they died likewife.
R
II. PART.
In
258
In the mean time they arrived fafe at Ports-
mouth, a well known harbour in England. Here
ROBINSON hoped to find the officer's widow,
to whom he would deliver the diamonds. He
found her; but in the moft indigent circum-
ftances. As fhe had not during two years re-
ceived any fupport from her deceafed husband
in the Eaſt-indies, the and her children were
by degrees funk into the greateft poverty. Their
bodies were ſcarce cover'd with fome old rags,
and the faces of the mother and her children
were as pale as death with hunger and mifery.
ROBINSON here again reaped that pleaſure, which
good men enjoy, when they are by divine
providence uſed as inftruments, to put an end
to the mifery of their fellow-creatures. He
deliver'd the diamonds, and then he faw this
withering and half famifh'd family in a few
days flourish again, like a plant almoft wither'd,
after a warm refreſhing rain in fummer, and
enjoy a happineſs, the like of which they did
not hope to fee in this world.
As there was juſt at this time a fhip at anchor
here, which was bound for Hamburgh, he
left his captain, that he might not be bur-
thenfom to him any longer, and went in com-
pany with Friday on board of this Hamburgh
veffel, which foon after weighed anchor.
This voyage likewife proved expeditious and
profperous. Helgoland prefently appeared in
view;
259
view; foon after ROBINSON faw his beloved
country on the diftant horizon, at the fight
of which his heart was ready to burst for joy;
now they made the mouth of the Elb, when
fuddenly a violent ftorm with thunder and
lightening arofe, which drove the fhip upon
the fhore with irrefiftible violence. They em-
ploy'd all their ſkill and induſtry to turn the
thip and get to fea again; but in vain; a violent
blaft baffled all their endeavours, bore away
the fhip, and threw her with ſuch a ſhok on
a fand-bank, that her bottom was quite torn
to pieces,
In the fame moment the water pour'd in with
fuch impetuofity, that they could not think of
faving her, fo that the crew had but juſt time
to get into their boats, to fave their own li-
ves, if poffible. Thus ROBINSON and his com-
panions arrived at laft at Cuxhaven quite poor,
after having again fuffer'd ſhip - wreck, without
having faved any of all his riches, except his.
faithful dog, that jumped after him, and his
Poll, that happen'd to fit on his fhoulder,
when the fhip was caft on fhore. Afterwards
he was informed, that among the goods, that
were faved, they had only found his umbrella,
and the clothes he had made himſelf of ſkins.
Theſe he got again after paying the uſual
expences: his large lump of gold on the con-
trary was intirely loft.
R 2
JOHN.
260
凉
​JOHN.
Oh, poor ROBINSON!
FATHER.
He is now juft as rich as he was, when he
first went off from Hamburgh. Perhaps Pro-
vidence made him lofe every thing again, that
fome giddy young man or other might not be
tempted by the fight of his richefs, to follow
his example, and wander thro' the wide world,
in hopes of returning like him, with richefs
which he expected to find. For his Part, he did
not greatly lament this lofs. For as he had
firmly refolved to pass the reft of his days in
the fame uninterrupted laborioufnefs and fo-
briety, just as he had been used to live in his
iſland, he could eaſily do without gold.
Now he went to Hamburgh on board of a
veffel, that was going from Cuxhaven. When
they were arrived oppofite to Stade, he could
fee the ſteeples of his native city, and then
he could not forbear weeping for extafy. In four
hours time at furtheft he would now be there,
and in the arms of his dearly beloved father.
At Cuxhaven he had been informed of his good
mother's death, which he grievouЛly lamented
fince fome days.
Now the veffel flew by Blankeneſe, borne
by a strong tide and a fair wind; preſently
after they paft Neuenstaedten, then Altona,
and
1
261
1
and now they were in the harbour at Hamburgh.
His heart was in the greateſt agitation, when he
got on fhore, and if it had not been for fhame
of the fpactators, he would have fallen on
his face to kits his native foil. He haften'd
thro' a multitude of ftaring fpectators to the
Boom-house. *)
From thence he fent a meffenger to his
father's houfe, to prepare him by degrees for
his appearance. Firft the meffenger was to
tell him: there was fome body come with
agreeable news from his fon; and then, that
his fon was himself on his return for Ham-
burgh; and in fine, that this fome body, who
brought theſe agreeable news, was his fon
himfelf. If ROBINSON had not uſed this pre-
caution, fuch an excess of joy might have.
overpower'd and killed his old father.
And now ROBINSON himfelf flew thro' the
well known ftreets, to his father's houfe;
and having got in, he fell into his father's
arms, who stood trembling for joy, with-
fuch extaly as can not be defcribed. My fa-
ther! My fon! This was all they could utter.
Silent, trembling and breathless they clung-
to each other, till at laft a flood of tears kindly
relieved their oppreffed hearts.
R 3
Friday
*) A large tavern near the harbour, belonging-
to the City.
262
Friday ftood in the mean time ftaring in
filent aftonishment at the numberless wonder-
ful things, that appear'd before his eyes. He
could not fatiate his curiofity, and was the
firft whole day quite confounded,
The report of ROBINSON's return and fingu-
lar fate ran in the mean time like lightening
thro' the town. Every one spoke of nothing
but ROBINSON; every one would fee him;
they would all hear the hiftory of his adven-
tures from his own mouth! His father's houſe
therefore was foon like a public affembly; and
ROBINSON was obliged to tell his hiftory from
morning till night, without mercy. Whilft
he was relating, he did not forget to cry out
now and then to the fathers and mothers pre-
fent: Ye parents, if you love your children,
ufe them betimes to a pious, fober and laborious
life! and if there were any children, he always
gave them the following golden rule: dear
children, be obedient to your parents and fupe-
riours; learn diligently every thing you find oc-
cafion to learn; fear God, and beware - ob
beware of idleness, which can produce nothing
but evil!
ROBINSON'S father was a broker. He wished
that ROBINSON might apply to this bufinefs,
that he might fill his place after his death.
But ROBINSON, who fince many years had been
ufed
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ufed to the pleasure of working with his hands,
begged his father, to fuffer him to be a joiner;
and his father left it to his own option. He
therefore bound himſelf apprentice to a mafter,
together with Friday, and before the end of
a year, they had learned every thing they
could learn of him, fo that they were able to
be mafters themſelves.
Upon which they fet up a fhop in company
together; and remained infeperable friends and
affiftants for life. Induftry and moderation
were become their fecond nature, to fuch a de-
gree, that it was impoffible for them to fpend
but half a day in idlenefs and luxury. As a memo-
rial of their former folitary life, they appointed
one day in the week, on which they endeavour'd,
as well as they could, to live on the fame
footing. Concord, indulgence to the faults
of others, readiness to ferve others, and
humanity were fuch cuſtomary virtues to them,
that they could not comprehend, how people
could live without them. They diſtinguiſhed
themſelves particularly by their pure, undif-
fembled and active piety. Whenever they
mention'd the name of God, joy and love for
him fparkled in their eyes; and they fhudder'd,
when at any time others pronounced that holy
Name with levity and inconfideratenefs. The
bleffing of heaven alfo crown'd all their under-
takings in a vifible manner. They attained
to
264
睿
​to a high age, in peace, health and ufeful acti-
vity, and the lateſt poſterity will honour the
remembrance of two men, who were an
example to their fellow-creatures, how we muſt
do, to live fatisfied here and eternally happy
hereafter.
Here the father ftopt. The young company
remain'd for fome time fitting in a penfive po-
fture, till at laft the ardent thought: I will
do fo too! ripen'd into a firm refolution.