The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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drive the goats and sheep with, for_the little fellow was_the shepherd . he_was pleased with_the idea, and began to split the leaves into strips, which Fritz platted together into very_good whiplashes .I remarked, as_they were working, how strong and pliant these strips seemed, and, examining them closely, I_found they were composed of long fibres, or filaments, which made me suspect it to_be Phormium tenax, or New_Zealand flax, a most important discovery to_us, and which, when I communicated it to my wife, almost overwhelmed her with joy ." bring me all the leaves you_can without delay," cried she, " and_I_will make you stockings, shirts, coats, sewing- thread, cords-- in_fact, give_me but flax and work-tools, and I_can manage all ." I_could_not help smiling at_the vivacity of her imagination, roused at_the very name of flax; but there_was still great space between_the leaves lying before_us and_the linen she was already sewing in idea . but my boys, always ready to second the wishes of_their beloved mother, soon mounted their coursers, Fritz on Lightfoot, and jack on_the great buffalo, to procure supplies .

Whilst we waited for_these, my wife, all life and animation, explained to_me all the machines I_must make, to enable her to spin and weave, and make linen to clothe us from head to foot; her eyes sparkled with delight as she spoke, and I promised her all she asked .

in a short time, our young cavaliers returned from their foraging expedition, conveying on their steeds huge bundles of_the precious plant, which they laid at_the feet of_their mother . she gave up everything to_begin her preparation . the first operation necessary was to steep the flax, which_is usually done by exposing it in_the open air in_the rain, the wind, and_the dew, so as, in a certain degree, to dissolve the plant, rendering the separation of_the fibrous and ligneous parts more easy . it can then be cleaned and picked for spinning . but, as_the vegetable glue that connects the two parts is very tenacious, and resists for_a_long_time the action of moisture, it_is often advisable to steep it in water, and this, in_our dry climate, I considered most expedient .

my wife agreed to_this, and proposed that we_should convey it to flamingo Marsh; and we spent the rest of_the day in tying up the leaves in bundles . next morning, we loaded our cart, and proceeded to_the marsh: we there untied our bundles, and spread them in_the water, pressing them down with stones, and leaving them till it_was time to_take them out to dry . we_could_not but admire here the ingenious nests of_the flamingo; they_are of a conical form, raised above the level of_the marsh, having a recess above, in_which_the eggs are deposited, out_of_the reach of danger, and_the female can sit on them with her legs in_the water . these nests are of clay, and so solid, that_they resist the water till the young are able to swim .

in a fortnight the flax was ready to_be taken out_of_the water; we spread it in_the sun, which dried it so effectually, that we brought it to falcon's nest the same evening, where it_was stored till we were ready for further operations . at present we laboured to lay up provision for_the rainy season, leaving all sedentary occupations to amuse us in_our confinement . we brought in continually loads of sweet acorns, manioc, potatoes, wood, fodder for_the cattle, sugar-canes, fruit, indeed everything that might_be useful during the uncertain period of_the rainy season . we profited by_the last few_days to sow the wheat and other remaining European grains, that_the rain might germinate them . we had already had some showers; the temperature was variable, the sky became cloudy, and_the wind rose . the season changed sooner than we expected; the winds raged through_the woods, the sea roared, mountains of clouds were piled in_the heavens . they soon burst over our heads, and torrents of rain fell night and day, without intermission; the rivers swelled till their waters met, and turned the whole country around us into an immense lake . happily we had formed our little establishment on a spot rather elevated above the rest of_the valley; the waters did_not quite reach our tree, but surrounded us about two hundred yards off, leaving us on a sort of island in_the midst of_the general inundation . we were reluctantly obliged to descend from_our aërial abode; the rain entered it on all sides, and_the hurricane threatened every moment to carry away the apartment, and all that were in_it . we set about our removal, bringing down our hammocks and bedding to_the sheltered space under the roots of_the trees that we had roofed for_the animals . we were painfully crowded in_the small space; the stores of provisions, the cooking-utensils, and especially the neighbourhood of_the animals, and_the various offensive smells, made our retreat almost insupportable . we were choked with smoke if_we lighted a fire, and inundated with rain if_we opened a door . for_the first time since our misfortune, we sighed for_the comforts of_our native home; but action was necessary, and we set about endeavouring to amend our condition .

the winding staircase was very useful to_us; the upper part was crowded with things we_did_not want, and my wife frequently worked in_the lower part, at one_of_the windows . we crowded our beasts a little more, and gave a current of air to_the places they had left .I placed outside the enclosure the animals of_the country, which could bear the inclemency of_the season; thus I_gave a half- liberty to_the buffalo and_the onagra, tying their legs loosely, to_prevent them straying, the boughs of_the tree affording them a shelter . we_made as few fires as possible, as, fortunately it_was never cold, and we had no provisions that required a long process of cookery . we had milk in abundance, smoked meat, and fish, the preserved ortolans, and cassava cakes . as_we sent out some_of_our animals in_the morning, with bells round their necks, Fritz and I had to seek them and bring them in every evening, when we were invariably wet through . this induced my ingenious Elizabeth to_make us a sort of blouse and hood out of old garments of_the sailors, which we covered with coatings of_the caoutchouc, and thus obtained two capital waterproof dresses; all that_the exhausted state of_our gum permitted us to_make .

the care of_our animals occupied us a great part of_the morning, then we prepared our cassava, and baked our cakes on iron plates . though we had a glazed door to our hut, the gloominess of_the weather, and_the obscurity caused by_the vast boughs of_the tree, made night come on early . we then lighted a candle, fixed in a gourd on_the table, round which we were all assembled . the good mother laboured with her needle, mending the clothes; i_wrote my journal, which Ernest copied, as he wrote a beautiful hand; while Fritz and jack taught their young brother to read and write, or amused themselves with drawing the animals or plants they had_been struck with . we read the lessons from_the Bible in turns, and concluded the evening with devotion . we then retired to rest, content with ourselves and with_our innocent and peaceful life . our kind housekeeper often made us a little feast of a roast chicken, a pigeon, or a duck, and once in four or five days we had fresh butter made in_the gourd churn; and_the delicious honey which we ate to our cassava bread might_have_been a treat to European epicures .

the remains of_our repast was always divided among our domestic animals . we had four dogs, the jackal, the eagle, and_the monkey, who relied on their masters, and were never neglected . but if_the buffalo, the onagra, and_the sow had_not_been able to_provide for themselves, we_must_have killed them, for we had no food for_them .

we now decided that we_would_not expose ourselves to another rainy season in_such an unsuitable habitation; even my gentle Elizabeth got out of temper with_the inconveniences, and begged we_would build a better winter house; stipulating, however, that we_should return to our tree in summer . we consulted a great deal on this_matter; Fritz quoted Robinson Crusoe, who had cut adwelling out_of_the rock, which sheltered him in_the inclement season; and_the idea of making our home at tent house naturally came into my mind . it would probably be a long and difficult undertaking, but with time, patience, and perseverance, we_might work wonders . we resolved, as_soon_as_the weather would allow us, to_go and examine the rocks at tent house .

the last work of_the winter was, at my wife's incessant request, a beetle for her flax, and some carding-combs . the beetle was easily made, but the combs cost much trouble .I filed large nails till they were round and pointed, I fixed them, slightly inclined, at equal distances, in a sheet of tin, and raised the edge like a box; I then poured melted lead between_the nails and_the edge, to fix them more firmly .I nailed this on a board, and_the machine was fit for use, and my wife was all anxiety to_begin her manufacture .

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chapter XXIX .

I_cannot describe our delight when, after long and gloomy weeks, we saw at_length the sky clear, and_the sun, dispersing the dark clouds of winter, spread its vivifying rays over all nature; the winds were lulled, the waters subsided, and_the air became mild and serene . we went out, with shouts of joy, to breathe the balmy air, and gratified our eyes with_the sight of_the fresh verdure already springing up around us . nature seemed in her youth again, and amidst the charms that breathed on every side, we forgot our sufferings, and, like the children of Noah coming forth from_the ark, we raised a hymn of thanksgiving to_the giver of all good .

all our plantations and seeds had prospered . the corn was springing, and_the trees were covered with leaves and blossoms . the air was perfumed with_the odour of countless beautiful flowers; and lively with_the songs and cries of hundreds of brilliant birds, all busy building their nests . this_was really spring in all its glory .

we began our summer occupation by cleaning and putting in_order our dormitory in_the tree, which the rain and_the scattered leaves had greatly deranged; and in_a_few_days we were able to inhabit it again . my wife immediately began with her flax; while my sons were leading the cattle to_the pasture, i_took the bundles of flax into_the open air, where I constructed a sort of oven of stone, which dried it completely . we began that very evening to strip, beat, and comb it; and I drew out such handfuls of soft, fine flax, ready for spinning, that my wife was overjoyed, and begged me to_make her a wheel, that she might commence .

I had formerly had a little taste for turning, and though I had now neither lathe nor any_other of_the tools, yet I_knew how aspinning- wheel and reel should_be_made, and, by dint of application, I succeeded in completing these two machines to her satisfaction . she began to spin with so_much earnestness, that she_would hardly take a walk, and reluctantly left her wheel to_make dinner ready . she employed Francis to reel off the thread as she spun it, and would willingly have_had the elder boys to_take her place when she was called off; but they rebelled at_the effeminate work, except Ernest, whose indolent habits made him prefer it to more laborious occupation .

in_the mean time we walked over to tent house to_see the state of things, and found that winter had done more damage there than at falcon's nest . the storm had overthrown the tent, carried away some_of_the sailcloth, and injured our provisions so_much, that great part was good for nothing, and_the rest required to_be immediately dried .Fortunately our beautiful pinnace had_not suffered much,-- it_was still safe at anchor, and fit for use; but our tub boat was entirely destroyed .

our most important loss was two barrels of gunpowder, which had_been left in_the tent, instead of under the shelter of_the rock, and which the rain had rendered wholly useless . this made us feel still more strongly the necessity of securing for_the future a more suitable shelter than a canvas tent, or a roof of foliage . still I had small hope from_the gigantic plan of Fritz or the boldness of jack .I could_not_be blind to_the difficulties of_the undertaking . the rocks which surrounded tent house presented an unbroken surface, like a wall without any crevice, and, to all appearance, of so hard a nature as_to leave little hopes of success . however, it_was necessary to_try to contrive some sort of cave, if only for_our gunpowder . I_made up my mind, and selected the most perpendicular face of_the rock as_the place to_begin our work . it_was a much pleasanter situation than our tent, commanding a view of_the whole bay, and_the two banks of jackal river, with its picturesque bridge .I marked out with chalk the dimension of_the entrance I wished to_give to_the cave; then my sons and i_took our chisels, pickaxes, and heavy miner's hammers, and began boldly to hew the stone .

our first blows produced very little effect; the rock seemed impenetrable, the sun had so hardened the surface; and_the sweat poured off our brows with_the hard labour . nevertheless, the efforts of_my young workmen did_not relax . every evening we left our work advanced, perhaps, a few inches; and every morning returned to_the task with renewed ardour

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