The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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to_make it perfect; and though I_could_not help smiling at his love of ease, I encouraged the notion, in_order to delay my wife's excursion till our plans were completed .I then put Francis into_the carriage beside his brother; and ordering Fritz and jack to_proceed with their equipage to inspect our corn-fields, I returned to my wife, who was still sleeping . on her awaking, i_told her the garden and plantations would require a few_days' labour to set them in_order, and i_should leave Ernest, who was not yet in condition to_be alabourer, to nurse her and read to her . my sons returned in_the evening, and gave_me a melancholy account of_our corn-fields; the corn was completely destroyed, and we regretted this the more, as_we had very little left for seed . we had anticipated a feast of real bread_, but we were obliged to_give up all hope for_this year, and to content ourselves with_our cakes of cassava, and with potatoes . the maize had suffered less, and might_have_been a resource for_us, but the large, hard grain was so very difficult to reduce to flour fine enough for dough .Fritz often recurred to_the necessity of building a mill near the cascade at tent house; but this_was not the work of a moment, and we had time to consider of it; for at present we had no corn to grind . as I_found Francis had let his brothers into all our secrets, it_was agreed that I, with Fritz, jack, and Francis, should proceed to tent house next morning . Francis desired to_be of_the party, that he might direct the laying out_of_the garden, he_said, with an important air, as he had_been his mother's assistant on its formation . we arranged our bag of vegetable-seeds, and having bathed my wife's foot with a simple embrocation, we offered our united prayers, and retired to our beds to_prepare ourselves for_the toils of_the next_day .

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chapter XXXIX .

we rose early; and, after our usual morning duties, we left our invalids for_the whole day, taking with_us, for_our dinner, a goose and some potatoes, made ready the evening before . we harnessed the bull and_the buffalo to_the cart, and I_sent Fritz and jack to_the wood of bamboos, with orders to load the cart with as_many as it would contain; and, especially, to select some very thick ones for_my colonnade; the rest I intended for props for_my young trees; and this I proposed to_be my first undertaking . Francis would_have preferred beginning with_the _Franciade_, or the garden, but he_was finally won over by_the thoughts of_the delicious fruits, which we_might lose by our neglect; the peaches, plums, pears, and, above all, the cherries, of_which he_was very fond . he then consented to assist me in holding the trees whilst I replaced the roots; after which he went to cut the reeds to tie them . suddenly I heard him cry, "Papa, papa, here_is a large chest come for_us; come and take it ." I ran to him, and saw it was_the very chest we had seen floating, and which we had taken for_the boat at a distance; the waves had left it in_our bay, entangled in_the reeds, which grew abundantly here . it_was almost buried in_the sand . we_could_not remove it alone, and, notwithstanding our curiosity, we were compelled to wait for_the arrival of_my sons . we returned to our work, and it_was pretty well advanced when_the tired and hungry party returned with their cart- load of bamboos . we rested, and sat down to eat our goose .Guavas and sweet acorns, which had escaped the storm, and which my sons brought, completed our repast .Fritz had killed a large bird in_the marsh, which i_took at first for a young flamingo; but it_was a young cassowary, the first I had seen in_the island . this bird is remarkable for its extraordinary size, and for its plumage, so short and fine that_it seems rather to_be hair than feathers . i_should_have liked to have_had it alive to ornament our poultry- yard, and it_was so young we_might_have tamed it; but Fritz's unerring aim had killed it at once .I wished to let my wife see this rare bird, which, if standing on its webbed feet, would_have_been four feet high; I therefore forbade them to meddle with it .

[ illustration: "Fritz, with a strong hatchet forced the chest open, and we all eagerly crowded to_see the contents ."]

as_we ate, we talked of_the chest, and_our curiosity being stronger than our hunger, we swallowed our repast hastily, and then ran down to_the shore . we were obliged to plunge into_the water up_to_the waist, and then had some difficulty to extricate it from_the weed and slime, and to push it on shore . no sooner had we placed it in safety than Fritz, with a strong hatchet, forced it open, and we all eagerly crowded to_see the contents .Fritz hoped it would_be powder and fire-arms; jack, who was somewhat fond of dress, and had notions of elegance, declared in favour of clothes, and particularly of linen, finer and whiter than that which his mother wove; if Ernest had_been there, books would_have_been his desire; for_my own part, there_was nothing i_was more anxious for than European seeds, particularly corn; Francis had alingering wish that_the chest might contain some_of_those gingerbread cakes which his grandmamma used to treat him with in Europe, and which he had often regretted; but he kept this wish to himself, for fear his brothers should call him " little glutton," and assured us that he_should like a little pocket- knife, with a small saw, better than anything in_the_world; and he was_the only_one who had his wish . the chest was opened, and we saw that_it_was filled with a number of trifling things likely to tempt savage nations, and to_become the means of exchange,-- principally glass and iron ware, coloured beads, pins, needles, looking-glasses, children's toys, constructed as models, such as carts, and tools of every sort; amongst which we_found some likely to_be useful, such as hatchets, saws, planes, gimlets, &c .; besides a collection of knives, of_which Francis had the choice; and scissors, which were reserved for mamma, her own being nearly worn out .I had, moreover, the pleasure of finding a quantity of nails of every size and kind, besides iron hooks, staples, &c, which I needed greatly . after we had examined the contents, and selected what we wanted immediately, we closed up the chest, and conveyed it to our magazine at tent house . we had spent so_much time in_our examination, that we had some difficulty to finish propping our trees, and to arrive at home before it_was dark . we_found my wife somewhat uneasy at our lengthened absence, but our appearance soon calmed her ." mother," said I, " I_have brought back all your chickens to crowd under your wing ."

" and we_have_not come back empty- handed," said jack ." look, mamma; here are a beautiful pair of scissors, a large paper of needles, another of pins, and a thimble ! how rich you_are now ! and when_you get well, you_can_make me a pretty waistcoat and a pair of trousers, for I_am in great want of_them ."

" and I, mamma," said Francis, " have brought you a mirror, that you_may arrange your cap; you_have often been sorry papa did_not remember to bring one from_the ship . this_was intended for_the savages, and_I_will begin with_you ."

"I believe I rather resemble one now," said my good Elizabeth, arranging the red and yellow silk handkerchief which she usually wore on her head .

" only, mamma," said jack, " when_you wear the comical pointed bonnet which Ernest made you ."

" what matters it," said she, " whether it be pointed or round ? it_will protect me from_the sun, and it_is_the work of_my Ernest, to_whom I_am much obliged ."

Ernest, with great ingenuity and patience, had endeavoured to plait his mother a bonnet of_the rice- straw; he had succeeded; but not knowing how to_form the round crown, he_was obliged to finish it in a point, to_the great and incessant diversion of_his brothers .

" mother," said Ernest, in_his usual grave and thoughtful tone, "I should_not like you to look like a savage; therefore, as_soon_as I regain the use of_my hand, my first work shall be to_make you a bonnet, which i_will take care shall be formed with a round crown, as_you_will lend me one of your large needles, and_I_will take, to sew the crown on, the head of either jack or Francis ."

" what do_you_mean ? my head ! " said they both together .

"Oh, I don't mean to_take it off your shoulders," said he; " it_will only be necessary that one of you_should kneel down before me, for a day perhaps, while I use your head as a model; and you_need not cry out much if i_should chance to push my needle in ."

this_time the philosopher had the laugh on_his side, and_his tormentors were silenced .

we now explained to my wife where we had found the presents we had brought her . my offerings to her were a light axe, which she_could use to cut her fire- wood with, and an iron kettle, smaller and more convenient than_the one she had .Fritz had retired, and now came in dragging with difficulty his huge cassowary ." here, mamma," said he, " I_have brought you a little chicken for your dinner;" and_the astonishment and laughter again commenced . the rest of_the evening was spent in plucking the bird, to_prepare part of it for next_day . we then retired to rest, that we_might begin our labour early next morning . Ernest chose to remain with_his books and_his mother, for whom he formed with_the mattresses a sort of reclining chair, in_which she was able to sit up in bed and sew . thus she endured a confinement of six weeks, without complaint, and in that_time got all our clothes put into good order . Francis had nearly betrayed our secret once, by asking his mamma to_make him a mason's apron ."A mason's apron ! " said she; " are_you going to build a house, child ? "

"I meant to_say a gardener's apron," said he .

his mamma was satisfied, and promised to comply with_his request .

in_the mean time, my three sons and I laboured assiduously to_get the garden into order again, and to raise the terraces, which we hoped might_be adefence against future storms .Fritz had also proposed to_me to construct a stone conduit, to bring the water to our kitchen- garden from_the river, to_which we_might carry it back, after it had passed round our vegetable-beds . this_was a formidable task, but too useful an affair to_be neglected; and, aided by_the geometrical skill of Fritz, and_the ready hands of_my two younger boys, the conduit was completed . i_took an opportunity, at_the same time, to dig a pond above the garden, into which the conduit poured the water; this_was always warm with_the sun, and, by_means of a sluice, we were able to disperse it in little channels to water the garden . the pond would also be useful to preserve small fish and crabs for use . we next proceeded to our embankment . this_was intended to protect the garden from any extraordinary overflow of_the river, and from_the water running from_the rocks after heavy rains . we then laid out our garden on_the same plan as before, except that I_made the walks wider, and not so flat; I carried one directly to our house, which, in_the autumn, I intended to plant with shrubs, that my wife might_have a shady avenue to approach her garden; where I also planned an arbour, furnished with seats, as aresting- place for her . the rocks were covered with numerous climbing plants, bearing every variety of elegant flower, and I had only to_make my selection .

all this work, with_the enclosing the garden with palisades of bamboo, occupied us about a fortnight, in_which time our invalids made great progress towards their recovery . after_the whole was finished, Francis entreated me to_begin his gallery . my boys approved of_my plan, and Fritz declared that_the house was certainly comfortable and commodious, but that_it would_be wonderfully improved by a colonnade, with a little pavilion at each end, and a fountain in each pavilion .

"I never heard a word of_these pavilions," said I .

" no," said jack, " they_are our own invention . the colonnade will_be called the Franciade_; and we_wish our little pavilions to_be named, the one Fritzia_, the other Jackia_, if_you please ."

I agreed to_this reasonable request, and only begged to_know how they_would procure water for their fountains .Fritz undertook to bring the water, if i_would only assist them in completing this little scheme, to_give pleasure to_their beloved mother . i_was charmed to_see the zeal and anxiety of_my children to oblige their tender mother . her illness seemed to_have strengthened their attachment; they thought only how to console and amuse her . she sometimes told me she really blessed the accident, which had taught her how_much she was valued by all around her .

* * * * *

chapter XL .

the next_day was Sunday,-- our happy Sabbath for repose and quiet conversation at home . after passing the day in_our usual devotions and sober reading, my three elder boys requested my permission to walk towards our farm in_the evening . on their return, they informed me it would_be necessary to_give a few_days' labour to our plantations of maize and potatoes .I

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