The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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being tossed about by_the furious waves, I_found myself thrown upon what I supposed to_be a sand- bank with my two children .I envied the state of_my husband and son . if I had_not_been a mother, i_should_have wished to_have followed them; but my two girls lay senseless at my side, and i_was anxious, as I perceived they still breathed, to recover them . at_the moment M .Hirtel pushed the raft into_the water, he threw upon it a box bound with iron, which I grasped mechanically, and still held, when we were left on shore . it_was not locked, yet it_was with some difficulty, in my confined position, that I succeeded in opening it . it contained a quantity of gold and bank-notes, which I looked upon with contempt, and regret . but there_was something useful in_the box . in_the morocco portfolio which contained the bank-notes, there were the usual little instruments--a knife, scissors, pencils, stiletto, and also a small bottle of Eau de cologne, which_was particularly serviceable in restoring my children .I began by cutting the cords that tied us .I then rubbed my dear children with_the Eau de cologne, made them inhale it, and even swallow a little . the wind was still blowing, but the clouds began to break, and_the sun appeared, which dried and warmed us . my poor children opened their eyes, and knew me, and I_felt i_was not utterly comfortless; but their first words were to ask for their father and brother . I_could_not tell them they were no more .I tried to deceive myself, to support my strength, by a feeble and delusive hope .M .Hirtel swam well, the sailor still better; and_the last words I had heard still rung in my ears--' do_not be uneasy, i_will save the child .' if I_saw anything floating at a distance, my heart began to beat, and I ran towards the water; but I_saw it_was only wreck, which I_could_not even reach . some pieces were, however, thrown on shore, and with_these and_our own raft i_was enabled to_make a sort of shelter, by resting them against a rock . my poor children, by crouching under this, sheltered themselves from_the rain, or from_the rays of_the sun .I had the good fortune to preserve a large beaver hat, which I wore at_the_time, and this protected me; but these resources gave_me little consolation; my children were complaining of hunger, and I_felt only how_much we were in want of .I had seen a shell- fish on_the shore, resembling the oyster, or muscle .I collected some, and, opening them with my knife, we_made a repast on them, which sufficed for_the first day . night came-- my children offered up their evening prayer, and I earnestly besought the succour of_the almighty .I then lay down beside my babes on_our raft, as conveniently as we_could, and_they soon slept . the fearful thoughts of_the past, and dreadful anticipations of_the future, prevented me from sleeping . my situation was indeed melancholy; but I_felt, as a mother, I ought not to wish for death .

" as_soon_as day broke, I went close to_the shore, to seek some shell- fish for_our breakfast . in crossing the sand, I nearly plunged my foot into a hole, and fancied I heard a crash .I stooped, and putting my hand into_the opening, found it_was full of eggs; I had broken two_or_three, which I tasted, and thought very_good . from_the colour, form, and taste, I_knew them to_be turtle's eggs; there were at_least sixty, so I had no more care about food .I carried away in my apron as_many as I_could preserve from_the rays of_the sun: this I endeavoured to effect by burying them in_the sand, and covering them with one end of_our plank, and succeeded very_well . besides these, there were as_many to_be found on_the shore as_we required; I_have sometimes found as_many as ninety together . these were our sole support while we remained there: my children liked them very_much .I forgot to add, that i_was fortunate enough to discover a stream of fresh water, running into_the sea; it was_the same which runs past this house, and which conducted me here . the first day we suffered greatly from thirst, but on_the second we met with_the stream which saved us . i_will_not tire you by relating day by day our sad life; every_one was_the same, and took away by degrees every hope from me . as long as I dared to indulge any, I_could_not bear to leave the shore; but at last it became insupportable to_me . i_was worn out with gazing continually on_that boundless horizon, and_that moving crystal which had swallowed up my hopes .I pined for_the verdure and shade of trees . although I had contrived to_make for_my daughters little hats of a marine rush, they suffered much from_the extreme heat,-- the burning rays of a tropical sun .I decided at last to abandon that sandy shore; to penetrate, at all risks, into_the country, in_order to seek a shady and cooler abode, and to escape from_the view of_that sea which_was so painful to_me .I resolved not to quit the stream which_was so precious to_us, for, not having any vessel to contain water, I_could_not carry it with_us .Sophia, who_is naturally quick, formed, from a large leaf, a sort of goblet, which served us to drink from; and I filled my pockets with turtles' eggs, as provision for_a_few_days .I then set off with my two children, after praying the god of all mercy to watch over us; and, taking leave of_the vast tomb which held my husband and my son, I never lost sight of_the stream; if any obstacle obliged me to_turn a little way from_it, I soon recovered my path . my eldest daughter, who was very strong and robust, followed me stoutly, as i_took care not to walk too far without resting; but i_was often compelled to carry my little Matilda on my shoulders . both were delighted with_the shade of_the woods, and were so amused with_the delightful birds that inhabited them, and a pretty little sportive green monkey, that_they became as playful as ever . they sang and prattled; but often asked me if papa and Alfred would_not soon return to_see these pretty creatures, and if_we were going to seek them . these words rent my heart, and i_thought it best then to_tell them they_would meet no more on earth, and that_they were both gone to heaven, to_that good god to_whom they prayed morning and evening .Sophia was very thoughtful, and_the tears ran down her cheeks: ' i_will pray to god more than ever,' said she, ' that he_may make them happy, and send_them back to_us,' 'Mamma,' said Matilda, ' have we left the sea to_go to heaven ? shall we soon be there ? and shall we see beautiful birds like these ? ' we walked on very slowly, making frequent rests, till night drew on, and it_was necessary to_find a place for repose .I fixed on a sort of thick grove, which I_could only enter by stooping; it_was formed of one tree, whose branches, reaching the ground, take root there, and soon produce other stems, which follow the same course, and become, in_time, an almost impenetrable thicket . here I_found a place for_us to lie down, which appeared sheltered from wild beasts or savages, whom I equally dreaded . we had still some eggs, which we ate; but I_saw with fear that_the time approached when we_must_have more food, which I_knew not where to_find . I_saw, indeed, some fruits on_the trees, but I_did_not know them, and feared to_give them to my children, who wished to_have them . I_saw also cocoa-nuts, but quite out of_my reach; and even if I_could_have got them, I_did_not know how to open them . the tree under whose branches we had found protection was, I conjectured, an American fig- tree; it bore a quantity of fruit, very_small and red, and like the European fig .I ventured to taste them, and found them inferior to ours,-- insipid and soft,-- but, i_thought, quite harmless .I remarked that_the little green monkeys ate them greedily, so I had no more fear, and allowed my children to regale themselves . i_was much more afraid of wild beasts during the night; however, I had seen nothing worse than some little quadrupeds resembling the rabbit or squirrel, which came in numbers to shelter themselves during the night under our tree . the children wished to catch one, but I_could_not undertake to increase my charge . we had a quiet night, and were early awaked by_the songs of_the birds . how delighted i_was to_have escaped the noise of_the waves, and to_feel the freshness of_the woods, and_the perfume of_the flowers, with_which my children made garlands, to decorate my head and their own ! these ornaments, during this_time of mourning and bereavement, affected me painfully, and i_was weak enough to forbid them this innocent pleasure; I tore away my garland, and threw it into_the rivulet .' gather flowers,' said I, ' but do_not dress yourselves in_them; they_are no fitting ornaments for_us; your father and Alfred cannot_see them .' they were silent and sad, and threw their garlands into_the water, as I had done .

" we followed the stream, and passed two more nights under the trees . we had the good fortune to_find more figs; but they_did_not satisfy us, and_our eggs were exhausted . in my distress I almost decided to return to_the shore, where we_might at_least meet with_that nourishment . as I sat by_the stream, reflecting mournfully on_our situation, the children, who had_been throwing stones into_the water, cried out, ' look, mamma, what pretty fishes ! ' I_saw, indeed, a quantity of small salmon- trout in_the river; but how could I take them ? I tried to seize them with my hands, but could_not catch them; necessity, however, is_the mother of invention .I cut a number of branches with my knife, and wove them together to_make a kind of light hurdle, the breadth of_the stream, which_was very narrow just here . I_made two of_these; my daughters assisted me, and were soon very skilful . we then undressed ourselves, and took a bath, which refreshed us much .I placed one of_my hurdles upright across the rivulet, and_the second a little lower . the fishes who remained between attempted to_pass, but the hurdles were woven too close . we watched for_them attempting the other passage; many escaped us, but we captured sufficient for_our dinner . we threw them out upon_the grass, at a distance from_the stream, so_that they_could_not leap back . my daughters had taken more than I; but the sensible Sophia threw back those we_did_not require, to_give them pleasure, she said, and Matilda did the same, to_see them leap . we then removed our hurdles, dressed ourselves, and I began to consider how i_should cook my fish; for I had no fire, and had never kindled one myself . however, I had often seen Mr Hirtel, who was a smoker, light his pipe by_means of_the flint and steel; they were in_the precious morocco case, together with tinder and matches .I tried to strike a light, and after some difficulty succeeded .I collected the fragments of_the branches used for_the hurdles, the children gathered some dry leaves, and I had soon a bright, lively fire, which i_was delighted to_see, notwithstanding the heat of_the climate .I scraped the scales from_the fish with my knife, washed them in_the rivulet, and then placed them on_the fire to broil; this_was my apprenticeship in_the art of cookery . i_thought how useful it would_be to_give young ladies some knowledge of_the useful arts; for who_can foresee what they_may need ? our European dinner delighted us as_much as_the bath and_the fishing which had preceded it .I decided to fix our residence at_the side of_the rivulet, and beneath the fig-trees; my only objection being the fear of missing some passing vessel which might carry us back to Europe . but can_you understand my feelings, when I confess to_you that, although overcome by sorrow and desolation, having lost husband, son, and fortune, knowing that in_order to support myself and bring up my children I_must depend upon my friends, and to attain this having to hazard again the dangers of_the sea, the very thought of_which made me shudder, i_should prefer to remain where Providence had brought me, and live calmly without obligation to any_one ? I_might certainly have some difficulty in procuring the means of supporting a life which_was dear to_me for_the sake of_my children; but even this_was an employment and an amusement . my children would early learn to bear privations, to content themselves with a simple and frugal life, and to labour for their own support . I_might teach them all that I_knew would_be useful to_them in future, and above all, impress upon their young minds the great truths of_our holy religion . by bringing this constantly before their unsophisticated understanding, I_might hope they_would draw from_it the necessary virtues of resignation and contentment . i_was only twenty- three years_of_age, and might hope, by god's mercy, to_be spared to_them some_time, and in_the course of years who knew what might happen ? besides we were_not so_far from_the sea but that I_might visit it sometimes, if_it were only to seek for turtles' eggs .I remained then under our fig- tree at night, and by day on_the borders of_the stream ."

" it_was under a fig- tree, also," said my wife, " that I_have spent four happy years of_my life . unknown to each_other, our fate has_been similar; but henceforward I_hope we_shall_not be separated ."

Madame Hirtel embraced

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