The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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kind, skilful, and bold Parabéry undertook to answer for their safety .I therefore recommended them to god, and returned to_the grotto, to tranquillize my wife's fears . jack was inconsolable that he_could_not form one_of_the party; but Sophia scolded him for wishing to leave them, to_go upon_the sea, which had swallowed up poor Alfred .

in_the evening we had the pleasure of seeing our brave dogs enter the grotto . they leaped on us in a way that terrified the poor little girls at first, who took them for bears; but they were soon reconciled to_them when_they saw them fawn round us, lick our hands, and pass from one to_the other to_be caressed . my sons had had no difficulty in finding them; they had run to_them at_the first call, and seemed delighted to_see their masters again .

the poor animals had subsisted on_the remains of_the kangaroos, but apparently had met with no fresh water, for they seemed dying with thirst, and rushed to_the brook as_soon_as they discovered it, and returned again and again . then they followed us to_the hut of_the good missionary, who had_been engaged all day in visiting the dwellings of_the natives, and teaching them the truths of religion .I had accompanied him, but, from ignorance of_the language, could_not aid him . i_was, however, delighted with_the simple and earnest manner in_which he spoke, and_the eagerness with_which they heard him . he finished by a prayer, kneeling, and_they all imitated him, lifting up their hands and eyes to heaven . he_told me he_was trying to_make them celebrate the Sunday . he assembled them in_his tent, which he_wished to_make a temple for_the worship of_the true god . he intended to consecrate it for_this purpose, and to live in_the grotto, after our departure .

the day arrived at last . jack's shoulder was nearly healed, and my wife, along with her happiness, recovered her strength . the pinnace had_been so_well guarded by Parabéry and_his friends that_it suffered no injury .I distributed among_the islanders everything I had that could please them, and made Parabéry invite them to_come and_see us in_our island, requesting we_might live on friendly terms .Mr Willis wished much to_see it, and to complete our happiness he promised to accompany and spend some days with_us; and Parabéry said he_would take him back when he_wished it .

we embarked, then, after taking leave of Bara-ourou, who was very liberal in_his presents, giving us, besides fruits of every kind, a whole hog roasted, which_was excellent .

we were fourteen in number; sixteen, reckoning the two dogs . the missionary accompanied us, and a young islander, whom Parabéry had procured to_be his servant, as he_was too old and too_much occupied with_his mission to attend to_his own wants . this youth was of a good disposition and much attached to him .Parabéry took him to assist in rowing when he returned .

Emily could_not but feel rather affected at leaving the grotto, where she had passed four tranquil, if_not happy years, fulfilling the duties of a mother . neither could she avoid a painful sensation when she once more saw the sea that had_been so fatal to her husband and son; she_could scarcely subdue the fear she had of trusting all she had left to_that treacherous element . she held her daughters in her arms, and prayed for_the protection of heaven .Mr Willis and I spoke to her of_the goodness of god, and pointed out to her the calmness of_the water, the security of_the pinnace, and_the favourable state of_the wind . my wife described to her our establishment, and promised her a far more beautiful grotto than_the one she had left, and at last she became more reconciled .

after seven or eight hours' voyage, we arrived at cape disappointment, and we agreed the bay should henceforth be called the Bay of_the happy return .

the distance to tent house from hence was much too great for_the ladies and children to_go on foot . my intention was to_take them by water to_the other end of_the island near our house; but my elder sons had begged to_be landed at_the bay, to seek their live stock, and take them home .I left them there with Parabéry; jack recommended his buffalo to_them, and Francis his bull, and all were found . we coasted the island, arrived at safety Bay, and were soon at tent house, where we_found all, as_we had left it, in good condition .

notwithstanding the description my wife had given them, our new guests found our establishment far beyond their expectation . with what delight jack and Francis ran up and down the colonnade with their young friends ! what stories they had to_tell of all the surprises they had prepared for their mother ! they showed them Fritzia, Jackia_, the Franciade_, and gave their friends water from their beautiful fountain . absence seemed to_have improved everything; and I_must confess I had some difficulty to refrain from demonstrating my joy as wildly as my children .Minou-minou, Parabéry, and Canda, were lost in admiration, calling out continually, _miti ! beautiful ! my wife was busied in arranging a temporary lodging for_our guests . the work- room was given up_to Mr Willis; my wife and Madame Emily had our apartment, the two little girls being with_them, to_whom the hammocks of_the elder boys were appropriated .Canda, who knew nothing about beds, was wonderfully, comfortable on_the carpet .Fritz, Ernest, and_the two natives, stowed themselves wherever they wished, in_the colonnade, or in_the kitchen; all was alike to_them .I slept on moss and cotton in Mr Willis's room, with my two younger sons . every_one was content, waiting till our ulterior arrangements were completed .

conclusion .

I_must conclude my journal here . we_can scarcely be more happy than we_are, and I_feel no cares about_my children .Fritz is so fond of_the chase and of mechanics, and Ernest of study, that they_will_not wish to marry; but I please myself by hoping at some_time to_see my dear jack and Francis happily united to Sophia and Matilda . what remains for_me to_tell ? the details of happiness, however sweet in enjoyment, are often tedious in recital .

i_will only add, that after passing a few_days with_us, Mr Willis returned to_his charge, promising to visit us, and eventually to join us . the grotto Ernestine, fitted up by Fritz and Parabéry, made a pretty abode for Madame Hirtel and her daughters, and_the two islanders .Minou-minou did_not leave his young mammas, and was very useful to_them . I_must state, also, that my son Ernest, without abandoning the study of natural history, applied himself to astronomy, and mounted the large telescope belonging to_the ship; he acquired considerable knowledge of_this sublime science, which his mother, however, considered somewhat useless . the course of_the other planets did_not interest her, so_long as all went on well in_that which she inhabited; and nothing now was wanting to her happiness, surrounded as she was by friends .

the following year we had a visit from a Russian vessel, the Neva_, commanded by captain Krusenstern, a countryman and distant relation of_mine . the celebrated Horner, of Zurich, accompanied him as astronomer .Having read the first part of_our journal, sent into Europe by captain Johnson, he had come purposely to_see us . delighted with_our establishment, he_did_not advise us to quit it . captain Krusenstern invited us to_take a passage in_his vessel; we declined his offer; but my wife, though she renounced her country for ever, was glad of_the opportunity of making inquiries about her relations and friends . as she had concluded, her good mother had died some_years before, blessing her absent children . my wife shed some tears, but was consoled by_the certainty of her mother's eternal felicity, and_the hope of_their meeting in futurity .

one of her brothers was also dead; he had left a daughter, to_whom my wife had always been attached, though she was very young when we left . Henrietta Bodmer was now sixteen, and, Mr Horner assured us, a most amiable girl . my wife wished much to_have her with_us .

Ernest would_not leave Mr Horner a moment, he_was so delighted to meet with one so eminently skilful in_his favourite science . astronomy made them such friends, that Mr Horner petitioned me to allow him to_take my son to Europe, promising to bring him back himself in a few years . this_was a great trial to_us, but I_felt that his taste for science required a larger field than our island . his mother was reluctant to part with_him, but consoled herself with a notion, that he might bring his cousin Henrietta back with_him .

many tears were shed at our parting; indeed, the grief of_his mother was so intense, that my son seemed almost inclined to_give up his inclination; but Mr Horner made some observations about_the transit of Venus, so interesting that Ernest could_not resist . he left us, promising to bring us back everything we wished for . in_the mean time captain Krusenstern left us a good supply of powder, provisions, seeds, and some capital tools, to_the great delight of Fritz and jack . they regretted their brother greatly, but diverted their minds from sorrow by application to mechanics, assisted by_the intelligent Parabéry . they_have already succeeded in constructing, near the cascade, a corn- mill and a saw- mill, and_have built a very_good oven .

we miss Ernest very_much . though his taste for study withdrew him a good_deal from_us, and he_was not so useful as his brothers, we_found his calm and considerate advice often of value, and_his mildness always spread a charm over our circle, in joy or in trouble .

except this little affliction, we_are very happy . our labours are divided regularly .Fritz and jack manage the board of Works . they_have opened a passage through_the rock which divided us from_the other side of_the island; thus doubling our domain and_our riches . at_the same time, they formed adwelling for Madame Hirtel near our own, from_the same excavation in_the rock .Fritz took great pains with it; the windows are made of oiled paper instead of glass; but we usually assemble in_our large work- room, which_is very_well lighted .

Francis has_the charge of_our flocks and of_the poultry, all greatly increased . for_me, I preside over the grand work of agriculture . the two mothers, their two daughters, and Canda, manage the garden, spin, weave, take care of_our clothes, and attend to household matters . thus we all work, and everything prospers . several families of_the natives, pupils of Mr Willis, have obtained leave, through him, to join us, and_are settled at falcon's nest, and at_the farm . these people assist us in_the cultivation of_our ground, and_our dear missionary in_the cultivation of_our souls . nothing is wanting to complete our happiness but the return of dear Ernest .

postscript two YEARS after .

we_are now as happy as_we_can desire,-- our son is returned .According to my wishes, he had made out captain Johnson and lieutenant bell, our first visitors, whom the storm had driven from_us, but who were still determined to_see us again . my son found them preparing for another voyage to_the south Seas . he at once seized the opportunity of accompanying them, impatiently desirous to revisit the island, and to bring to_us Henrietta Bodmer, now become his wife . she_is a simple, amiable Swiss girl, who suits us well, and who_is delighted to_see once more her kind aunt, now become her mother .

my wife is overjoyed; this_is her first daughter-in-law, but jack and Francis, as_well as Sophia and Matilda, are growing up; and moreover, my dear wife, who has great ideas of married happiness, hopes to induce Emily to consent to_be united to Fritz at_the same time as her daughters are married .Fritz would feel all the value of_this change; his character is already softened by her society, and though she_is a few years older than he_is, she_is blessed with all the vivacity of youth .Mr Willis approves of_this Union, and we_hope he_will live to solemnize the three marriages . Ernest and Henrietta inhabit the grotto Ernestine, which his brothers fitted up as a very tasteful dwelling . they had even, to gratify their brother, raised on_the rock above the grotto a sort of observatory, where the telescope is mounted, to enable him to_make his astronomical observations . yet I perceive his passion for exploring distant planets is less strong, since he has so_much to attach him to_this .

I_give this conclusion of_my journal to captain Johnson, to_take into Europe, to_be added to_the former part . if any_one of_my readers be anxious for further particulars respecting our colony and_our mode of life, let him set out for_the happy island; he_will_be warmly welcomed, and may join with_us in Ernest's chorus, which we now sing with additional pleasure,--

all we love around us smile, joyful is our desert isle .

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