I had a mind once to try if he had any hankering inclination to his own country again; and, having taughthim English so well that he could answer me almost any questions, I asked him whether the nation that he belonged to ever conquered in battle. At which he smiled, and said, " Yes, yes; we always fight the better;" that is, he meant always get the better in fight; and so we began the following discourse:- " You always fight the better?" said I. "How came you to be taken prisoner then, Friday?"Friday.-My nation beat much, for all that.
Master.-How beat? If your nation beat them, how came you to be taken?
Friday.-They more many than my nation in the placewhere me was; they take one, two, three, and me. My nation over beat them in the yonder place, where me no was; there my nation take one, two, great thousand.
Master.-But why did not your side recover you from thehands of your enemies then?
Friday.-They run one, two, three, and me, and make go in the canoe; my nation have no canoe that time.
Master.- Well, Friday, and what does your nation dowith the men they take-carry them away and eat them, as these did?
Friday.-Yes; my nation eat mans too, eat all up.
Master.-Where do they carry them? Friday.-Go to other place where they think. Master.-Do they come hither?
Friday.-Yes, yes, they come hither; come other else place.
Master.-Have you been here with them?
Friday.-Yes, I have been (points to the north-west side of the island, which it seems was their side).
By this I understood that my man Friday had formerly been among the savages who used to come on shore on the farther part of the island on the said man-eating occasions that he was now brought for. And, some time after, when I took the courage to carry him to that side, being the same I formerly mentioned, he presently knew the place, and told me he was there once when they ate up twenty men, two women, and one child. He could not tell twenty in English; but he numbered them by laying so many stones on a row, and pointing to me to tell them over.
From Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe
Author.-Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), an English author beloved of boys and girls because he wrote Robinson Crusoe, the story of a brave man struggling with circumstance. The son of a butcher, he was educated for the ministry, then sold stocks and went insolvent. He took to writing, wrote against the Government, and was sent to jail. He was born before his time; but at last he won success. His greet book is Robinson Crusoe, his great poem A Hymn to ths Pillory.
General Notes.-The adventures of Robinson Crusoe are based onthe true story of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor, who became a pirate and was left upon the island of Juan Fernandez, 360 miles west of Valparaiso, Chile, in 1704 (see on the map). Here he remained in solitude for four years and four months until rescued by Captain Rogers, of the British Navy. Account for Friday"s name. Note how the author makes fiction seem fact by putting in the tiniest details.
Lesson 40
THE WIND IN A FROLIC
The Wind one morning sprang up from sleep, Saying, " Now for a frolic! now for a leap! Now for a madcap galloping chase!
I"ll make a commotion in every place!"
So it "swept with a bustle right through a great town,Cracking the signs and scattering down Shutters; and whisking, with merciless squalls, Old women"s bonnets and gingerbread stalls. There never was heard a much lustier shout, As the apples and oranges trundled about;And the urchins, that stand with their thievish eyes For ever on watch, ran off each with a prize.
Then away to the fields it went, blustering and humming, And the cattle all wondered what monster was coming. It plucked by the tails the grave matronly cows,And tossed the colts" manes all over their brows;Till, offended at such an unusual salute,
They all turned their backs, and stood sulky and mute.
So on it went, capering and playing its pranks,Whistling with reeds on the broad river"s banks, Puffing the birds as they sat on the spray,Or the traveller grave on the king"s highway.
It was not too nice to hustle the bags
Of the beggar, and flutter his dirty rags;
" Twas so bold, that it feared not to play its joke With the doctor"s wig or the gentleman"s cloak. Through the forest it roared, and cried gaily,"Now, You sturdy old oaks, I"ll make you bow!"And it made them bow without more ado,
Or it cracked their great branches through and through.
Then it rushed like a monster on cottage and farm, Striking their dwellers with sudden alarm,And they ran out like bees in a midsummer swarm;There were dames with their kerchiefs tied over their caps,To see if their poultry were free from mishaps;The turkeys they gobbled, the geese screamed aloud, And the hens crept to roost in a terrified crowd; There was rearing of ladders, and logs were laid onWhere the thatch from the roof threatened soon to be gone.
But the Wind had swept on, and had met in a laneWith a schoolboy, who panted and struggled in vain;For it tossed him and twirled him, then passed-and he stoodWith his hat in a pool and his shoes in the mud!
Then away went the Wind in its holiday glee, And now it was far on the billowy sea;And the lordly ships felt its staggering blow, And the little boats darted to and fro.
But, lo! it was night, and it sank to rest
On the sea-birds" rock in the gleaming west, Laughing to think, in its frolicsome fun, How little of mischief it really had done.
- William Howitt
Author.-William Howitt (1792-1879) was born in Derbyshire, England. He and his wife, Mary, led a long and happy literary life, writing poems, ballads, and historical and juvenile tales. From 1852 to 1854, at the height of the gold-fever, William Howitt was in Australia. Many members of the Howitt family live here at present.
General Notes.-Quote the wind"s adventures (1) on awaking, (2) inthe town, (3) in the field, (4) on the river-bank, (5) in the forest,(6) among the farms, (7) in the lane, (8) on the sea, (9) in the west. Note the joyous, frolicking sound of the poem. What real mischief did Mr. Wind do?
Lesson 41