’ PETER PARLE " S LIT T LE LIBRAR" .

This s eries of en tert ain in g an d useful Book s is design ed for Child ren . he b e e e a t te a n d a o e t a te T y will l g n ly prin d , h nds m ly illus r d by e on t e t e of Bi o a al a e a n d Ad En gravin gs . Th y will c sis i h r gr phic T l s e t e o f a n a t e t a a te or ve a n d a e t o s v n ur s , u h n ic ch r c r, li ly musing d scrip i n a i o of th t of L f e b iffe e an d t t e e . e t te illus r ns Ar s i Th y will by d r n wri rs , b ut th e s e e ti o of th e o k an d th e e e a e te e e of t e i l , g c n w r s n r l sup rin nd nc ’ h r at o b e o tte to th e t o of e te a e a e public i n , will c mmi d Au h r P r P rl y s T l s . T h e foll o wing are a m on g th e w orks which will b e lon g to th e s erie s .

1 T H E D E " ES . J M ES LE . A V NT R OF CAPT A RI Y, IN AFRICA .

2 . T HE S JOHN . JEWETT th e a t e of oot a TORY OF R , C p iv N k o S und .

3 . T HE S or e te ta e t o s of th e S t u t e a n d HIP , n r ining d scrip i n r c ur " s e of a S t Sto es of S ea e t es an d a to of th e hip , wi h ri Adv n ur , His ry ar o a at i t f N vig on .

4 . T HE S L E " SE an d an a o t of th e o a es TORY OF A P RO , cc un v y g ma e to o e i fate d disc v r h s .

5 . T H E A M or a n e w a o t of a e e s t th e to s F R , cc un rur l sc n , wi h il , a an d u of a a e e t B J . o pl sur s , purs i s F rming . y T yl r .

6 . S LEX DE SELK K wh o a te a so TORY OF A AN R IR , inh bi d li a a for e a ta o e e e a s . ry isl nd , l n , s v r l y r

7 . T HE M E an e te ta a co t of M i es an d M e a s IN , n r ining c un n in r l .

8 . T HE G D E or th e art of a out an d culuva tin it AR N , l ying g . Th ese w orks a re prepa re d wi th th e vie w of re nde ring th em a tt a t e t o e a n d a to a ll a e of o t f l e a e r c iv childr n , musing cl ss s y u h ul d rs " a t th e s am e time th ey are ca lcula ted to impart kn owledge of a useful kind .

’ T HE E S ESE e te theai th or of e te Par PAR N PR N , f P ’ T T di d by r e a e l y s T l s . > ’ is o ve eat te an d is desi ed as a s 03 p , gn t Th w rk ’is ry n ly rin d Chri a s o f New a m e e e t , for a e t to t e childre . Y r s p’r s n p r n s h ir g E E LE S " E B K th 38 ea tifu e n rav P T R PAR Y PICT R OO , wi b u l g i g . n s ’ E E LE S S ELL G B K t 1 75 e av s P R PAR P N OO , g g . T Y ’ I wi h n r in E E LE S B K BLES— t fin e ts P R PAR OO OF FA , T Y’ wi h cu PE E P LE S D 50 en a s . T R AR " EVER" A" BOOK. gr ving

T H E S T O R " F O E

A L E X A N D E R S E L K I R K . ‘ u u

W TT H E N G R A V I N G S 3 8 7 7 41 13

E te ed a o di to Act o f Co n e i th e ea 1834 b n r , cc r n g gr ss , n y r , y

s . G . G O ODR CH I , ’ In th e Cl erk s O ffi ce o f t h e Dist ri ct Court of th e District of M a ssa chusetts .

PRINT ED B" . . 1 x a: P . a . C O LLINS , P H I LA . CO N TENTS .

A I CH PTER . ’ h a re ta e . ho ce of h is s e . His S elkirk s birt . His p n g C i bu in ss ’ fa t e e . te e a e t a a e the i h e t . h r s vi ws His mp r m n , qu rr l , pun s m n

He e o e to o to . His humili a ti on . r s lv s g sea 9

P CHA TER II .

- S . e a . efle t o . ea e s ha to m S lkirk s ils His r c i ns sickn s A il s r .

. es o t o . P a or h other His drea m His r lu i n l ns f t e future . An

ut a - a te voya ge . H e goe s o s iling m s r 24

CHAPTER III .

e P o t on a u e . Dea t of the a ta Hi T he Cinqu r s cr is h c p in . s ’ S e e to h im . Men eft on a n a . succe sso r . lkirk s dislik l isl nd

a . t t J a a z T wo ca pta ins dis gree S eco nd visi o u n Fern nde .

e fle t o . 41 S elkirk is left the re . R c i ns 6 C E ONT N T S .

E CHAPT R IV . ’ S e i fe e . D r T h lk rk s lings iscove y o f the island . e Buccaniers

S to of o e t K . The fi t t on the a T h ry R b r idd rs nigh isl nd . e

a a . The e eta e . t nim ls v g bl s O her remarks on the isla nd .

T he few fi t a . o e rs d ys A b il d dish . 56

CHAPTER V .

He two h o s The oa t a n d . f t e . builds u es . g s birds His urni ur

Ma e a o e th a t t a e a t to et k s cup . Is tr ubl d wi r s " m s wild c s g

rid of them . 73

CHAPTER VI .

T he . a li n . on o o o eB o . ca ts A fight . S e o s Atta ck C mm d r yr n

a . a h e T ming the kid . Milking goa ts C tc ing wild on s

S oe ea o u 94 h s w r t.

CHAPTER VII .

ee Me a n d a a e t . e t A n dle invented . nding m king g rm n s A r s ing

a e ta . He a e a fe . a a pl ce . M di tions m k s kni S pa ni rds l nd

e a e . e e a t e . wa to a n d pursue him . His sc p Th ir d p r ur A y

e fi H fi u s . Ma e a a et . 108 g t re . e nds pl m k s b sk C E ON T N T S .

CHAPTER VIII .

ffe . o a o a o H An a ccide nt . His su rings N ee d f c mp ni n e sees

on oa r . F a e e T he e o e a . He o e to s hips . p pl l nd g s b d r w ll

. h o . o 1 22 the isla nd Return me C onclusi n .

LI FE O F DE FO E .

A L g g EX AN D En S E L K I R K .

CHAP ER T I .

’ ir b rth. H are ta e. i S elk k s i is p n g Cho ce of his bus ines s . ’ His a the r s v e s . His tem erame t a ua rre the f i w p n , q l,

hme t. i hum lia ti He r es o e to o punis n H s i on . lv s g

to s ea . I suppose all my little readers know

the story of Robin son Crusoe . I t is very

’

but it . interesting , is not true The fact is that a famous man by the nam e of De

u a dve n Foe , made p the story from the f A W I tures o lexander Selkirk , hich am 10 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

n o w going to relate . When I have done

this , I will tell you something more of

De Foe .

Alexander Selkirk , the hero of the

following little narrative , was born in

L in argo , the county of Fife , Scotland , a 16 76 . in the year His f ther , an hon

est fisherman , like most of his fellow

villagers , thought no course of life more

honorable , or better for his two sons ,

than the one he had himself pursued , in

imitation of his own parent .

th e He , therefore , adopted maxim of

s profession for his boy , and beginning to bring them up in the w ay which he E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . 1 1

thought they ought to go , that when they were old they might not depart from

e it , he designed that th ir lives should

he fis h - a d be spe nt wit h t line n the net . H e viewed the former as the most pro fi lin e table of business , and the latter , to u s e m a ter of his own , most likely to ’ bring them in g ood ha uls .

k r B ut Mr . Sel i k was not actuated altogether by mercenary feelings and

W . worldly isdom , in making this choice He knew that the line would hold his boys to the h ater at times when they might otherwise be in danger from vicious a s sociates on land " and that the n e t

n i n n would confi e the r atte tio , and keep E E 12 AL XAND R S ELKIRK .

them secure from man y a snare to which

the feet of youth are liable , when not

under the eye of a paternal guardian .

B esides , he probably had in view the simple lives and humble occupation of

the fishermen so celebrated in Scripture , and felt very willing to see his sons in the same rank of life and kind of em ployment , provided that they might also deserve the name of followers of Him who was " meek and lowly ” and lay up for themselves the treasures that per

ish not in the using . B ut his plans and his kind intentions

y tho s e o f aff t were , like many an ectiona e

father , frustrated by the waywardness

of his child . ER S E K RK ALEX AN D L I . 1 3

A t In naming his son lexander , repor

s . aith not , whether Mr Selkirk yielded

a t to momentary fit of ambi ion , and did a it in honor of Alex nder of Macedon , the ancient monarch of the world " or in commemoration o f some honorable fis h erman ancestor . B ut , it is certain , that ,

Alexander , son of Philip , wishing to lay the plan , and mark out the bound

his aries of great city , having nothing

i t else to do with , marked it out by s cattering fl which was immediately

r e o f picked up g flocks birds , had not the plan of his city more completely

n . on e destroyed , tha Mr Selkirk had , the he had formed for his youngest son . E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

Alexander of Macedon , when quite a b o s u t y, tamed , by his kilf l managemen

a W h and gentle us ge , a ild , fiery orse , whic h n either his father nor any one else u co ld subject to the bridle . But Alex

n e a der of Largo , was hims lf wild and

a to fiery in his n ture , and had not learned restrain the Violence of his own passions .

H e d was not malicious , or unkin in

o but wa s c his dispositi n , , he so qui k tempered , and so hasty in showing his

0 resentment , that he occasioned

s great uneasines in house , and

n brought himself i to many difficulties , that might have been avoided by a little gentlene ss and forbearance . E E AL EXAND R S LKIRK . 15

The picture of a child angry with his

' too parents , is sad a one to be drawn , and the reader shall be spared the pain of seeing it here , as it shall not be stated how the young Selkirk would manifest his anger when either of his parents displeased him . B ut , if his

- bis brother , sister , or any of his equals

c u tou hed his sensitive spirit , p came his

o little hand for a bl w , or to hurl a stone , or som e other thing that chanced to be

first in its way .

irrit ilit u This fi i y, tho gh combined with a great deal that was n‘oble in his t he a rr nature , brought him into qu e l tha t ' was finally the cause of his firs t leaving 16 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

i the house n which he was born . This

- was a small , one story building with a garret , which is still standing on the north side of the principal street of Lar go , after this long lapse of years . It has been continued to this day in possession of the descendants of the family of the noted Selkirk , one of which is its pre sent occupant . The last quarrel which the yo ung

Alexander had in it , began thus . Hav ing come some distance one evening , ’ a n d after a hard day s work , feeling very his brother was sitting in the chimney corner , he hastily took up a pipkin of

E E 1 8 AL EXAND R S LKIRK .

n was taki g his revenge , attempted to interpose " but the pat e rnal comma n d

e ff was unhe ded in the heat of the a ray . O n e m e mber of the family after ano

ther interfered , till finally , the whole

a r house was filled with noise and upro . At l e ngth t he neighbors bega n to

gather ro und — some upholding o n e bro

th e e ther , and some oth r , till the strife

formed parties , and the quarrel became

so public throughout the whole village , that it was d e emed proper fo r the kirk

session to take the aggressor in hand . He was brought b e fore the venerable

n body of old wome , and condemned , according to their custom in such cases 9 AL EXAND E R S E LKIRK . 1

ff i of o ence , to stand , a certa n number of Sundays , in the aisle of the church , to be rebuked as a culprit , by the cler

m a n i n gy , presence of the congregation , before W hom he m ust stand as a peni tent .

n o At first , Alexander declared that thing should make him subm it to such humiliation a n d he stood out very

stoutly about it , for a good while . B ut ,

n b his a ger having subsided , his etter feelings were touched by the entreaties

of his friends , who feared that highe r powers m ight be appealed to , and severer

in punishment , inflicted , if he resisted this instance . 20 AL EXAND E R S E LKIRK

He submitted at last to the sentence " and went through the mortifying trial to which his rashness had expos e d him " but this public expiation of his fault ,

n and public exhibition of penite ce , so a fe e f cted his spirits , that he was fill d with a sort of disgust and discontent towards his native tow n and b e deter mined to quit it , and go to sea . And now do we behold the young adventurer about to take leave of his ’ native Village , his father s house , his

r friends and ea ly companions , to cast hims e lf upon a world t o which h e is a

o f stranger , in consequence a sudden

o f n a n burst angry passio , in unguarded L E E E 2 1 A XAND R S LKIRK .

mom ent , which he would give all that his he has , and all hopes of future , suc

to . cess , recall I f the conseq uences of anger were

n e t v i as soo g o er as the anger tself, it would not be such an enemy to the peace of the hu ma n h ea rt . o B ut , like the tempest that s on passes o ff , we often see it laying waste many f i e u s a d a r things , whos r ins are a wit n i t s u ess to f ry , long after the sun shines o ut , and the clouds have all been scat

er t e d .

” co m Many a one , if he had the m at

a ll mand , would give empires wit h their

u e riches , for the power of ndoing som 22 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . rash deed that he has done in a fit of anger . He who cherishes a quick and violent

n o t all temper , is only troublesome to t W connec ed with him , and ithin the reach of its smoke and flame , but he carries a foe about in his own bosom .

t h e He keeps there , some of sparks of that fire that inflamed Cain , and caused him to lift his hand against his brother .

w a s B ut , while this impetuosity so conspicuous, a trait in the character of

Selkirk , it must not be forgotten that he had many redeeming qualities He

e - was naturally gen rous , kind hearted and warm in his affections " and he bore E E S E L—K i RK AL XAND R . 23

within his young breast , a great and

u him to noble spirit , that ever ta ght despise and shun a dishonest or mean action . CHAPTER II .

" - . i r ea s c es s . S elkirk s ails H s eflections . S i kn fl ha il

t r H rea m . His res o u o . P a s or the s o m. is d l ti n l n f

- e ut a l ter. f utur e fl n other voyag e. H g oes o s i ing mas Wh en all was ready for Alexander’s t depar ure , and he found himself on the deck of the ship , where every one was

e busy , p ulling here , and pulling ther , till she fairly cleared the land , and there

W a s o n no way for him to step shore , he began to feel heavy at the heart , and to wish he had ne ver formed th e resolu tion of going from home . ’ He thought of his father s kindness , ’ e n of his mother s tender care , of the

2 6 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . de a rm e n ts h of brot er , sister and play mate , and of the scenes of his child hood — all of which seemed sacrificed to the unholy fire of his a n gry feelings in a moment when he did n o t try for that h l t e t v s e . profitable victory , vic ory o er f His bosom was burden ed wi t h self- re ’ h re re t a n d b e a n t o proac , and g , it g swell

e t h e and to h ave , long before heaving of the ship and the sw e lling of the sea made his condition more pitiable , by a sickness of another kind than that of the heart .

th e s hi o But , by and by , p began to r ll and to toss and Alexander’s stomach

n . bega to roll , too He staggered , and 2 7 AL EXAND E R S E LKIRK .

pitched , first against one thing , and then against another " but the ship would not keep steady long enough for him to get a firm footing , and down he went at full length , on the deck .

Every sailor that passed him , would either touch him with his toe , and laugh at his pale face , or twitch him by the arm , and ask him how he happened to take so much grog " if he would not like to go to sea in a ship that could stop and be tied to a tree every night " or some

t o question equally tantalizing on e , who

o f like him , had the stomach full sick ness , and the heart full of sorrow , so that he feared to open his lips lest they 2 8 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

should expose the secret concerns of both .

p He had shi ped as a sailor boy , and when his call to duty came , he sighed and wished i t could come in his kind ’ father s voice . The whole , restless ,

awful ocean now lay before him , like an eternal rem e mbrance of his draught of salt water from the pipkin " and he felt as if h e would g ladly drink up a

un whole wave , for the opportunity of doing all that had occurred since that memorable swallow . ’ His brother s playfulness a n d laugh he would gladly have borne , and he thought it a slight thing to incur his j est , E S E LK I RK ALE XAND R . 2 9 ‘ h e felt th e keen raillery of his mess m h u m ates . He had not been any o rs out on his first voyage , when the sky began to blacken , and a hard thunder ‘ s t o rm cam e up from som ewhere unde r

' the great deep , as it seem ed to him for , where else the clouds arose from , he could not tell .

The sailors ran to and fro , pulling at th e l ropes and taking in the sails , whi e

th e ss f ou t canva puf ed , and flapped back

d le again , and the cor age ratt d in the

squall , till it seem ed as if confusion and

d r o disor e had taken com mand fthe s‘hip . Soon it began to rain " and then , rat ’ - tle , rattle , rattle , came the hail stones 8 0 AL EXAND E R S E LKIRK .

’ on the deck . The captain s loud voice

do was heard , crying to one to this thing , another to do that , and trying to be obeyed , while the noise of the ves sel , and the wind and thunder , mingled with the fall of the hail , drowned half his words . Alexander di d not understand what

n o r t h e was to be done , know meaning

- of t he sea phrases addressed to him . While looking about to find out what part he was told to perform , he stood in him the way , where one would push

b a il this side , and another that , till the rolled under his feet , that had j ust begun

the t to keep m o ion of the vessel a little , and down he went upon his fac e . E E E 3 1 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

' The hail scratched his ch e e k an d cut his chin , and the red drops came forth .

u n This a sailor saw , and with a la ghi g look that c ut him more than the h a il

h e wa s stones , told him saw there blood i in h s face notwithstanding its pale looks .

B ut when the storm had subsided ,

u i h w a s and the first dreadf l n ght , whic a sleepless one to our hero , had passed away , he began to feel somewhat at home in the ship , and to make his way about much better tha n he had done the first day.

His appetite had not quite returned , but he thought the sea ha d got over some of its frolic , and grown more even E E s E L X R 3 2 AL XAND R i X .

n and steady , and he fou d that the ship was not to be blown or beaten to pieces quite so easily as he had thought she might be . He could now s tand firmly and look at th e dolphin that jump e d u s p out of the water , and the porpoise

as that huddled together in shoals , thick ’ as the company of a fashionable party , or the locusts that came in swarms like

n to . clouds , to bri g terror the Egyptians

H e s aw , also , something which he

fo r took to be a floating island " , to tell the truth , it seemed to Alexander , as if " W every thing was now afloat . hat P” is that said he , to one of the hands . ’ ” t Tis the fish tha swallowed Jonah ,

3 4 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

in a s rocked a living cradle , long as his ’ fathe r s whole humbl e habita tion .

a n d ff e He felt pent up su ocat d , and talk e d in his sl e e p " a n d moving t o g e t

m i e a w breath , raised hi self t ll his h d ent bump agains t th e t op of his b e r t h .

him t o The blow brought his senses , and relieved him o f the n ightmare and

e him r m h of course , jected f om the out

his a a u . S o of im gin ry hale , he awoke to find that he was n o t s o much o f a prophet as he had tho ught himself " and

o f a n d e that , the smell tar , oth r odors t peculiar to a vessel , together wi h the want of a ir in his c‘onfi n ed sleeping th e filuvia place , was not e of the liver 3 E E E 35 AL XAND R S LKIRK . or any other internal organ of the m i ghty

fish . His was n ot the sweet Sailor B oy’s ’ Dream , that the poet , Dimond , so beau tifull y describes , where ,

Me o t e de e a f o e e t fl o w e m ry urn d si wis , h l c v r d wi h rs , ” P re e t the o e b ut o e a the t o . s n ing r s , c nc ling h rn He felt as if the rose was shattered by his own rashness a n d he had only the thorns left to torture him . But Alexander Selkirk the boy of

Nether Largo , had now set out for him

t h e self " and if, like ploughman turn ed did ’nt like the rocking ’ a s bout , he found , like him al o , that

w s no oo in he there a d r , where danger E E E 3 6 AL XAND R S LKIRK . ’ might creep out of the ship . He therefore resolved on m aking the best

n of his condition , and on doi g his duty faithfully , according to his ability . ‘ a As day after day , and week fter

o ff a week passed , he bec me familiarized with the habits o f a seafaring life and when the ship arriv e d at her place of

o f destination , the scenes a foreign city ,

W e n e w and hat was to his young yes , a world , amused him , and kept him busy , when he was n o t employed at the ves

a sel , till his spirits reg ined their cheer fulness , and he cared less and less about the unpleasant affair at his native village . He made up his mind to follow the E 3 7 AL EXAND E R S LKIRK .

re col seas , till he should outlive the lection of the quarrel , or , at least , ge t above caring about it , by making his for l tune , and establishing himse f at home as a rich and benevolent man . H e even began to count on what he would do when he should rise to be captain of a fine ship " and then , to lay plans for the after years which he in tended to spend as a nabob , in ease and independence , among his early associ ates . There were many things that he meant to do in Largo , when he should

u n o tw iths ta n d make money eno gh " for , ing the tempora ry disaffection which he 3 8 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

had entertained towards the place , and many of its inhabitants , he still loved it , as the scene of his nativity and all his childish enj oym ents .

He i n o was not so thoughtless , or so g ble in spirit as to lose his attachment to his birth - place " nor so destitute of nat ff ural and filial a ection , as not to blend with his many schemes , the good which he intended to do to his father and family .

For one thing , he thought he should m like to build the a new house , and enable his father to live better and more at his ease in the decline of his life , than he had thus far been able to do " and to E E E 3 9 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

purchase for his m other and other mem bf bers the family , not only the com

for table s f thing of li e , but many that

, did n o t comfort actually require , but which it would please his ambitious eye

to see them possess .

W n hen the ship returned to E gland ,

after a long and pleasant voyage , Sel

ha d re s o lv kirk did not go home , for he

ed not to see Largo again , till he was promoted in rank and had a purse full

of money, H e shipped again and went an other v oyage " and , proving a good seaman , he rose in th e estimation of his employ

”

ers , till , as years rolled over his head , E E E 40 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

and he went one voyage after another , he was promoted in rank and when a bout twenty - seven years old he went out as sailing - master in an armed ve s - G sel called the Cinque Ports alley , that 170 3 sailed in the year , with about six

— teen guns and sixty three men , under the command of Captain Charles Pick ering .

42 E E E AL XAND R S LKI RK . cruise among the Spaniards in the

South Sea , along the coast of B razil . W hile on this coast , Captain Pick

e ering died , and his li utenant , whose

name was Thomas Stradling , was his

successor in command . Whether the name of Stradling had any thing to do

n o t with his character , or not , is record ed but certain it was , that his strides in his newly — acquir e d authority seemed rather too long , to please our hero , Alex

h a d ander , who never liked the man , and who now felt indignant at many of his imperious airs . This growing dislike began at first to break out in little bickerings and E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . 43

s n a n murmuring , and finally ripe ed into open quarrel between the commander

- and hi s sailing master . The vessels made their way round

n a n d I Cape Hor , proceeded to the sland

trr o s e of Juan Fernandez , for the p p of replenishing their stores of wood and

vva te r. W hile at this island , they were alarm ed by the sudden appearance o f two French armed ships " and fearing a cap

ut n ture , they p hastily to sea " and se d ding away in their fright left five of ’ a C pt . Stradling s men on the un i n ha b i d te island .

se m en The situation of the forsaken , E E E 44 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

d seemed sad and forlorn indee , left , as u n they were , where all was wild and impressed with the work of a human hand , or the print of the foot of a brother man . They knew not how they were to obtain the next food t o satisfy their hunger " or what wild beast might spring upon them from the forests , to m ake his noct urnal feast on their n u sheltered and unprotected persons .

They also had much uneasiness , lest their paths might be infested with some deadly foe , in the form of poisonous ser pents and stinging insects Their im a gin at io n s began to torment them with many fe arful forms of the death that E ER S EL X i RX AL XAND . 45

w a s they might die , and conj ecture busy with the inquiry who should go

i a first , and who should be left t ll the l st ,

a to bury his only remaining comp nion , and have none in his turn to give his lonely body , a covering of earth to con ceal it from the birds of prey , or to save it from the melancholy fate of con s um ‘ a ir a n d ing in the open , the glaring light of day . But their fears on these grounds were soon ended by the French ships which

o ff came to the island , and took the m , when they had surrendered themselves a s voluntary prisoners , to avoid what

u they tho ght a still Warse condition , 4 E E E 6 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

w imprisonment on a ild spot of earth , th a t was shut out from a ll intercourse t l wi h the wor d , by the wild and restless waters that encompassed it . As these m e n a re now safe o ff the island , and gone where they give us no t farther account of their fa e , we will fol lo w up our two English vessels a lit tle while longer . They made their way to the coast

n ot of South America , where they had

e . remained togeth r long , before Capt

Dampier , sympathizing with Selkirk in

fo r his dislike Stradling , fell out with him " an d their quarrel ended in their A E E E 47 L XAND R S LKIRK .

finally separating , each to steer his ves i sel h s own way . This se paration took pl a ce on the

i 1 9 o f " t he th May , n September

r a following , St adling cam e gain to Juan W i . d ffi Fernandez hile here , another culty a rose between Selkirk and his

s unamiable com mander , and the ves el

a n d at the same tim e , proving leaky ,

b n as Alexander thought , unsafe , he ega to have serious thoughts of remaining

t he alone on island , and letting the ves

e sel d part without him . I t is not likely that the condition of the vessel alon e would have ind uced him to quit her " a n d it is very probable tha t E E E 48 AL XAND R S LKIRK . some of the old embers of his tempera

ment which kindled the fire at Largo , had now been uncovered and fanned into a hasty fire by the provoking treat ment of Stradling , though Alexander had had many years in which to subdue his passions , and the ocean , to quench the violence of their fire: He at length went so far as to re

un move his chest , his g and his bed from the vessel to the shore " and he told Stradling that rather th a n be s tra d dled e ov r by him any longer , he would remain and take his chance alone . The captain was at first loath to lose s o valuable a member of his crew but

E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

S e l kirk l e ft on th e isl and E 1 AL XAND E R S E LKIRK . 5

’ " But Stra dling s stern heart was not to t be easily sof ened , and he refused to receive the repentant Selkirk into the vessel . O ur hero had now the sorrow to see h every face depart , and to watc the ves sel till she grew sm aller and smaller , and finally , after becoming a little speck a gainst the distant horizon , disappeared from t he view of his lonely and weary eye .

n ot B ut , inhumanity and wrong do escape the eye of the Judg e of a ll the H im earth , ‘nor go unrequited , by who V I says , engeance i s mine and will ’ repay . A fe w m o nths a fter this cru el 52 AL EXAND E R S E LKIRK .

d act of Stra ling , he had the misfortune

e t a w to g the Cinque Ports ground , here she was s e ized by the Spaniards against w o ut a n d hom she had com e , her captain

n and men made priso e rs . They were slav e s to new and n u

e a e a n d e e m rciful m st rs , und rw nt much

e cru l treatment and hard labor . S o it

t he m e n eventually turned out , that five t a n d S , whom theyhad first lef , elkirk were n o t so badly o ff a s if they had remai n ed in the vessel to s har e the un

e happy fate of the r st of her men .

a ll e I f people of ag s and conditions , w ho find caus e s of complaint a n d re

’ s e n t m e n t a a in s t e a ch g other , when they A E N E S E L XA D R LKIRK . 53 a re thrown toge ther by - the circum s i n tances of the r lives , would o ly stop to think h o w these causes will dimi n ish

” n n h e and sink into othing ess , w n the boiling and bubbling of their fe elings

t h e m are allayed by lapse of a little ti e , how differ e ntly would they t reat eac h other , even if they pretended not to a c t n r a n l upo C h isti n pri cip es , but only on those of common sense and self

e int rest .

h s el B ut , t is important person , f , is a great busy body , standing fore most in ev e ry thing " and of course often g e t ti ng severely wounded when a little modesty might have spared he r the E E E 54 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

pain and m o rtifica tion of the cuts and

bruises .

n o Selkirk , when left alone with companions but his own thoughts " and

a with no human f ce to behold , except ,

sis a his own appeared in the w te r , that

be bent over , felt , no doubt , how m uch wiser it would have been in him t o have

u t in put p with a li tle wrong , silence , tha n to be left in his present solitary

state .

Stradling , on the other hand , would probably have consented to treat Alex

n e a d r with kindness and forbearance , for the opportunity of escaping from his tyrannical masters the Spaniards " and E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . 55 he felt that o ne must begi n by doing to others as he would wish others t o him if do to , he would turn out well in the end . A reproachful conscience is a terrible companion for one under any circum stances — but to a man in slavery among

m n a cruel enemy , it must be tor e ting beyond expression E 56 AL XAND ER S E LKIRK .

CHA PTER IV .

’ S e r s ee s . D s over o the s a lki k f ling i c y f i l nd. The B uc

ca n ier . t r o ber d he r h s S o y f Ro t K i d. T fi s t nig t on

the s a . he a ma . he e a b Oth i l nd T ni ls T v g et les . er

r ema r on the s a . he ew r t a «9 b e ks i l nd T f fi s d ys . oil d

dis h.

Selkirk kep t, up his spirits very well till the vessel sailed , and the faces of his companions were gone from his sight . Then his heart sunk " and he

n o said to himself, for he had one else

" to hear him , I never heard a sound ” so dismal as their parting oars . The island of which he was n o w left sole monarch , lies to the west of South

58 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

t - a - the other , hat of Mas fuera , which signifies more without. Juan Fernan dez , afterwards becam e a sort of ren de z vo us for the B uccanie rs who infested

re the South Seas , on account of its mote and unfreque n ted situation . The pirates a gainst whom that noted

t w a s one , Cap ain Kidd , sent out , made

n u this isla d a resort , and sed it as a ’ convenient stopping pl a ce fo r wood and water " and it is even p robable that Kidd himself might have buried some

e oh of the treasures h re , that he had t a in e d by the shedding of blood , and wasting t he lives of his fellow men . The name of Robert Kidd is familiar E E AL EXAND R S LKIRK . 59

e m to most A m rican ears , though , any amo n g the youthful of the present gen e ra tio n m ay not be acquainted with his history . H e was a skilful seaman and a bold officer in the navy , in the reign of King W l Ill il iam , and , having distinguished

' himself in the service of his king , was appointed to the command of an a rmed ship , to go out for the suppression of the pirates who , at this time , overran the South Seas . Kidd had a wife and family whom he

" f t left in New ork , when he went or h s on this bold enterpri e . H aving cruised about a long time 6 0 E E s E L K i RK AL XAND R .

without success , and finding that he was not going in this way to make

s n fo r his fortune very oo , " , he took no

— h e prizes , as he had expected to do ," conc e ived t h e evil plan of tur n ing pirate

e f e hims l , as a short r road to the temple of fortu n e . H e therefore began cautiously to sound the minds of his men , and find in g them w illing t o le a gue with him in

s e t u a s his desperate purpose , he p a

a , e I pirate and became a tru‘shm elite , inasmuch as his band was a gainst every ’ ’

a a a a . man , and every m n s h nd g inst him

m e e H e co mitt d many terribl m urders , and destroyed a great number of ve s E 6 1 AL EXAND E R S LKIRK .

ls n se , after havi g plundered them of all that w a s v a l ua ble .

a n d h s The gold , silver ot er treasure which he th us obtained by crim e and a

t n fe b e was e of hum a li , buried here and

o n n u u there , the isla ds or nfreq ented tracts of coast w here he could , with the

r e in con least fea of obs rvation , put , and

e a l e them , so as not to hav them found

J o n him u p in case of an enco nter , till a convenient t im e for him to come and

- n remove the m , and take his ill gotte

wealt h to his possession again . Having gone on long in this guilty

a e " career , and t k n a great many rich

s n in prize , he came boldly into B osto , 6 2 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . tending to return to his family in New

" ork .

But , here he was arrested , and with several of his murderous crew , was put in irons and sent to England for tri al .

There , with six of his men , he died

o on the gibbet at Execution D ck . Their bodies were afterw ards remov e d

- u to the river side and h ng up in chains , a t l e a ittle distance from each oth r , where they remained seve ral ye a rs a s a beacon to warn others to avoid the guilty course that had brought them to so terrible an end . The treasures which they had buried E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . 63

l were never found . M a n yp e op e em ployed themselves from tim e to t i me in seeking for the places and digging in the earth where they supposed they might b e concealed " but all to no pur pose .

/ if in di n an t a t The earth , as g the crimes of which the gold that had orig in a ll n h a d y spru g from her bosom , been

a the cause , never yielded it up gain to circulate through the hands of m an .

r A great many stories were made up ,

fl e w and about among the superstitious , concerning the sudden te mpests tha t w t he ould arise , or strange sights and s s a s t ound th t were een and heard , j us 6 4 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . a s the tre a sure seekers had come so

e b n ar the o j ect of their search , as to fe el their spades strike upon the metal v e ss e ls in which t h e gold was buri e d " and to hear the sound , in a ringing

n noise , as the blow fell whe they were

e oblig d to leave all , and flee away .

b o ff B ut these were , pro ably , the spring o f the imaginat ion " and occasion ed by i t s b e ing filled with the scen e s of hor ror a n d d e ath w hich had occurred when the wealth was obtained by its

a m e l st hu an poss ssor " or , m ore proper h l in uma n . y, its one

t he Such is story of the pirate , Kidd , and the weal t h for which he sold his

6 6 AL EXAND E R S E LKIRK

upon i t " and he found there " no trace of man or his works to remind him that he belonged to a human family " and he probably said to himself of the

a be sts and birds , as Cowper has since

supposed . him to have do n e

They a re s o u n a cq ua i n te d w i th m a n a a m n Th t the ir l e es s is s hocking to me . The first night of his solitude was the most solemn o n e th a t ever had com e

down upon Al e xande r . No darkness since his eyes first o pe ned upon the

in his m world , forsaken Largo , had see ed like that which now shrouded his

homeless , houseless form , concealing it

even from his o w n sight . E E E 6 7 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

His whole worldly wealth , which had no shelter but the overhangin g rocks by which it was deposited , consisted of his

n bed and beddi g , his chest of clothing ,

o n in his b oks , mathematical and autical s trum e n ts , a hatchet , a knife , a kettle ,

. W a gun , powder and balls ith these he e had som tobacco , and a few other small articles con ta in e d in hl S chest . When the night ha d passed heavily away , and the light of morning dawned , he bethought himself o f the one great source of consolation that he had still , i n his B ible " and he began the day by reading it . The stillness of the scene made him 6 8 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . feel his loneliness so powerfully that he o pened his lips and read alo ud — but the sound of his voice vi brating among t he rocks thrilled through his whole frame

b e u t he and sh t book , and took a walk " pon his n e w herita ge t o s e e what he could discover , and what means it might afford of bettering his condition .

e a He struck a fire , and broil d fish m that he took fro the water , and , on this , with a draught from a little brook that ran sparkling along , close by where ff his e ects were lodged , he made his

r e first breakfast , as lo d of Juan F rnan

de z . The island he found to be a romantic E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . 6 9 spot with m uch beautiful scenery about it . H e re high hills and wild crags would meet his eye , and there , green vales , bright stream s and shadowy woods diversified the prospect .

Several bays surrounded it , but still the island was of very difficult a n d dan geron s access to navigators " and this was the cause of its having been so

" little frequented , except by those who had wished to shun the observation of their fellow m e n . I t produced a great many beau t iful

o f flowers , and was the abode a variety of gay birds . It was also thickly peo pled with wild goats that were seen E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK . leaping from crag to crag and bounding about in every direction . These had sprung from a few goats that Juan Fer n an dez left on the island when he first w e n t f th e re , and they constituted the greatest part of the animal life which it possessed .

Thus , our hero found himself placed over a kingdom of goats " and he soon set about bringing them under his con trol so far as making them serviceable to his necessities was concerned . The first few days of his solitude he

m — in spent chiefly in aking discoveries , meditating on his n e w condition — in thinking of all from which he was n o w E E E 7 1 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

shut out— ia reading his Bible — and in trying to make himself as comfortable

as he could , till night came . Then he kindled a fire to keep him

b e company , and laid down on his bed

neath the shelving rock . His food he obtain ed either by fishing

u or h nting , and cooked it over a brisk

fire of the pimento , or pepper tree , which burnt very freely, and served , h when night cam e , bot for fire and can

a dles , as it mad e a lively flame and cheering light . He found some turnips and other f m vegetables growing wild , ro seeds which had probably been scattered by 72 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

t the Spaniards , or some o hers that had put into the island , afterwards , for wood and water . There was also a great abundance

t o of the cabbage tree , the p of which when boiled w ith the flesh of the goat and seasoned with the pimento , which is the same as the Jamaica pepper , tast ed v e ry much like the common cabbage . This dis h lacked only salt and the a o co mpa n i m e n t of bre a d to render it very palatable to the simple taste of its lonely proprietor .

E E E 74 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

to pitch , nor , like the North American

on e him b Indians , some to help in ack ing down trees for the pillars of a bark covered hovel " neither had b e any one to consult , in selecting the spot for a dwelling .

He looked around , and , fixing on one place which , more than any other ,

n the t withi scope of his eye , he though

t b e would be convenien and agreeable , marked it out as the chosen one for his home and removed all the little stock of his worldly wealth to it , as a sort of dedication . Having done this he took his hatchet and went into the wood to fell such E N E E 7 AL XA D R S LKIRK . 5 s mall trees as he wanted to begin his building with . The sound of the i strokes of the hatchet , as it pealed n echoes through the wood and among the

n e w rocks , was m usic to the startled goats . They looked at each other as if they only wanted speech to inquire what it meant " and when th e crash of the fall ing tree came , they leaped away , and bounding over the crag and into the dell , gave , by the swiftness of their feet , a sp eedyproof of their intention not to fall in the same way . When they had first beheld the form of man n in the perso of Selkirk , they E E E 76 AL XAND R S LKIRK . paid little heed to the new shape that

t e had come among hem , and only notic d t him with a look of‘curiosity , withou recognising him as lord of the fowl ’ and the brute . But when his gun was

e e a n d lev l d at them , took down one of their number after another , though the shot was so quick as hardly to convince

e them that it had come from him , th y grew suspicious , and began to think him a more terrible animal than h a d ever before entered the borders of their

territory .

e And , se ing , now , that even the trees could not stand before him , they thought it was some awful powe r that N E E E . 77 AL XA D R S ‘LKIRK . had come embodied in such a question ’ able shape , and it was imperiously de m a n de d an d by the wisdom of a goat , the

- sound principle of self preservation , that . they should keep clear of him so far as

' th e ir n imble limbs would enable them to do it .

fi e e t n e s s B ut , with all their , a ball ’ from the muzzle of Selkirk s gun would , fly fa ster than their feet could carry them and whenever he wanted a new supply of fresh m eat , he sent his leaden messenger by the force of powder , to in a ke known his purpose . The flesh

b e of the animal . which dressed with

u a s f o the aid of his knife , he sed o d , 78 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

t i s cooked ei her by boil ng , roa ting or broiling .

e The skin he dried , and appropriat d

due in a way that will , in time , be men

uon e d .

The birds too , began to be filled with consternation at him who had come h among them . T ey had never before seen their companions drop as he drop ped them , nor heard such a sudden noise as preceded their fall , whenever Selkirk’s taste required a more delicate bit of flesh , than that of the goat , upon his table of stone . When they saw that the very boughs from which they sent forth their sweet E E E 79 AL XAND R S LKIRK .

music , and on which their nests were built were not spared , they flew away ff i a righted , and mourned n the distance , the loss of their homes and their help less little ones that must perish in the

n rui s . B ut Selkirk thought m ore about the home that he had forsaken , and the one

fo r h he m ust now provide himself, t an of that of any bird " a n d he busied him self " in cutting do wn trees and dragging them to his chosen spot , till he got enough together to form a palisade for th e walls of his house .

W th e hile thus busily employed , ex e rcis e gave him a good a ppetite during 80 E E AL XAND E R S LKIRK .

the day , and the fatigue made him sleep soundly at night . He m ade it a rule

lie never to down to rest , or rise up to work , without reading a portion of the

G od word of , and communing with H im by prayer a n d meditatio n . By this b e strengthened his mind for the solitary business of the day " and

n during the solemnity of the ight , it m ade him feel that he had still for his friend and watchman , Him whose eye never sleepeth . The pimento tree was the one which he had selected as the chief material in n building . It was the most ma ageable u one , and most easily bro ght into his

82 E D E E AL XAN R S LKIRK .

branched out , a short fork on which to lay sticks to S upport the materials of h which t e roof was t o be formed . When th e s e sticks were laid across th e t o p of the walls from side to side , b e cove red th e m w ith a thick coat of

a n d long grass , twigs , bark , so as to m ake quite a s e cur e shel t e r from the

n t h e fo r rai , as well as sun " , he took c a re to form the roof with a sl ant so as t o let the wa te r slide off as fast as it fell .

e e o f To enclos the sid s his house , he hu n g up t h e skins o f the goats that he

l fo r kil ed food , and stretched them out

t h an o n fastening the posts , as he took E 83 AL EXAND E R S LKIRK .

S e lk i rk b uildi n g h i s b ut 84 E E E AL XAND R S LKIRK .

them from time to time , till the whole inside of his habitation had at length a complete lining of hair . W hen his house was done , his next obj ect was to furnish it . For a bed stead h e collected a heap of small h sticks whic he laid carefully together, and filled up the crevices with grass . e Then he laid a coat of grass ov r them , and covered the whole with goat skins "

b e and on this mass deposited his bed , and found it just high enough from the ground , to feel comfortable .

&c . b e His chest , his gun , kettle , then put within his house , and began to feel as if he had a home . B ut he had AL EXAND E R S E LKIRK . 85 not yet brought his feeling into such a state as to enable him to sin g Sweet ’ H ome to this humble centre from which

m n all his walks radiated , in the or ing , and to which they pointed at night .

W u hen his first b ilding was erected ,

l n o t he began to fee the want , only of

b ut more roo m , of employm ent , also fo r n d b he was of i ustrious ha its , and never could feel contented in idleness . H e n o w thought he should like a

a n d place to build his fire , to do his cooking in " and fo r such other purposes as he did not like to use his bedroom h for , or to accomplis without a shelter .

hus m e s s s e t His next , therefo re , was to E 86 ALEXANDER S LKIRK . about building another little b ut close by the first one . He was now engag e d again in felling

a m h trees and dr gging the om e , and no beaver ever worked m ore diligently than he did till his second house was done ,

itc and he was the owner of a k hen .

m th e - n ut Fro shell of a cocoa , he

b cutt in formed a cup yt g a round piece out of one end , and fastening it with a

t he a peg , in the other , bringing edge downward so as to make a bottom on which it could stand firm and even .

- This he used for a drinking cup . He found along the shore some iron hoops that h a d been thrown out from E R E AL EX AN D S LKIRK . 87 the vessel " a n d these he picked up and carefully saved in his house to serv e him in some way at a future day . H e also found a few nails of w hich he took

a n equal care , thinking he should have Opportunity to turn them to some use in the course of time . u His houses , it was tr e , had gone up

a without the sound of a h mm er , but the n ails were a precious treasure to him " and the use to which he put them very different from that for which t hey were o n rigi ally designed , as will be seen h ereafter . Selkirk could now lay himself dow n to re st under his own roof " but a new ‘ 88 E ALEXANDER S LKIRK . source of trouble arose to deprive him of the uninterrupted enjoyment of sleep . This was a troop of noct urnal visiters him that came about in the form of rats .

his They bit his toes , ears , and other

o f him parts his body , so as to make

e w fe l afraid to lie do n at night , lest they should come and Open a vein that would let out more blood than he fel t disposed or able to lose . s This numerous ho t of small animals , but great foes , had originated in a few of their species th‘at had come ashore from vessels which had in other days put into the island for wood and water .

90 ALEXANDER SELKIRK .

birds &c . which drew t hem towards

e a n d m him mor ore , till they began to

l e look on him on y as their ben factor , and became so attached to his person as to follow him , in the day " and to slee p round his bed by night .

Thus , the tamed cats formed a sort of social circle , of which he was the centre , while awake " and during his

r h e t e t slumbe , had in h m a fai hful guard against the attacks o f his other

r i disag eeable company , between wh ch

e and his now friendly alli s , nature has established an unconquerable e n mity .

He had , therefore , no longer any fear s EL K IRK 9 1 ALEXANDER . of losing his toes or his blood by the operations of the teeth of these four footed pilferers a n d phle bo tomists . 92 I ALEXANDER SELK RK .

H E C APT R V I .

«3 . o . fl tt The cats . fig ht S ea li ns ack on Commodo re B n ro . T a m the kid . M n a y n i g ilki g g o ts . Catching h wild o nes . S oes wea r out. Having formed this companionship

e with his cats , Selkirk felt l ss lonely , ' and more che erful than before " and he could now sing , and talk to them , as a substit ute for more understanding a u

dito rs . He was one night waked from his

b u Slum er by a terrible so nd , like the roaring of a lion . What could be coming he could not imagine " but he thought it m ust be some powerful I 8 ALEXANDER SELK RK . 9 fo e a o , gainst which he had no prote tion . e For , if the monster should prov as formidable in appearance as it seemed , by its voice , he thought it might easily overcome all his courage " and if the it strength of was equal to its noise , it might tear both him and his house in pieces .

e The longer he listened , the mor loud and terrible the cries grew— and the nearer they see m ed to come . The cats j umped up and began to caper about , and their master thought he

his . t would get up , too He put for h head from his littl e cabin — the moon E 94 ALEXANDER S LKIRK .

— shone bright and clear all the rocks , hills and woods were distinctly defined but nothin g of animal life could be s e en . He found the sound came from the quarter in which the ocean lay " and he mustered coura ge to b e nd his s teps a little way in the direction in which the water w a s ne a rest . As he drew nearer the water - side he heard a great sousing about among

e e the waves , and discov r d that the noise came from so mething that was

a either an inhabitant of the oce n , or was enjoying the night i n a salt - water bath .

By and by , voice answered to voice , ALEXANDER S E LKIRK .

r f om out the deep and along the shore , till it was evident that there was a num ber of hug e animals conce rned i n the

e w it riot , or the serenad , hichsoever m ight please the s o lit a ryj udge to cal l their noctu rn a l a museme n t . " pon far

n h e ther observatio , found that what had be e n the cause of his dis t urban ce a n d his fright , was a company of sea d lions , that were hol ing a revel by dash

/ in a g bout n ear the sho re in fo a m v brine .

w a s These animals , as afterwards a n a s a r scertai ed , were l ge as com mon oxen . Their roari n g was loud and terri ble . Seamen who h av e since traversed w those aters , have taken them for their 96 ALEXAN DER SELKIRK .

oil , and found their fat nearly a foot in thickness . B ut our hero had in the process of time an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with their character and " habits , as they sometimes came on shor fed on the grass by the sea

in . side , g amphibious their nature He observed that they were some

- in what like the sea calf appearance , but much larger . They were covered with a coat of short , dark brown hair "

- were web footed , with each toe termi natin g w 1th a sharp claw . I n their motions th e y were very heavy and cl umsy . Their teeth seemed to be

E E AL XAND ER S LKIRK .

s ber , the whole race being of a drowsy make . and very fond of a soft dormi tory . Those who have engaged in e n co un t - ering a sea lion , say that it has taken six men , hard at work a whole hour to kill one and two barrels of blood have

n been drawn from a si gle animal , the blubber of which has yielded upwards of nine ty gallons of oil . The seal lie n is not a n a tive of the

. a ll l sea They are born on the and , and commonly , during the winter season , leave the water where they have pass ed the summer , and winter on the shore . S I ALEXANDER ELK RK . 99

ha s The mother usually twins , and n n - ever more , at a birth " these she nou Q ishes as the cow or the sheep does her”

- offspri n g . The young sea lion is as large as a hog of the full size . When C ommodore Byron was among the Falkland I sles he w a s attacked by b an anim al of this tri e , and came very near being a victim to the terrible power of its teeth . ’ The Com m odore s men had quite a battle with his infuriated foe , which

m f - tore a fine asti f dog in pieces , by one h bite , before t ey could overcome his strength , and succeed in killing him . B ut Selkirk never had a n yskirmishes 1 0 I 0 ALEXANDER SELK RK . with an enemy of this kind and after he became a little familiarized to the sound of their voices , it ceased to dis turb him . B ut he could not help thinking that he should like more company than he had in his tribe of cats , to share with him the j oys of home . Though we cannot trace an exact " ‘ analogy between his house and the ’ hous e tha t Ja ck built , yet there may be found some little similarity in the two establishments and their population .

Alexander sought a goat , to give him

he milk , to feed the cat , that killed t rat , that gnawed the toes of him who slept,

102 ALEXANDER SELKIRK .

pany , when at home , and to follow him about in his rambles . The mother goats u m wo ld stand and let him ilk them , into his cocoa - nut cup " and their milk fur n is h e d fo r a delicious beverage him , as well as for his kittens . He often took l enough , not on y to satisfy himself, but also , a portion for them , which he would pour into the hollow of a rock , and amuse himself by w atching them in the h enjoyment of t eir sweet meal , till they had lapped it all up .

The goats either came into the house , and laid down with the cats , beside their ’ master s bed , by night , or enjoyed their t repose j us without the cabin , on the ALEXANDER SELKIRK . 103

grass that carpeted the earth around it .

Selkirk read his Bible constantly , aloud , and cheered himself by singing hymns a n d psalms . H e w a s constant in his t devo ions , and becam e a more pious man than he had ever before been . Som e times b e amused himself by

a n d talk‘ing , or singing dancing to his cats and goats . Tho ugh he felt that in

w a en o s ociet this y, he had begun to j y y, he could not , for a long time , overcom e the depression and melancholy , brought o n by his isolated situation " and it w a s more than a year before he could subdue his discontent , and become reconciled to

u o his lot . He kept a regular acco nt f 10 4 S ELK l RK ALEXANDER .

th e a n d n days , weeks months , by maki g n otches in the trees which b e selected

fo r this purpose . W hen the winter season came round , he found that he had been cast in a lati tude where the winte r was scarcely felt and where the trees and the grass were green all the year round He often passed away the weary hours in fishing " and fo und the streams on the island abundant in a great many kinds of fish . When tired with one kind of employ

m . ent , he would seek another Chasing the wild goats was a favorite spor t with him " and his temperate w ay of living t t ogether with his roving , active habi s ,

1 0 6 ALEXANDER SELKIRK . W hen tired of chasing the goats , he

o ff would pass the hours by reading , or

u am se himself in carving his name , with

the time of his being left on the island , in on the trees " or , some other way that

kept him busy . By running constantly about among the woods and rocks , he found that his ’ sho e s grew the worse for their owner s activity " and this sort of exercise proved

fo r fo r not so healthful them , as their master . They gave way , and let his feet com e to the ground , long before he could find a shoemaker to supply him with another pair . B ut this failure did not put a stop t o 7 ALEXANDER SELKIRK . 10

the motion of the feet of the man of

Juan Fernandez . On the contrary , they felt the lighter for being u n sho d " and in process of time , their soles became

so hardened , that he could run over

u rocks and sands , and all the ro gh sur

o f m n face the soil , without indi g it , or ff m h su ering from it , any ore t an the

a e go ts that fled befor him , did , when t hey scampered from crag to crag . E 10 8 ALEXANDER S LKIRK .

CHAPT ER V II .

M en n a n d m a a r e e . m fl needle inv n t d di g king g ents . fl

e n M e ta t on s . e ma n r s t a e. a i g pl c di i H kes k ife.

n ur u him . i r Spa n ia r ds la nd a d p s e H s es cape. Thei

e a ur fl wa to et re. He s ums . d p rt e. y g fi fi nd pl b e M a kes a as k t.

Selkirk fo und that not only his shoes t mus be cast aside , but that , time and a t wild life , conspired to urn the rest of

h a his clo thing in to tatters . He d no needle or thread to mend them " but , he found out a way to tack his rags to gether so as to make them hang on him a lit tle longer " and t‘hereby proved that ne cessity is indeed the mot her of in ’ ve n t l on .

ALEX C N D ER E 1 10 A S LKIRK .

n th e tho gs cut from skins , and the nail fo r a n e edle . He also made him a cap of the same material .

The goats , seeing their master thus t d habited , fel more strongly attache to

n o t him than ever . They did , of course " consider that his dre ss had cost the lives of some of their own spe c ies " and the hairy coa t made them fe el th a t he was more a kin to them than they before took him to be . As he had been lo n g enough on the

d n islan , to feel co fident that no venom o us reptile inhabited it " and to find that no wild beast but the inoffensive goat was among its woods and hills , he often E ALEXANDER S LKIRK . 1 laid himself down by the side of som e beautiful stream that was bordered with

a n d n verdure and flowers , falli g asleep , forgot his solitude in some sweet dream of home , and of the society of man . The fatigue of running as he was accustomed to do , combin‘ed with the murmur of the waters and the son gs of the birds conspired to bring sleep easily u u l pon him , d ring the ong and warm days of summer "while his tempera te habits and constant exercise rendered it r an d o f i le a s a n t efreshing , full j visions . v These were the more delightful as his melancholy gave " way to resignation

n a to his lot , and he felt a sere ity and 1 12 ALEXANDER S E LKIRK .

n a t cheerful ess of spirits , which , first , he could not bring to his aid . What it was

in hard for him to adopt , even as use ,

his the beginning of solitude , had now become a kind of second nature and calling both r e ligion and philo s o ph ’to

a s s is ta n ce h e b e ca m e a bett e r a hd his , a happier man than he had ever before been .

a He felt ssured by the former , that he was under the protection o f Him who knows what is best fo r man and the chastening that he often needs to bring him to an entire dependenc e on the only sure foundation of happiness .

n From the latter , he reaso ed , that

1 14 ALEXANDER SELK I RK .

S e l kirk sl e e pin g . EL ALEXANDER S KIRK . 1 15

a n d hundreds , would follow him lie down by him , whenever he did not drive them back to keep hou se while he

was abroad .

a H is knife , by const nt usage , and by serving so many purposes for which it d was not originally esigned , grew short

and narrow , and finally becam e so worn

up , that he had to study how to make

one to supply its place .

n o w i : And , the iron hoops came n i ' f n . e ce ro m requisitio He broke a p one , and sharpened it o n a stone till he mad e

n a blade , and the , with the help of its

own edge , made a wooden handle " and

e a these b ing put together , made quite E 1 16 ALEXANDER S LKIRK .

h a d convenient knife . He enough of the hoops left to make more knives in

t . his way , as occasion might require I t has alre ady been remarked that Selkirk found the winter o n Juan Fer n an de z very mild . H e found it brought

but little frost , and som e slight hail

storms and long rains . During these , he made himself a good brisk fire of the w pimento wood , boiled his kettle ith such food as he was abl e to command

o n and , clothed in his hairy c veri g , made hims e lf sociable with his four - footed

a o ff companions , and p ssed the stormy

a a W e ther in a very comfort ble manner . He had been on the island more than

1 18 E ALEXANDER S LKIRK .

He ran , and they fired after him , without getting near e n ough to hit their flying mark . He lost himself in h t e . woods , and eluded their sight He then climbed up into the top of a large h tree , and hid imself among the thick leaves and branches .

The Spaniards came to the tree , and stopped under it lon g enough to kill and

o n o t s e e w dress a g at , but did him here he ha d p e rched " w hile he had a full t view of all their motions , ill they with drew and returned to their vessel . I t will be e a sy to conceive of th e joy

' he felt when he s a w the sails o f their h d s ip lessening in the istance , as he E ALEXANDER S LKIRK . 1 19 looked from his gree n observatory over the wide expanse of water , across which his troublesome visiters were m a king their way .

G a ood breezes to them s id he , as d he descen ed from his roost , to return to his hut . H e felt that h e had n o w

a m escaped ore serious enemy , than he had thought about to assail him , on the

- night of his alarm from the sea lions . I n the woods where he t ook his ram im bles , he found pimento trees of an mense size , the fruit of which seasoned his dishes " cotton trees and m any oth ers , besides his friendly cabbage tree , that yielded him tender cabbage when eve r he chose to cook it . E 120 ALEXANDER S LKIRK .

As t he small stock o f powder which

had to us e he had , failed , he his wits in th e e t w h invention of a way to g fire , ich

e b he had till now , obtain d y striking

. re it with his gun He , therefo , after

n e studyi g on the subj ct awhile , took a

u e o f e n o co pl of sticks the pim to w od ,

n o n e be and placi g on his lap , rub d them tog e th e r till th ey grew s o heated by the friction as to take fire .

n a n d The wood , bei g very dry light ,

n a n d t soo insured his success , he hence forth adopted this kind of tinder - b ox h whenever his fire went out , a t ing which he took good care to have but seldom occur .

122 ALEXANDER SELKIRK

CHAPT ER V III .

f fi a H i s u er in s N eed o a o n i e t s . c m cc d n . fi g f

’ i T o l l H a i H e s e s h s he e e a . e o es . p n n . p p p nd

o l o s l Retur es on boa r F a r e el t th e i a . g d . w nd n

hom Co lus io e . nc n .

O n e day , when Selkirk was out in u chase of the wild goats , he purs ed one

t h e that fled to the brink of a precipice , e dge of whic h was conce a led by the t hick bushes He seized the goat at the very place and m ome n t when he

e was about to take the f arful leap , but

n o t knew what was before him , till down

e . they both went , h adlong together

The fall stunned him , and he lay E 123 ALEXANDER S LKIRK . senseless till nearly th e same hour the

a s next day , well as he could j udge by the s un When he cam e to himself he fou n d the goat dead and stiff under him

ha t and himself so lame and weak , t it was with great difficulty that he m ade out to reach his house . B ut when he did arrive at home full he of pain and bruises , found little there to relieve the suffering of one in his con

th e dition , except balm which he drew from his bible for the mind . There was none there for the body , and no n him urse , physician or friend to attend , ‘ or ad minister to the n e ce s s itie s o f his aching frame . 12 4 E ALEXAND R SELKIRK .

a d r The cats n goats , it was t ue , greet w ed him ith kindness , and welcomed

b v their master back , y e ery expression

o f o e j y which th y could make , but this

was all . The lonely man drank a little

his milk from cup , and then lay down

o n his b e d to rest , moving as little as b possi le , till his bruised limbs and body go t so much better as to bear some

exercise . He was hardly able to move

fo r ten days .

Never before , since he had been in his hermitage , had he felt the need of a human companion , as he now did " whil e his heart was at the same time filled with gratitude t owards his omni

12 6 ALEXANDER SELKIRK

five months , living in his huts and in the

re manner described , the time of his moval came . u 1 70 9 On the second day of Febr ary , , a s he cast his eye over the wide waters , where it had so often looked out in vain for n a sail belo ging to his own nation ,

s he de cried , much to his astonishment ,

a b n two ships th t he knew to e E glish .

He immediately lighted a large fire , for a signal that he wished them to approach the island .

a n d The fire was seen , the vessels m a de all s peed towards him . They

n were the Duke , commanded by Captai

Woode s Rogers , and the Duchess , Cap E K ALEXANDER S LKIR . 127

i n m ta n Court ey , two privateers fro Bris tol . Captain Rogers sent his pinnace a h shore , and when it returned it broug t h a great many fis es of various kinds , but

a what surprised C ptain Rogers m ost , was the odd figure of a man clothed in

— goat skins from head to foot , with a

a long beard , shaggy hair , and fac e tanned as black as a savage .

d a n d He looked altogether wil , , as t C aptain Rog ers said , wilder han the goats , that first wore the skins which h now clot ed him , could have looked . He had been so long without human society that he could b ut with difficulty expres s himself in words to tell his story . K ALEXANDER S E LKIR .

th e h i s . S e l kirk h a iling s p

130 E ALEXANDER S LKIRK .

them for his guests , and boiled some fine

a cabbage , which was a very accept ble entertainment " for they had been a great

a n d o n while at sea , put to severe trials account of their first being long confined h to salt provisions , whic brought on the scurvy " and afterwards having their stores fail .

' m ilk o f The the goats , as well as their other fresh food , they found very h grateful . After remaining long enoug

e on the island to get well refresh d , and to have their cu ri osity grati fied bybeing ’ h a s own all the hermit s h unts , they took ‘’ o f o a t s a good store g flesh , fish , wood , w a o the r ’ hin s n ter and t g that they fou d , and prepared to depart . S L ALEXANDER E X I RX .

e a d Se lkirk lea ving th i sl n . 132 ALEXANDER SELKIRK . Captain Rogers appointed the wild ’ looking man , master s mate on board his ship " and when the fe w articles of w orldly goods which Selkirk possessed , were removed from his humble little houses , he cast a farewell look on them , and his family of cats and goats , and passed into the ship . Providential as he considered this opportunity of escape from the solitary spot where he had so long been , it was really a trying hour to the heart of our hero , when he was to take leave of all those objects which were now so

familiar " and knew it was for ever . Nature in this solitude had been kind

13 E 4 ALEXANDER S LKIRK . yearnings of heart did he feel as he turned his back for ever on his n o w

J n beloved ua Fernandez , to return to a

busy , bustling world .

His habits had been such , that he could with difficulty bring himself to fall in with those of the men on board the ship " and he showed great disgust when they offered him some arde nt spirits t o

e l t e a ff drink neith r cou d he take , co ee , t 8226 . without showing tha they w ere

a unpleasant to him . His odd w ys m ade m uch amusement for the seam e n " and l when he arrived in Eng and , he was an u obj ect of general in‘terest and c riosity . He returned to Largo , where he found E 5 ALEXANDER S LKIRK . 1 3 great changes wrough t among person s

h durl n t h and t ings , g the years at he l f had been absent . Some had e fi their

an d the h a d b places for ever , y een filled

. u n by others The yo ng , arde t and buoyant spirit with which he qu itted

mis for the village , had been subdued by

a n d . tune , and cooled balanced by years He had not realized any of the plans for wealth and grandeur , which had filled his young imaginatio n " but he had ‘stored his mind with that wisdom which cometh down from above and he had laid up for himself a treasure that the ’ n ot moth could corrupt , nor the hand o f tim e destroy . E 13 6 ALEXANDER S LKIRK .

The vill a gers of Largo thronged round him to h e ar the wonderful account of his

d e n t e his n a v ur s , and ame became cele

r br ut ed throughout the world . He e mai n ed only n ine months at home with

. n s e a his family He then we t to again , a n d was never afterwards heard of " so

that , from that time to this , none has

ever known how he came to his end , or

where he spent his last d ays . Some im agined that the love of soli

m his tude , and his attach ent to Island , had become so strong in his bosom as to induce him to seek out some way to

u n ret r to his hermitage , and his goats

and cats .

13 8 E ALEXANDER S LKIRK . ha s called one of her sons , Alexander,

to honor his memory , and to perpetuate

t h e n am e in the family . The c up has been recently mounted

with silver at the expense of a Mr . Con

s table , a celebrated bookseller in Scot f land . The chest is o common size " it

is made of very fine wood , and joined in a peculiar manner so a s to re n der it exceedingly strong — it ha s a convex

to is a o p, and curious piece of w rkman

. G e a ship . Mrs ellies takes great pl sure

n a in showi g these articles to str ngers , a n d giving t hem some little particulars

of this s to rv . The g un with which the hero killed E 13 9 ALEXANDER S LKIRK .

his game and struck his fire , has passed

' t he fa mil out of the hands of y, and is in posse s sion of Major Lumsdale of L eth allan . The reader has n o w the history of one of the most noted men the world

u in t l has prod ced , this lit le vo ume , which embodies the chief of what ev e r

n n has bee , or ever will be k own , of the renowned AL EX AND E R S EL K I RK 140

LIFE O F JDE FOE

T HE A" T HOR O F ROBINS ON CR" S OE.

I s uppo s e that most of my readers have found pleasure in perusing Robin s o n of Cruso e , the history whose life and adventures is said by Sir Walter

Scott to have given more amusement , and afforded more instr uction than any other book in the E n glish langu age . This story wa s written by a person called Daniel De Foe . After a life spent in political dangers and troubles , his heart turned away from society to

142 LIFE O E DE F OE .

b e that he might be of some eminence , supposed the De added to the dignity and importanc e of the name . ’ " oung De Foe s educat ion was but

e e t o l little att nd d , which is to be ament e d a s e e a o f , he has xhibit d m ny proofs

e e u gr e at n atura l g nius . All the d ca tion h e received w a s at an ac ademy

e w h e e at N wington , here was s nt at

e tw e lve y e ars of a g e . H re he remain

h e e a r ed till was sixte n , when his f the ,

n him r u re supposi g tho o ghly educated ,

u called him from his st di e s .

o 22d a Fr m this time till his ye r , we

but fe w o f t hear accounts him , hough it is supposed that these yea rs of his life LIEE or DE F OE . 143

i were spent in the pursu t of some trade .

u w a d This occ pation , h tever it was , coul not fill the m ind and a mb i t i dn of such a m an as our author has proved himself to be we accordingly find him a t this period taking up arms in th e cause of the Duke of Monmouth . O n the defeat of th e Duke and t he

ha d destruction of his party , Daniel

n n e the good fortu e to escape , u punish d , though som e of his a ssociates and friends

a did n o t fare so w e ll . H e afterw rds gives us some acc ount of his exploits ,

a which , we are sorry to say , show th t

w a s he fitted to engage in strife , as well a s to write tales . 1 E E 44 L IF o r D F O E .

a 1 6 88 Three years fterwards , in , De Fo e had t h e satisfa ction of w itnessing

the R e vol ut ion . T h e next year we find that he was present at a feast give n by ’ W th e Lord Mayor to King illiam . On

this occasion , De Foe was mounted on

a gallant horse , gaily caparisoned , while

a n d a t he himself was richly dressed , te n ded the King and Qu e en from VV hite

hall to the Mansion House . He , with the other troopers was command e d on

this occasion by Lord Peterborough . Notwithstanding his superio r horse

manship , our friend could not obtain the

n h otice of the king , who he oped might

put him into office , and make him feel

146 LIFE OF DE FOE .

poor assistant in aiding o ur wants and s - n ecessities in thi every day world .

His ff w a airs gre worse and worse , and disliking his occupation , he spent those hours which ought to have been devot d ed to his shop , in the irection of some society for the cultivation of polite learning .

he Thus not selling his hosiery , found

l Il a himself sadly arrears , and fin lly thought himself obliged to abscond , leaving his name and his stockings in the hand s of his creditors . For this ,

a however , he afterwards m de amends

a his all by p ying debts , and satisfying claims . T

L I F E OF DE FOE . 147

His next resource was in the tile works " but his us ual ill - fortune attend ed him , and it was ‘sarcastically said of t him hat he did not like the Egyptians ,

require bricks without straw , but , like

the Jews , required bricks without pay ’ . n o u r ing laborers B eside tilemaki g , author devised many other proj ects for

making m oney . H e wrote a great deal a bout English coin " h e projected ban ks for every county in England " he made plans of factories " he contrived a pen

O a sion ffice , and finished these l bors by writing a long essay upon proj ects and

la n s . t p themselves

' I a e s t would h v been trange indeed , 148 LIFE OF DE FOE . if amongst the variety of his labors a n d

rs t him pu ui s , our author did not bring

. H e self into some notice , at least at las t gained the attention of the higher

his e powers , and ind fatigable exertions w ere reward e d by an appointment fo r " managing the duties on glass . B ut alas fortu n e would not smile upon him for any length of time " the tax was sup

e in a n d press d one or two years , our author was accordingly throw n out of

his situat ion . But the time at le n gth arrived when th e sun of the royal fa vor was to shine ’ In out upon De Foe s prospects . the 1 699 year , a pamphlet was published in

1 50 LIFE OF DE FOE . this poem fine sentiments powerfully

r exp essed , and many happy turns of

thought . The sale of this work was great with ’ o ur out example , and author s reward w a s proportioned to his m e ri t s . H e was even admitted to a personal inter

e view with the king himself, and b came m ore strongly than ever a profe ssed par

tisan of the court . From this time till the de a th of his sovereign and pat ron in 1 70 2 , our author wrote many political wo rks and mingled very much in politi

cal affairs . The line of Stuarts being restored by

th e th ro n e accession of Anne to the , E LIFE OF D FOE . 1 51 our author was again red uced to live o n the produce of his wits , as his political conduct had made him particularly oh noxious to those now in power . B ut ’ o ur we will not regret author s downfall ,

W h e as had illiam lived and flourished , we should probably never have been delighted with the perusal of Robinson

Cr usoe . B ut De Foe had mingled so much in political life that he could not rest either his mind or his pen " he therefore rashly reprinted some works , and published s n e w ome ones , which were not only but considered libellous , one of them

f s was considered so alse and scandalou , 152 LIFE OF DE FOE .

that it was condemned to be bur n t by

the hands of the common hangman . All his political sins were now brought up against him and set out in array . I t was urged that he had been the favorite W w of King illiam , in hose favor he had written many pamphlets " he had fought for Monmouth and vindicated the Revo lutio n he had defended the rights of the people " he had of course insulted a n d offended the whole of the tory lead ers " and in addition to all these heinous

f his o fences , he had dared to republish

most offensive a n d abusive productio n s . O ur poor author was n ow obliged to hide himself from the malice of his ene

1 54 E I I E OF DE FOE . the many other instances that might be given , to prove the distinction between

mind and matter . n im De Foe was fi ed , pilloried and prisoned . B ut no ill fortune seemed to damp the ardor of his spirit . While in

Newgate , he beguiled the tedious hours

’ Ode to the P illor with writing an y, which is full of satire , and retorts brave ly u pon his pers e cutors . Not satisfied t t H mn wi h his , he afterwards wrote a y

to the Ga llows . But the chief object of his attention

w a s r . now , the p oj ection of the Review In this work our author was the sole k writer , and issued two papers a wee ,

for the space of a year . 1 55 LIFE OF DE FOE .

t h b The , S torm in He en pu lished , which he describes the events of the 1 70 3 m tempest in in a felicitous anner , m inculcating at the sa e tim e , many use ful tr uths .

I 1 70 4 i u h r n the year , wh le our a t o

ew a t e still remained at N g , without the l a s ightest hope of release , and without

e fri nd , Sir Robert Harley , with whom

had n o a De Foe person l acquaintance , sent a m essage to him to know what he should do for him P This must have been as delightful as it was u nexpected

w ho u to our poor author , returned s ch an answer as induced Sir Robert to re present his case to Queen Anne . He I 156 L FE OF DE FOE . d e scri bed his miserable condition in m a oving terms to her m j esty , and beg ged her to release him .

The Queen , however , did not imme dia t e l y comply with this request , but having inquired into the circ umstances

his co n s id of family , she sent his wife a e rable sum . She a fter wards sent him a large sum , sufficient to pay his fine , and

n obtai his release , thus delicately and p rivately granting him what he most desired " the privilege of being again u nited to his family . B ut although he had obtained his lib

e rt t . y, he was not lef in peace His busy enemies circulated a report that he

158 LIFE OF DE FOE . One party of his enemies formed a project to take him and send him as a soldier to the army " then some of the j ustices in the west thought they should do the country a great service in appre hending him as a vagabond " but in this

u plan , they failed of s ccess , fortunately

for our poor persecuted author .

Thus , while he was unceasingly

a h rassed by foreign foes , his enemies at home commenced suits a gainst him for

debts , that he had never contracted . One would hardly suppose that o n e in b dividual could y any acts of his life , excite such virulent hatred and malice

as did this political writer . LIFE O F DE F OE .

' In 1 706 A w a s the year , Queen nne in want of a person possessing general knowledge and ready talents , to go to Scotland for the purpose of bri n ging about the union of that country with

England . De Foe was instantly thought d G of, and Lor odolphin took him and

n re presented him to the quee , who ce ive d him very graciously , and gave him his instructions . I t will easily be supposed that t hese were received with

joy by our author , who imm ediately set

out for Edinburgh .

Here he was no favorite , although he wrote a poem in honor of the Scotch

n . He s ation , called the Caledonia say 1 60 LIFE OF DE FOE . h imself that he esc aped from a great many snares and dangers , by his own G ’ prudence and od s providence , though we may suppose that he had so long t it been accustomed to persecution , tha had become by practice easy for him to walk circumspectly , and avoid many pitfalls into which others might have fallen through i n experience . d In eed , as the whole nation was de c ide dl y averse to th e union , D e Foe , , who made use of all possible means of promoting it , could not fail of being dis liked and therefore of being persecuted and harassed by the contending parties . u w The act for the nion was , ho ever,

162 LIFE OF DE FOE .

this ta sk s h e encountered much o ppos r

n o v re tio , which , h we er , he manfully

. t sisted B ut , owing to som e poli ical changes which deprived him of his al b lowance , he was o liged again to launch

u out pon various subj ects . Here he a ff gain gave O ence , and he was accord

' in l a ain a rre s t e d g y g , committed to New

t £800 . ga e , and fined H e was now compelled to give up his e Revi w , and this he did in the very place where the first idea of writing it crossed his mind , nine years before .

n o t He did remain long in jail , but was ’ b e li erated by the queen s ord r , after an impris on me nt of a fe wm onths . ‘E LIFE OF D FOE . 163 ‘ B ut although he was thus re lea s

n ed , othing was done for him , and the death of the quee n in 1 7 14 com

le te d w as p his distress , for he now left defenceless to the m alice of his

a enemies . H e speaks of his situ tion as deplorable after the de a th of Queen

e An n e . H e was thr atened and insult e d e , and many pamphlets wer written

u w and attrib ted to him , of which he kne nothing . This was the most melancholy period ’ of D e Foe s melancholy life . He had lost his appointment " his Review he was obliged to give up " if he wrote any

fo r f o r o it to thing ame pr fit, was sure 1 64 LIFE OF DE FOE . be received with suspicion and answered with insult , and he himself was over borne and put down in all possible ways . Although o ur unfortunate author was certainly an obj ect of pity at this point of his career , yet we must keep one thing in View , which is , that although ff his su erings were great , he had in a great measure brough t the m upon him self by his rashness and boldness in the

u use of his pen . He had not scr pled to make himself enemies of the most bitter kind while he felt protected , not fore seeing that the day might come when his fort une might forsake him . We must learn by this to make friends

166 LIFE OF D E FOE .

° his conduct in political a ffa i1 s,- from the commencement of his career before the public , and an able defence of his mo t ive s and feelings in espousing so warmly one political side . He enter e d fully into a detail of the sorrow and suffering that h ad been brought upon him by the per s e cutio n and insults of his enemies , and brought forward many proofs that these sufferings were unmerited . When our author thus revie wed what ff he had done , and how he had su ered h o w hard he had labored and how little he had gained " how m uch he had a c

e b e e complish d , and how ill had be n re warded " his spiri t sunk before the LIFE OF DE FOE . 167

faithful picture he had drawn , and a fit of apoplexy se i zed him before he had

finished the work . I t was published however , and he ow e d his support n o w ent i rely to the f . o rt u produce of the sales And here , h ately for him , ended his political career

" and his political writings . His health W was reinstated but his mind , eary of one subj ect , and sickened by misfortunes ,

took a new turn , and left the political

field to other champions . H aving chanced to read the history

Of u e e the Selkirk , it s g g st d to hi m idea of writing Robinson C ru s oe . The s al e o f this book was very rapid and exten 168 E LIFE OF D FOE .

sive , and the profits were large . Some attacks were made upon it by his old enemies , but these did no damage . The work was so generally liked , and so amusing to all classes of readers , that these arrows fell harmless , and the book was eagerly sought for and as eagerly read . De Foe p ublished a second volume the same year , with the same success W and equal profits . ith his good for tune , his health returned , and finding it more profitable and comfortable to amuse , than to reform the public by his b 1 720 writings , he pu lished in a work entitled The Life and Piracies of Cap ” tain Singleton .

E 1 70 LIFE OF D FOE .

have , it is a work that may be read with interest many , many times . I will then try to show why this story is so inter esting to all ages and all classes of people . Robinson Crusoe was born in the city ’ " 1 632 . of ork , in the year His father s

re utz n a e r name was K , which was

O r ch a nged in Crusoe . u young friend

n a dva n bei g the third son , had not the tage of being bred to any trade , and is represent e d as having rambling propen sities . He was strongly inclined to go

n dis to sea , but this his pare ts strongly approved o f. They warned him of the dangers and hardships he would e n E LIFE OF D FOE . 171

counter " but all to no purpose . I n

t a f e a r m abou y fro th‘is tim e , one of his d n companions , going to Lon o in his ’ ff n father s ship , o ered to take Robi son with him . This opportunity was too favorable to our young hero’s wishes to ’ be lost , so , in spite of all his parents

h e o ff . warnings , set for London

A o a n d terrible st rm soon beset them , m any were the tea rs that Robinson shed d for having left the lan , but nothing was d to be done . For many ays , they m et with disasters , and were at last obliged h a t to leave t eir ship , and go on shore

" armouth in a boat . Our young friend was now s tron gly 1 72 DE F LIFE OF OE .

a n d tempted to return to his parents , w m the captain , to ho he told his story ,

also urged him to go hom e . B ut a false shame n ow kept him from taking the

e only proper step , and he th refore made up his mind to continue his seafaring

life , and went on board a vessel which

a was going to G uinea . In this dve n

b e u ture , was very successf l , and he soon set up for himself and became a

G uinea trader .

b th e But his ship was taken y Moors , and he with the others was m a de a ’ slave . But after som e years imprison

to ment , h e contrived escape in a boat , and was taken up by a ship going t o

7 DE 1 4 LIFE OF FOE .

Robinson cried out , Oh had there been ” b ut o n e man saved " But one " The

e n wr ck of the ship lay at some dista ce . Here then begins the solitary life of

i n w ho Rob son Crusoe , is alone on a

s w e t de ert island , , hungry and cold , h wit nothing about him but a knife , a t w t pipe and a lit le tobacco , and i h no mean s " of defending hims e lf from the w ild beasts , which might be roaming about in search of food .

w h e After a sound sleep , hich took in

u a tree , he woke p next morning quite

a n d a refreshed , beg n to look about him , m and think what he was to do . By eans of a raft which he made of some of t he LI F E OF DE FOE . 175

r the t boa ds of wreck , he ro wed to he ship, and there provided himself with l c othes . am munition , and provisions .

he o n These deposited , after m uch labor , the shore , where he looked about for a proper place for a habita tion . H e now spen t several days in getti n g all the movables from the wreck of the

a n d in l n th e r ship , exp ori g cou nt y for a shelter . H e at length found a place for it his purpose , and staked round with posts , fastened together by means of strong ropes . This‘was to be entered by a _ ladder to go over the top . Here b e deposited all his stores and covered

s o a m e t them over , th t they ight not g

W e t . E 176 LIFE OF D FOE . Our poor hero is now represented as making many bitter reflections upon his

c ut o ff fate , in being from all society w with his fellow men , but he after ards found much cause fo r thanksgiving and gratitude . He finds that there are goats in the island which might serve him as

u a fo r . well for h mble comp nions , as food He finds also that he has t he means of kindling a fire . B ut the greatest source

w e of joy is that he is alive , hil his ten companions , who were in the boat , all found a watery grave . O ur author now represents Robinson as se tting about systematically to make a the best o f his condition . He finds th t

DE 1 78 LIFE OF FOE .

' After he had been busi e d in this way

e v for s en or eight months , he found him

a self pretty comfortable , and the m ster of many conveniences . But he was n o w

n h d take sick wit a violent col , which m ad e him reflect seriously upo n his

n situation , his disobedie ce and folly

e n in l aving his pare ts , and turned his thoughts towards that G o d whom he

ff e had o ended , and who had so m rcifully sav e d him .

a n d He threw himself upon his knees ,

a r a n d pr yed devoutly for fo giveness , for aid in his lonely condition . From this

o ur a period , hero never failed to p y his morning and evening devotions , and D O L IFE OF E F E . 179

a r fl became truly pious and e ecting man , draw ing help fro m above in time of

b a n d trou le , sending forth thanksgivings for t h e mercies of G o d . Robinson soon recovered from his sickness , and tells us of his finding a

f th e most fruit ul spot on island , where

a - n he obtained gr pes , cocoa uts , orange a n d citron trees in abundance . H e also

- sowed some seed corn , which he had

u s saved , and th s his provi ions multiplied fast .

I a n n this way , our hero beg to live f b very com orta ly , and for two years

e add d daily to his stock of implements ,

l f urn iture a n d proyis io n s . H e had a ls o 180 LI FE OF DE FOE .

some dumb companions , such as cats ,

goats and parrots " he sowed and reaped , and became in a manner reconciled to

his lonely existence .

Two years had now passed away , and though he was comparatively co rn

fo rt able , yet he constantly meditated

e sc a ping from the islan d . H e there

a fore set about making canoe , and actually spent nearly two years in ma

it . ff king After all his e orts , however ,

a t w a s b and f er his boat uilt , it was so

u large he co ld not get it to the water , and therefore was obliged to resign

a n d l himself to his fate , a onger resi

dence on the island .

E DE 1 82 LIF OF FOE . co un t r - a v house , and re lly had both many

a comfort s a n d m n y luxuri e s . An e ra now tak e s p lace in the life of our h e ro . While he was out one morn in t e b n g , he was star l d y findi g the print of a human foot in the sa n d . He irr s t a n t ly fled home in a g reat sta t e of ' terror H e n o w s e t about stro n gl y t if in e he n o t y g his abod , but as did a a n m o f m a n g i eet with any signs , his

a n r o ff h e n fe r bega to wea , and conti ued for ye a rs more in a sta te of t ranquillity .

w ha d e However , hen he b en twent y t w o e a rs t he a n v on isl nd , he sudde ly discov e re d a l a rge body of sava g e s sit

u a m ting ro nd fire , not far fro his settle LIFE OF DE FOE . 183

' d m ent . H e then set about efending hi mself, and loaded all his m uskets and cannon " but he did not see any more of

a the s vages for many years , when a

o f a e zire d t he ir ca n o e s party the m pp in , with some captives they had m a de . O ne of these miserable creatures e s w caping , fled for relief to ards Robinson , . who killed his pursuer , and m ade signs to his n e w friend to follow him . This

n o w o ur he did , and we find poor exile

a a m in possession of hum n co panion ,

u b who , altho g h a savage , see med capa le of strong affection and gratitude . Rob

n a on inson am ed him Frid y , as it was that day that he saved him . E 184 LIFE OF D FOE . I might tell you a great deal now of u the interco rse between the two friends , but I have not room for the interesting

u o u narration , and I must j st tell y a ’ few of t he events of our hero s life o n his

o u island , and then recommend y to make yourself more intimately acquain ted with

hi m . , by reading the larger history Robinson n o w set about civilizing and him instructing his man Friday , and gave

m r some notions of religion and o ality . lt I n this task he found some difficu y , but with patience and perseverance he

re had pretty good success , and felt warded by the improvement of his pupil .

Friday afterwards finds his father ,

" 186 LIFE 0 1 DE FOE .

his own story " so I will give you an ex

a in th e o f D e . tr ct , as it appears work Foe

" ” " I was now , says Robinson , in

1 9 e 32 t the latitude of d grees , minu es , and had hitherto h a d a tolera bl e voyage

a t as to weather , though first the winds

had be e n contra ry . I shall trouble no

t o f body with the lit le incidents wind ,

a n t &c . we ther , curre s , on the rest of

a n m our voy ge " but , shorte ing y story

t h e a e of t o w for s k what is follo , shall

b e e o ld h o s rv , that I came to my abita

n t he n d l 0 th tio , isla , on the of April , f 1 6 95 . I t was with no small di ficulty t hat I found t he place fo r as I c a me t o u it , and went from it before , on the so th " E LIFE 0 1 DE F O .

and east side of the island , as coming from the B ra zils " so n o w coming in

between the main and the island , and

n o a n having chart for the coast , nor y

- land mark , I did not know it when I

it I . saw , or know whether saw it or no

" W e he a t w about a great hile , and went on shore o n several islands in the

t O ro o n o ue mou h of the great river q , but n one for my purpose : only t his I learnt

a I by my co sting the shore , that was

u r a viz . nde one great mist ke before , that the continent which I thought I s a w

t he d e a from island I live in , was r lly no

' b ut continent , a long island , or rather a ridge of islands reaching from one to t he O F DE 188 LIFE FOE . other side of the extended mouth of that great river " and that the s a vages who

n o t came to my island , were properly t hose which we call Caribees , but isl anders , and other barbarians of the same

n ki d , who inhabited something nearer to our side than the rest . ‘ " I n short , I visited several of the islands t o no purpose " some I found

e . were inhabit d , and some were not On o n e of th e m I found some Span lards , and thought they had lived there b e ut speaking with them , found th y had a sloop which lay in a small creek

a n d hard by , that they came thither to m - make salt , and catch so e pearl mus

190 LIFE OF DE FOE .

a ed for Frid y , and asked him , if he " kn e w w here h e was He look e d about

t a n d his a li tle , presently clapping hands , ‘ ’ e s t " cried , O yes , O there , O y , O here pointing to our old habitation , and fell a dancing and capering like a mad fel low " and I had much ado to keep him

m n m fro j umpi g into the sea , to swi ashore to the place . ’ ‘ a o u Frid y , said I , do y

a n d re think we shall find y bo y he , or

" o u n a no and what do y thi k , sh ll we ’ see your father P The fell o w stood mut e a s a stock a good while " but when

I n a ffe med his father , the poor a ctionate c re a ture looked dej ec ted " a n d I could E 19 LIFE OF D F OE . 1 see the tears run down his face very

. W plentifully hat is the matter , Fri ’ ‘ " day said I " are you troubl e d beca use ‘’ - you may see your father No . no , him says he , shaking his head , no see ’ ‘ m a . Wh ore , no ever more see gain y ’ " k w so , said I , Friday how do you no ’ ’ t " 0 hat no , O no , says Friday , he

n b e m long ago die " lo g ago , uch old ’ ’ ‘ m an . W I ell , well , said , Friday , ’ you don t kn ow but shall we see any

T h e one else then fellow , it seems ,

a n d had better eyes than I , he points j ust to t h e hill above my O ld house "

a o ff and though we lay half a le gu e , he

c es o ut Me s ee " me see " e s e s ri , y , y , 192 LIF E OF DE FOE . m e see much man there , and there , and ’ b . ut there I looked , I could see no

- body , no , not with a perspective glass h whic was , I suppose , because I could not hit the place " for the fellow was right , as I found upon inquiry the next day , and there were five or six men altogether stood to look at the ship , not kno w i n g what to think of us . As soon as Friday h ad told me he

n u saw people , I caused the English

e a ci nt to be spre d , and fired three guns , to give them notice we were friends "

and about half , a quarter of an hour after , we perceived a smoke rise from the s ide O f the creek " so I im mediately ordered

1 4 9 LIFE OF DE FOE . re ctly into the creek " and the first ma n I fixed my e ye upo n was the Spaniard

life I I , whose ' had‘saved and whom kne w by his face perfectly well " as to

s e s . his habit , I hall describe it aft rward I ordered n o body to go on shore at first but myself " but there was no keeping Friday in the boat for the affectionate creature had spied his father at a dis

o off tance , a go d way from the Spaniards , when indeed I saw n othing of him " a n d if th e y ha d not let him go on shore he would have j umped into the s e a . He fle w was no sooner on shore , but he

O f away to his father , like an arrow out

a bow . ‘ E LIFE OF D FOE .

" I l ma n t wou d have made any fi shed e firme s t es u o tears in spit of the r ol ti n , t o ha ve seen the first tra nsports of this ’ r e h his e. poo fellow s j oy , wh n came to f e be b a h im k ath r " how em r ced , issed him o a o . , str ked his f ce , to k him up in his

him do o arms , set wn up n a tree , and lay down by him then stood and look

i ed: at him as any on e w ould look at a

for ua . strange picture , a q rter of an hou r t ogether " then lay down upon the ‘ an d s troke d his e s ground , l gs , and ki sed

h an d o t an t em , then g up again , d stared

- a t him " o n e would have : thoug ht the fel a lo w ' b e witche d : but it would ha ve m ade

a: dog laugh to se e ho w th e n e x t" day 196 m m: o r DE F O E . his pa s s io n run out another way : in th e morning he walked along the shore , to h and again , wit his father , several hours , always leading him by the hand as if he had been a lady " and every now and then would come to fetch something or other for him from the boat , either a lump of sugar , or a dram , a biscuit , or something or other that was good . In the afternoon his frolics ran another way " for then he would set the old u man down pon the ground , and dance

a about him , and m de a thousand antic postures and gestures " and all the whil e he did this he would be talking to him , an d him a n oth er of telling one story or .

198 L IFE OF DE F O E . of truce a lso " a n d he did n o t only

w m e not kno at first , but he had no t houghts , no notion , of its being me that

I t o . was come , till spoke him Seig ’ do ' nior , said I , in Portuguese , you not ” know m e 5 at which he spoke not a word " but giving his musket to t he

w a s s man that with him , threw his arm

d a n d abroa , saying something in Span is h I did e t a that not perf c ly he r , came

a forward , and embr ced me , telling me , he was ine xcusa ble not to know that

a i s o f face ga n that he had once een , as an angel from Heaven sent to save his

' life : he said abundance of v‘ery band s - some thing , as a well bred Spaniard L I F E O F I E F O E . A ." a lw ays knows how " and then bec kon

. the n h t n him ing to perso t a atte ded , bade himgo a a n d call out his comrades . He then aske d m e if I would wa lk to

ld o h e my o habitati n , where would give

ou n m e possession of my own h se agai , a n d whe r e I should Se e there had been but mean improve m e nts " s o I walked

w him " I n o along ith " but , alas could m ore find the place a gal n than if I ha d n ever been there for they h ad plan t ed m a e so ny trees , and placed th m in such

t h c to o n e a posture , so ick and lose t m another , in ten years i e they were

o in the gr wn so big , that , short , place

was inaccessible , except by such wind 200 LIFE OF DE FOE .

l ugs and blind ways as they themselves ” only who m ade them co uld find . ’ Such is Robinson s account o f his

arrival at the island . He remains here

m n d . someti e a then leaves it After this , but many other events took place , the

romantic part of our story is now ended .

n Robinson meets with ma y adventures ,

fights some battles , makes voyages and

o m s Journeys , J a caravan " in short,

mingles in all sorts of affairs . H e is no

th e o o d e longer po r l nely , distresse xile , l but the man of consequence , and w e l

acquainted with society . He ended his

days In London , at a very advanced

age .