The Swiss Family Robinson - Full Audiobook : Chapter 11-12

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, chapter eleven.
My anxiety kept me awake till near morning, when, after
a short sleep, I rose and we were soon all
at work. My wife, after milking the cow and goats,
harnessed the cow and ass and set out to search

(00:21):
for driftwood for our use. In the meantime, I mounted
the ladder with Fritz, and we set to work stoutly
with axe and saw to rid ourselves of all useless branches,
some about six feet above our foundation. I left to
suspend our hammocks from and others a little higher to
support the roof, which at present was to be merely sailcloth.

(00:46):
My wife succeeded in collecting us some boards and planks, which,
with her assistance and the aid of the pulley, we
hoisted up. We then arranged them on the level branches,
close to each other, in such a manner as to
form a smooth and solid floor. I made a sort
of parapet round to prevent accidents. By degrees, our dwelling

(01:06):
began to assume a distinct form. The sail cloth was
raised over the high branches, forming a roof, and being
brought down on each side was nailed to the parapet.
The immense trunk protected the back of our apartment, and
the front was opened to admit the breeze from the sea,
which was visible from this elevation. We hoisted our hammocks

(01:28):
and blankets by the pulley and suspended them. My son
and I then descended, and as our day was not
yet exhausted, we set about constructing a rude table and
some benches from the remainder of our wood, which we
placed beneath the roots of the tree, henceforward to be
our dining room. The little boys collected the chips and

(01:49):
pieces of wood for firewood, while their mama prepared supper,
which we needed much after the extraordinary fatigues of this day.
The next day, however, being Sunday, we looked forward to
as a day of rest, of recreation and thanksgiving to
the great God who had preserved us. Supper was now ready.

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My wife took a large earthen pot from the fire,
which contained a good stew made of the flamingo, which
Ernest had told her was an old bird and would
not be eatable if dressed any other way. His brothers
laughed heartily and called him the cook. He was, however,
quite right. The stew, well seasoned, was excellent, and we

(02:32):
picked the very bones. Whilst we were thus occupied, the
living flamingo, accompanying the rest of the fowls and free
from bonds, came in quite tame to claim his share
of the repast. Evidently quite unsuspicious that we were devouring
his mate, he did not seem at all inclined to
quit us. The little monkey, too, was quite at home

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with the boys, leaping from one to another for food,
which he took in his forepaw, and ate with such
absurd mimicry of their actions that he kept us in
continual convulsions of laughter. To augment our satisfaction, our great Soal,
who had deserted us for two days, returned of her
own accord, grunting her joy at our reunion. My wife

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welcomed her with particular distinction, treating her with all the
milk we had to spare for. As she had no
dairy utensils to make cheese and butter. It was best
thus to dispose of our superfluity. I promised her on
our next voyage to the ship to procure all these necessaries.
This She could not, however, hear of without shuddering. The

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boys now lighted the fires for the night. The dogs
were tied to the roots of the tree as a
protection against invaders, and we commenced our ascent. My three
eldest sons soon rat up the latter. My wife followed
with more deliberation, but arrived safely. My own journey was
more difficult, as besides having to carry Francis on my back,

(04:05):
I had detached the lower part of the latter from
the roots where it was nailed, in order to be
able to draw it up during the night. We were
thus as safe in our castle as the knights of
Old when their drawbridge was raised. We retired to our hammocks,
free from care, and did not wake till the sun
shone brightly in upon us end of chapter chapter twelve.

(04:33):
Next morning, all awoke in good spirits, I told them
that on this the Lord's Day, we would do no work.
That it was appointed not only for a day of rest,
but a day when we must, as much as possible,
turn our hearts from the vanities of the world to
God himself, thank him, worship him, and serve him. Jack

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thought we could not do this without a church and
a priest, but believed that God would hear our prayers
under his own sky, and Papa could give them a sermon.
Francis wished to know if God would like to hear
them sing the beautiful hymns Mama had taught them without
an organ accompaniment. Yes, my dear children, said I, God

(05:18):
is everywhere, and to bless him, to praise him in
all his works, to submit to his holy will, and
to obey him is to serve him. But everything in
its time. Let us first attend to the wants of
our animals and breakfast, and we will then begin the
services of the day by a hymn. We descended and

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breakfasted on warm milk, fed our animals, and then my
children and their mother seated on the turf. I placed
myself on a little eminence before them, and after the
service of the day, which I knew by heart, and
singing some portions of the one hundred and nineteenth Psalm,
I told them little allegory. There was once on a

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time a great king whose kingdom was called the Land
of Light and reality, because there reigned there constant light
and incessant activity on the most remote frontier of this kingdom.
Towards the north, there was another large kingdom, equally subject
to his rule, and of which none but himself knew

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the immense extent. From time immemorial, an exact plan of
this kingdom had been preserved in the archives. It was
called the land of Obscurity or night, because everything in
it was dark and inactive. In the most fertile and
agreeable part of the Empire of Reality, the king had

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a magnificent residence called the Heavenly City, where he held
his brilliant court. Millions of servants executed his wishes. Still
more were ready to receive his orders. The first both
in glittering robes whiter than snow, for white was the
color of the Great King as the emblem of purity.

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Others were clothed in armour, shining like the colors of
the rainbow, and carried flaming swords in their hands. Each,
at his master's nod, flew like lightning to accomplish his will.
All his servants, faithful, vigilant, bold, and ardent, were united
in friendship and could imagine no happiness greater than the

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favor of their master. There were some less elevated, who
were still good, rich and happy in the favors of
their sovereign, to whom all his subjects were alike and
were treated by him as his children. Not far from
the frontiers, the Great King possessed a desert island which

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he desired to people and cultivate in order to make
it for time the abode of those of his subjects
whom he intended to admit by degrees into his heavenly City,
a favor he wished to bestow on the greatest number possible.
This island was called Earthly Abode, and he who had

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passed some time there worthily was to be received into
all the happiness of the heavenly City. To attain this,
the Great King equipped a fleet to transport the colonists
whom he chose, from the Kingdom of Night to this island,
where he gave them light inactivity, advantages they had not
known before. Think how joyful their arrival would be. The

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land was fertile when cultivated, and all was prepared to
make the time pass agreeably till they were admitted to
their highest honors. At the moment of embarkation, the Great
King sent his own son, who spoke thus to them
in his name. My dear children, I have called you

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from inaction and insensibility to render you happy by feeling,
by action, by life. Never forget I am your king,
and obey my commands. By cultivating the country I confide
to you, every one will receive his portion of land,
and wise and learned men are appointed to explain my

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will to you. I wish you all to acquire the
knowledge of my laws, and that every father should keep
a copy to read daily to his children, that they
may never be forgotten. And on the first day of
the week, you must all assemble as brothers in one
place to hear these laws read and explained. Thus it

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will be easy for everyone to learn the best method
of improving his land, what to plant, and how to
cleanse it from the tares that might choke the good seed.
All may ask what they desire, and every reasonable demand
will be granted if it be conformable to the great end.

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If you feel grateful for these benefits and testify it
by increased activity and by occupying yourself on this day
in expressing your gratitude to me, I will take care
this day of rest shall be a benefit and not
a loss. I wish that all your useful animals, and
even the wild beasts of the plains, should on this

(10:25):
day repose in peace. He who obeys my commands an
earthly abode shall receive a rich reward in the heavenly city.
But the idol, the negligent, and the evil disposed shall
be condemned to perpetual slavery, or to labor in minds
in the bowels of the earth. From time to time

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I shall send ships to bring away individuals to be
rewarded or punished as they have fulfilled my commands. None
can deceive me. A magic mirror will show me the
actions and thoughts of all. The colonists were satisfied and
eager to begin their labor. The portions of land and

(11:10):
instruments of labor were distributed to them, with seeds and
useful plants and fruit trees. They were then left to
turn these good gifts to profit. But what followed every
one did as he wished. Some planted their ground with
groves and gardens, pretty and useless. Others planted wild fruit

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instead of the good fruit the Great King had commanded.
A third had sowed good seed, but not knowing the
tears from the wheat he had torn up all before
they reached maturity. But the most part left their land uncultivated.
They had lost their seeds or spoiled their implements. Many

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would not understand the orders of the Great King, and
others tried by subtlety to evade them. A few labored
with courage as they had been taught, rejoicing in the
hope of the promise given them. Their greatest danger was
in the disbelief of their teachers. Though every one had

(12:14):
a copy of the law, few read it. All were ready,
by some excuse to avoid this duty. Some asserted they
knew it, yet never thought on it. Some called these
the laws of past times, not of the present. Others
said the Great King did not regard the action of
his subjects, that he had neither minds nor dungeons, and

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that all would certainly be taken to the heavenly city.
They began to neglect the duties of the day dedicated
to the Great King. Few assembled, and of these the
most part were inattentive and did not profit by the
instruction given them. But the Great King was faithful to
his word. From time to time time frigates appeared bearing

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the name of some disease. These were followed by a
large vessel called the Grave, bearing the terrible flag of
the Admiral Death. This flag was of two colors, green
and black, and appeared to the colonists, according to their state,
the smiling color of hope or the gloomy hue of despair.

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This fleet always arrived unexpectedly and was usually unwelcome. The
officers were sent out by the Admiral to seize those
he pointed out. Many who were unwilling were compelled to go,
and others whose land was prepared and even the harvest ripening,
were summoned. But these went joyfully, sure that they went

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to happiness. The fleet, being ready, sailed for the heavenly city.
Then the Great King, in his justice, awarded the punishments
and recompenses. Excuses were now too late. The negligent and
disobedient were sent to labor in the dark minds, while
the faithful and obedient, arrayed in bright robes, were received

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into their glorious abodes of happiness. I have finished my parable.
My dear children reflect on it and profit by it. Fritz,
what do you think of it? I am considering the
goodness of the Great King and the ingratitude of his people,
answered he. And how foolish they were, said Ernest. With

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a little prudence, they might have kept their land in
good condition and secured a pleasant life afterwards. Away with
them to the mines, cried Jack. They richly deserve such
a doom. How much I should like, said Francis, to
see those soldiers in their shining armor. I hope you

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will see them some day, my dear boy, if you
continue to be good and obedient. I then explain my
parable fully and applied the moral to each of my
sons directly. You, Fritz, should take warning from the people
who planted wild fruit and wish to make them pass
for good fruit, such as those who are proud of

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natural virtues easy to exercise, such as bodily strength or
physical courage, and place these above the qualities which are
only attained by labor impatience. You, Earnest, must remember the
subjects who laid out their land in flowery gardens, like
those who seek the pleasures of life rather than the duties.

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And you, my thoughtless Jack, and little Francis, think of
the fate of those who left their land untilled or
heedlessly sold tears for wheat. These are God's people who
neither study nor reflect, who cast to the winds all
instruction and leave room in their minds for evil. Then

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let us all be like the good laborers of the Parable,
constantly cultivating our ground, that when death comes for us,
we may willingly follow him to the feet of the
Great King to hear these blessed words. Good and faithful
servants enter into the joy of your Lord. This made

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a great impression on my children. We concluded by singing
a hymn. Then my good wife produced from her unfailing
bag a copy of the Holy Scripture, from which I
selected such passages as applied to our situation, and explain
them to my best ability. My boys remained for some
time thoughtful and serious, and though they followed their innocent

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recreations during the day, they did not lose sight of
the useful lesson of the morning. But by a more
gentle and amiable manner, showed that my words had taken effect.
Next morning, Ernest had used my bow, which I had
given him, very skillfully bringing down some dozens of small birds,

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a sort of ortoline, from the branches of our tree,
where they assembled to feed on the figs This induced
them all to wish for such a weapon. I was
glad to comply with their wishes, as I wished them
to become skillful in the use of these arms of
our forefathers, which might be of great value to us.

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When our ammunition failed, I made two bows and two
quivers to contain their arrows of a flexible piece of bark,
and attaching a strap to them, I soon armed my
little archers. Fritz was engaging in preparing the skin of
the margay with more care than jacket shown with that

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of the jackal. I showed him how to clean it
by rubbing it with sand in the river till no
vestige of fat or flesh was left, and then applying
butter to render it flexile. These employments filled up the
morning till dinner time came. We had earnest ortelands and
some fried ham and eggs, which made us a sumptuous repast.

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I gave my boys leave to kill as many order
lands as they chose, for I knew that half roasted
and put into casks covered with butter, they would keep
for a length of time and prove an invaluable resource
in time of need. As I continued my work making
arrows and a beau for Francis. I intimated to my

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wife that the abundant supply of figs would save our grain,
as the poultry and pigeons would feed on them, as
well as the Orte lands. This was a great satisfaction
to her, and thus another day passed, and we mounted
to our dormitory to taste the sweet slumber that follows
a day of toil. End of Chapter