Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Swiss family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, chapter fifteen.
I had observed on the shore the preceding day a
quantity of wood, which I thought would suit to make
a sledge to convey our casks and heavy stores from
tent house to falcon's nest. At dawn of day I
(00:22):
woke Ernest, whose inclination to indolence I wished to overcome, and,
leaving the rest asleep, we descended, and, harnessing the ass
to a strong branch of the tree that was lying near,
we proceeded to the shore. I had no difficulty in
selecting proper pieces of wood. We saw them the right length,
(00:43):
tied them together, and laid them across the bow, which
the patient animal drew very contentedly. We added to the
load a small chest we discovered half buried in the sand,
and we returned homewards, Ernest leading the ass, and I
assisted by raising the load with a lever. When we
met with any obstruction, my wife had been rather alarmed,
(01:05):
but seeing the result of our expedition and hearing of
the prospect of a sledge, she was satisfied. I opened
the chest, which contained only some sailor's dresses and some linen,
both wetted with sea water, but likely to be very
useful As our own clothes decayed. I found Fritz and
Jack had been shooting orderlands. They had killed about fifty
(01:28):
and had consumed so much powder and shot that I
checked a prodigality. So imprudent in our situation, I taught
them to make snares for the birds of the threads
we drew from the karata leaves we had brought home.
My wife and her two younger sons busied themselves with these,
while I, with my two elder boys, began to construct
(01:50):
the sledge. As we were working, we heard a great
noise among the fowls, and Ernest, looking about, discovered the
monkey seizing in high eating the eggs from the nests.
He had collected a good store in a hole among
the roots, which Ernest carried to his mother and Nips.
Was punished by being tied up every morning till the
(02:11):
eggs were collected. Our work was interrupted by dinner composed
of ortolands, milk and cheese. After dinner, Jack had climbed
to the higher branches of the trees to place his
snares and found the pigeons were making nests. I then
told him to look often to the snares, for fear
our own poor birds should be taken, and above all,
(02:34):
never in future to fire into the tree. Papa said,
little Francis, can we not sow some gunpowder, and then
we shall have plenty. This proposal was received with shouts
of laughter, which greatly discomposed the little innocent fellow. Professor
Ernest immediately seized the opportunity to give a lecture on
(02:55):
the composition of gunpowder. At the end of the day,
my sledge was finished. Two long curved planks of wood,
crossed by three pieces at a distance from each other,
formed the simple conveyance. The fore and hind parts were
in the form of horns to keep the load from
falling off. Two ropes were fastened to the front, and
(03:19):
my sledge was complete. My wife was delighted with it
and hoped I would now set out immediately to tent
house for the butter cask. I made no objection to this,
and Ernest and I prepared to go and leave Fritz
in charge of the family. End of Chapter fifteen. Chapter sixteen.
(03:41):
When we were ready to set out, Fritz presented each
of us with a little case he had made from
the skin of the margay. They were ingeniously contrived to
contain knife, fork and spoon, and a small hatchet. We
then harnessed the ass and the cow to the sledge,
took a flexible bamboo cane for a while whip, and
followed by Flora, we departed, leaving Turk to guard the tree.
(04:06):
We went by the shore as the better road for
the sledge, and crossing family bridge. Were soon at tent house.
After unharnessing the animals, we began to load. We took
the cask of butter, the cheese and the biscuit, all
the rest of our utensils, powder, shot, and Turk's armor,
which we had left there. These labors had so occupied
(04:29):
us that we had not observed that our animals, attracted
by the pasturage, had crossed the bridge and wandered out
of sight. I sent Ernest to seek them, and in
the meantime went to the bay, where I discovered some
convenient little hollows in the rock that seemed cut out
for baths. I called Ernest to come. Until he arrived,
(04:49):
employed myself in cutting some rushes which I thought might
be useful when my son came, I found he had
ingeniously removed the first planks from the bridge to revent
the animal straying over again. We then had a very
pleasant bath, and Ernest being out first, I sent him
to the rock where the salt was accumulated, to fill
(05:11):
a small bag to be transferred to the large bags
on the ass. He had not been absent long when
I heard him cry out, Papa, Papa, a huge fish.
I cannot hold it. It will break my line. I
ran to his assistance and found him lying on the
ground on his face, tugging at his line, to which
an enormous salmon was attached, and that it nearly pulled
(05:33):
him into the water. I let it have a little
more line, then drew it gently into a shallow and
secured it. It appeared about fifteen pounds weight, and we
pleased ourselves with the idea of presenting this to our
good cook. Ernest said, he remembered having remarked how this
place swarm with fish, and he took care to bring
(05:56):
his rod with him. He had taken about a dozen
small fishes, which he had in his handkerchief, before he
was overpowered by the salmon. I cut the fishes open
and rubbed the inside with salt to preserve them, then
placing them in a small box on the sledge, and
adding our bags of salt, we harnessed our animals and
(06:16):
set off homewards. When we were about half way, Flora
left us, and by her barking raised a singular animal,
which seemed to leap instead of run. The irregular bounds
of the animal disconcerted my aim, and though very near
I missed it. Ernest was more fortunate. He fired at
(06:37):
it and killed it. It was an animal about the
size of a sheep, with the tail of a tiger.
Its head and skin were like those of a mouse,
ears longer than the hair. There was a curious pouch
on the belly. The fore legs were short, as if
imperfectly developed, and armed with strong claws, the hind legs
(06:59):
long like a pair of stilts. After Ernest's pride of
victory was a little subdued, he fell back on his
science and began to examine his spoil. By its teeth,
said he, it should belong to the family of rodents
or gnawers, by its legs to the jumpers, and by
(07:21):
its pouch to the apossum. Tribe. This gave me the
right clue. Then said, I this must be the animal
cook first discovered in New Holland, and it is called
the kangaroo. We now tied the legs the animal together, and,
putting a stick through, carried it to the sledge very carefully,
(07:42):
for Ernest was anxious to preserve the beautiful skin. Our
animals were heavily laden, but giving them a little rests
and some fresh grass, we once more started, and in
a short time reached falcon's nest. My wife had been
employed during our acts since in washing the clothes of
the three boys, clothing them in the meantime from the
(08:04):
sailor's chest we had found a few days before. Their
appearance was excessively ridiculous, as the garments neither suited their
age nor size, and caused great mirth to us. All
but my wife had preferred this disguise to the alternative
of their going naked. We now began to display our
richest and relate our adventures. The butter and the rest
(08:27):
of the provisions were very welcome, and the salmon still
more so. But the sight of the kangaroo produced screams
of admiration. Fritz displayed a little jealousy, but soon surmounted
it by an exertion of his nobler feelings, and only
the keen eye of a father could have discovered it.
He congratulated Ernest warmly, but could not help begging to
(08:50):
accompany me next time. I promise you, that said I,
as a reward for the conquest you have achieved over
your jealousy of your brother. But remember, I could not
have given you a greater proof of my confidence than
in leaving you to protect your mother and brothers. A
noble mind finds its purest joy in the accomplishment of
(09:14):
its duty, and to that willingly sacrifices its inclination. But
I added, in a low tone, lest I should distress
my wife. I propose another expedition to the vessel, and
you must accompany me. We then fed our tired animals,
giving them some salt with their grass, a great treat
(09:36):
to them. Some salmon was prepared for dinner, and the
rest salted. After dinner, I hung up the kangaroo till
next day, when we intended to salt and smoke the flesh.
Evening arrived, and an excellent supper of fish, ortelines and
potatoes refreshed us, and after thanks to God, we retired
(09:57):
to rest. End of chapter
The Swiss family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, chapter fifteen.
I had observed on the shore the preceding day a
quantity of wood, which I thought would suit to make
a sledge to convey our casks and heavy stores from
tent house to falcon's nest. At dawn of day I
(00:22):
woke Ernest, whose inclination to indolence I wished to overcome, and,
leaving the rest asleep, we descended, and, harnessing the ass
to a strong branch of the tree that was lying near,
we proceeded to the shore. I had no difficulty in
selecting proper pieces of wood. We saw them the right length,
(00:43):
tied them together, and laid them across the bow, which
the patient animal drew very contentedly. We added to the
load a small chest we discovered half buried in the sand,
and we returned homewards, Ernest leading the ass, and I
assisted by raising the load with a lever. When we
met with any obstruction, my wife had been rather alarmed,
(01:05):
but seeing the result of our expedition and hearing of
the prospect of a sledge, she was satisfied. I opened
the chest, which contained only some sailor's dresses and some linen,
both wetted with sea water, but likely to be very
useful As our own clothes decayed. I found Fritz and
Jack had been shooting orderlands. They had killed about fifty
(01:28):
and had consumed so much powder and shot that I
checked a prodigality. So imprudent in our situation, I taught
them to make snares for the birds of the threads
we drew from the karata leaves we had brought home.
My wife and her two younger sons busied themselves with these,
while I, with my two elder boys, began to construct
(01:50):
the sledge. As we were working, we heard a great
noise among the fowls, and Ernest, looking about, discovered the
monkey seizing in high eating the eggs from the nests.
He had collected a good store in a hole among
the roots, which Ernest carried to his mother and Nips.
Was punished by being tied up every morning till the
(02:11):
eggs were collected. Our work was interrupted by dinner composed
of ortolands, milk and cheese. After dinner, Jack had climbed
to the higher branches of the trees to place his
snares and found the pigeons were making nests. I then
told him to look often to the snares, for fear
our own poor birds should be taken, and above all,
(02:34):
never in future to fire into the tree. Papa said,
little Francis, can we not sow some gunpowder, and then
we shall have plenty. This proposal was received with shouts
of laughter, which greatly discomposed the little innocent fellow. Professor
Ernest immediately seized the opportunity to give a lecture on
(02:55):
the composition of gunpowder. At the end of the day,
my sledge was finished. Two long curved planks of wood,
crossed by three pieces at a distance from each other,
formed the simple conveyance. The fore and hind parts were
in the form of horns to keep the load from
falling off. Two ropes were fastened to the front, and
(03:19):
my sledge was complete. My wife was delighted with it
and hoped I would now set out immediately to tent
house for the butter cask. I made no objection to this,
and Ernest and I prepared to go and leave Fritz
in charge of the family. End of Chapter fifteen. Chapter sixteen.
(03:41):
When we were ready to set out, Fritz presented each
of us with a little case he had made from
the skin of the margay. They were ingeniously contrived to
contain knife, fork and spoon, and a small hatchet. We
then harnessed the ass and the cow to the sledge,
took a flexible bamboo cane for a while whip, and
followed by Flora, we departed, leaving Turk to guard the tree.
(04:06):
We went by the shore as the better road for
the sledge, and crossing family bridge. Were soon at tent house.
After unharnessing the animals, we began to load. We took
the cask of butter, the cheese and the biscuit, all
the rest of our utensils, powder, shot, and Turk's armor,
which we had left there. These labors had so occupied
(04:29):
us that we had not observed that our animals, attracted
by the pasturage, had crossed the bridge and wandered out
of sight. I sent Ernest to seek them, and in
the meantime went to the bay, where I discovered some
convenient little hollows in the rock that seemed cut out
for baths. I called Ernest to come. Until he arrived,
(04:49):
employed myself in cutting some rushes which I thought might
be useful when my son came, I found he had
ingeniously removed the first planks from the bridge to revent
the animal straying over again. We then had a very
pleasant bath, and Ernest being out first, I sent him
to the rock where the salt was accumulated, to fill
(05:11):
a small bag to be transferred to the large bags
on the ass. He had not been absent long when
I heard him cry out, Papa, Papa, a huge fish.
I cannot hold it. It will break my line. I
ran to his assistance and found him lying on the
ground on his face, tugging at his line, to which
an enormous salmon was attached, and that it nearly pulled
(05:33):
him into the water. I let it have a little
more line, then drew it gently into a shallow and
secured it. It appeared about fifteen pounds weight, and we
pleased ourselves with the idea of presenting this to our
good cook. Ernest said, he remembered having remarked how this
place swarm with fish, and he took care to bring
(05:56):
his rod with him. He had taken about a dozen
small fishes, which he had in his handkerchief, before he
was overpowered by the salmon. I cut the fishes open
and rubbed the inside with salt to preserve them, then
placing them in a small box on the sledge, and
adding our bags of salt, we harnessed our animals and
(06:16):
set off homewards. When we were about half way, Flora
left us, and by her barking raised a singular animal,
which seemed to leap instead of run. The irregular bounds
of the animal disconcerted my aim, and though very near
I missed it. Ernest was more fortunate. He fired at
(06:37):
it and killed it. It was an animal about the
size of a sheep, with the tail of a tiger.
Its head and skin were like those of a mouse,
ears longer than the hair. There was a curious pouch
on the belly. The fore legs were short, as if
imperfectly developed, and armed with strong claws, the hind legs
(06:59):
long like a pair of stilts. After Ernest's pride of
victory was a little subdued, he fell back on his
science and began to examine his spoil. By its teeth,
said he, it should belong to the family of rodents
or gnawers, by its legs to the jumpers, and by
(07:21):
its pouch to the apossum. Tribe. This gave me the
right clue. Then said, I this must be the animal
cook first discovered in New Holland, and it is called
the kangaroo. We now tied the legs the animal together, and,
putting a stick through, carried it to the sledge very carefully,
(07:42):
for Ernest was anxious to preserve the beautiful skin. Our
animals were heavily laden, but giving them a little rests
and some fresh grass, we once more started, and in
a short time reached falcon's nest. My wife had been
employed during our acts since in washing the clothes of
the three boys, clothing them in the meantime from the
(08:04):
sailor's chest we had found a few days before. Their
appearance was excessively ridiculous, as the garments neither suited their
age nor size, and caused great mirth to us. All
but my wife had preferred this disguise to the alternative
of their going naked. We now began to display our
richest and relate our adventures. The butter and the rest
(08:27):
of the provisions were very welcome, and the salmon still
more so. But the sight of the kangaroo produced screams
of admiration. Fritz displayed a little jealousy, but soon surmounted
it by an exertion of his nobler feelings, and only
the keen eye of a father could have discovered it.
He congratulated Ernest warmly, but could not help begging to
(08:50):
accompany me next time. I promise you, that said I,
as a reward for the conquest you have achieved over
your jealousy of your brother. But remember, I could not
have given you a greater proof of my confidence than
in leaving you to protect your mother and brothers. A
noble mind finds its purest joy in the accomplishment of
(09:14):
its duty, and to that willingly sacrifices its inclination. But
I added, in a low tone, lest I should distress
my wife. I propose another expedition to the vessel, and
you must accompany me. We then fed our tired animals,
giving them some salt with their grass, a great treat
(09:36):
to them. Some salmon was prepared for dinner, and the
rest salted. After dinner, I hung up the kangaroo till
next day, when we intended to salt and smoke the flesh.
Evening arrived, and an excellent supper of fish, ortelines and
potatoes refreshed us, and after thanks to God, we retired
(09:57):
to rest. End of chapter
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