The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-09-17
CHAPTER I.


CHAPTER 1.
In the first part Of Robinson Crusoe, at page
one hundred and twenty-nine, you will find II
thus written:
Snow saw, though too late, the Folly Of be.
ginning Work before we count the Cost, and
before we Judge rightly Of our owp Strength to
70 through with IT,"
Only yesterday opened my Robinson CRU
soc at that place. Only this morning MAY
twenty first, eighteen hundred and ffty) came
my lady's nephew, Mr.. Franklin Blake, and
held short conversation with me, as follows:
"Bettercdge," says Mr.. Franklin, 81 have
been to the lawyers about some family matters
and. among other things, we have been talking
Of the loss Of the Indian Diamond, In my aunt's
house In Yorkshire, two years since. The law
yer thinks, rs I think, that the whole story
ought, In the interests Of truth, to be placed on
record in writing-and the sooner the better"
Not perceiving his drift yet, and thinking Il
always desirable for the sake Of peace and qui-
etness to be on the lawyers side, said thought
% too. Mr.. Franklin went on:
'In this matter Of the Diamond" he said,
'the characters Of innocent people have suffered
under suspicion already-as you know. The
memories Of innocent people may suffer, hereaf-
ter, for want of a record Of the facts TO which
those who come after us can appeal There can
be no doubt that this strange family story Of
ours ought to be told. And think, Detteredge.
the lawyer and together have hit on the right
way Of telling it."
Very satisfactory to both Of them, no doubt.
But I failed to see what myself had to do with
II, 80 far.
ave have certain events TO relate" Mr..
Franklin proceeded "and we have certain per-
sons concerned IN those events who are capable
Of relating them. Starting from these plain
facts, the lawyers idea Is that we should all
write the story of the Moonstone In turn-as
far rs our own personal experience extends, and
no farther. We must begin by showing how the
Diamond FIRST fell into the hands Of my uncle
Herncastle, when he was serving In India fifty
years since. This predatory narrative have
already got by me in the form OF an old family
paper, which relates the necessary particulars
en- the authority Of an eyewitness. The next
thing to do Is to tell how the Diamond found its
way into my aunt's house in Yorkshire, two
years since, and how ii came TO be lost in little
more than twelve hours afterward. Nobody
knows as much as you do, Betterdge, about
what went on in the house at that time. So you
must take the pen In hand. and start the story"
In those terms was informed OF what my
personal concern was with the matter Of the
Diamond. IL you are curious 10 know what
course took under the circumstances, Ibeg to
inform you that did what you would probably
have done in my place. I modestly declared
myself to be quite unequal to the task imposed
upon me-and privately felt, all the time, that
I was quite clever enough to perform II, If l on
N gave MY own abilities fair chance. Mr..
Franklin. imagine, must have seen my private
sentiments in my face. He declined to believe
In my modesty and he insisted on giving my
abilities a fair chance.
Two hours have passed since Mr.. Franklin
left me. As soon as his back was turned went
to my writing-desk to start the story. There
have sat helpless Tin spite Of my abilities) ever
since seeing what Robinson Crusoe saw, rs
quoted above-namely, the folly Of beginning q
work before we count the cost, and before VIC
Judge rightly Of our own strength to 60 through
with Il. Please 10 remember, opened the book
by accident, ut that bit, only the day before
rashly undertook the business now in hand
and, allow meto ask-if that isn't prophecy.
what isl
am not superstitious have read heap Of
books In my time am a scholar in my own
i've memory, and legs 10 correspond. You are
not to take II, II you please, the saying Of an
ignorant man, when express my opinion that
such book as Robinson Crusoe never was writ
ten, and never will be written again. l have
tried that book for years-generally in combi-
nation with pipe Of tobacco-and have found
II my friend in need in all the necessities Of this
mortal life When my spirits are bad-Robin-
son Crusoc. When I want advice-Robinson
Crusoe. In past times, when my wife plagued
me in present times, when have had q drop
too much-Robnson Crusoe. have worn out
six stout Robinson Crusoes with hard work in
my service. On my lady's last birthday she
gave me seventh. I took q drop too much on
the strength of II /; and Robinson Crusoe put
me right again. Price four shillings and six
pence, bound in blue, with picture into the
bargain.
Still, this don't look much like starting the
story of the Diamond-does iti seem to be
wandering of in search Of Lord knows what,
Lord knows where. We will take q new sheet
Of paper, II you please. and begin over again,
with my best respects to you.
(ro BE CoSrINuED.)