The Washington herald., 1919-07-07
ROBINSON CRUSOE
By DANIEL DEFOE
CONDENSATION by James B. Connolly

Ny father designed me for the law,
but would be satisfied only with
going to sea, and being one day at
Huh and one of my companions about
TO go by sea to London in his father 9
ship. nothing would serve me but l
must go with him-this on September
8. 165l. and being then 10 years on
age
The ship was no sooner out of port
than the wind began to blow and the
sea to rise in the most trightful man.
ner, which made me most terribly
sick IN body and frightened IN mind
In my agony 1 vowed that II GOD
would spare me through this one
voyage would go. Immediately 1
set foot on land. directly home TO
my good parents and be ever after
guided in my conduct by their ad-
vice
But next day the wind was abated
and the sea calmer. and the sun went
down to a perfectly fine evening. ana
when to that was added a bowl of
punch made by a shipmate, forgot
my resolution to return home after
the voyage; and such has been my
habit. to my great misfortune. all my
life; to disayow in the hour of peril
the headstrong actions which have
brought me to peril, and when the
danger is past to forget all vows ana
plunge headlong once more on my
needless courses
Various were my adventures after
that first tempestuous voyage. Trading
. to Guinea in Africa 1 was captured
by a Turkish rover and sold into
slavery. from whence after many
perils escaped to the Brazils, where
set myself up for a sugar planter
and was enjoying a fine prosperity
thereat. when fell a victim to temp
tation. Help being scarce in the Bra
zils and some planters there knowing
that 1 had traded with the slave
coasts of Africa they beguiled me
into a voyage to those parts with
our plantations
council. Our ship was wrecked on
an unknown island of the northeast
coast OF South America, and of all
the ships company 1 alone. by the
blessing OF God, was allowed to es-
cape through the high surf to the
shore All I possessed at the time
was a knife, a pipe and little to-
bacco in a box Walking along the
shore. when l had recovered suffi-
GENTLY in strength SO to walk. l found
fresh water. great Joy. Having
drunk and put a little tobacco against
the hunger in my mouth. l took up
my lodging in a tree and did there
sleep TO my great refreshment
throughout the night.
Next morning the weather was clear
and the sea mild. but what pleased
me most was the sight of the ship
which. as the tide ebbed. lay so close
to the shore that 1 found no trouble
in swimming out to it. No living
thing except a dog and two cats were
left on the ship, but there was a store
of necessities, and such 1 took, build
ing a raft for the purpose Of trans
porting them to an inlet in the island
where was fresh water and a fiat
high place for my habitation. Bread.
rice. barley and corn, cheese and dried
goats flesh, some sugar. flour. planks,
spars. rop-all these with muskets.
two pistols. fowling pieces. a store or
lead and powder. two saws, an axe. a
hammer, and-which was the least
use of all-thirty-six pounds sterling.
All these I piloted from day to day
between tides from ship to shore.
On the night OF the thirteenth day,
my work of transportation being done,
I lay down in my usual fear OF wild
beasts. but also OF thankfulness in the
knowledge that was prepared for
some time to come against the bar
renness Of this island.
There were wild fruit trees on the
island. but 1t was many days before
I discovered them There were also