Johann David Wyss

“ God will never do so. He has not forsaken us, and we will trust him still. Only let us bestir ourselves, and each cheerily do his best. Who has anything to propose?”
“The sea will soon be calm enough for swimming,” said Fritz.
“And that would be all very fine for you,” exclaimed Ernest, “but think of mother and the rest of us! Why not build a raft and all get on shore together?”
“We should find it difficult, I think, to make a raft that would carry us safe to shore. However, we must contrive something, and first let each try to procure what will be of most use to us.” ”

“ Fritz and Ernest, you have chosen well.”
“Will you praise me too?” said my dear wife. “I have nothing to show, but I can give you good news. Some useful animals are still alive; a cow, a donkey, two goats, six sheep, a ram, and a fine sow. I was but just in time to save their lives by taking food to them.”
“All these things are excellent indeed,” said I; “but my friend Jack here, has presented me with a couple of huge hungry useless dogs, who will eat more than any of us.”
“Oh, papa! they will be of use! Why, they will help us to hunt when we get on shore!” ”

“ This display of temper vexed me. “You are acting in a very childish way, my son,” said I. “Never strike an enemy in a revengeful spirit.” Once more lifting the lobster, Jack ran triumphantly towards the tent.
LOBSTER.
“Mother, mother! a lobster! A lobster, Ernest! look here, Franz! mind, he'll bite you! Where's Fritz?” All came crowding round Jack and his prize, wondering at its unusual size, and Ernest wanted his mother to make lobster soup directly, by adding it to what she was now boiling. ”

“ Just then we heard the cocks begin to crow, as though to reproach us for deserting them. “Why should not the fowls go with us!” exclaimed I. “If we find no food for them, they can be food for us!” Ten hens and a couple of cocks were accordingly placed in one of the tubs, and secured with some wire-netting over them.
The ducks and geese were set at liberty, and took to the water at once, while the pigeons, rejoicing to find themselves on the wing, swiftly made for the shore. ”

“ Our spoons were now ready, and gathering round the pot we dipped them in, not, however, without sundry scalded fingers. Ernest then drew from his pocket the large shell he had procured for his own use, and scooping up a good quantity of soup he put it down to cool, smiling at his own foresight.
OYSTERS.
“Prudence should be exercised for others,” I remarked; “your cool soup will do capitally for the dogs, my boy; take it to them, and then come and eat like the rest of us.” ”

“ Fritz then told us how he had been to the other side of the stream. “So different from this,” he said; “it is really a beautiful country, and the shore, which runs down to the sea in a gentle slope, is covered with all sorts of useful things from the wreck. Do let us go and collect them. And, father, why should we not return to the wreck and bring off some of the animals? Just think of what value the cow would be to us, and what a pity it would be to lose her. ”

“ Jack was inclined to deny them this their only chance of safety. “Stop,” said I, “that would be unkind as well as foolish; remember, the merciful man regardeth the life of his beast.”
Our passage though tedious was safe; but the nearer we approached the shore the less inviting it appeared; the barren rocks seemed to threaten us with misery and want.
Many casks, boxes, and bales of goods floated on the water around us. Fritz and I managed to secure a couple of hogsheads, so as to tow them alongside. ”

“ All being ready, we cast off, and moved away from the wreck. My good, brave wife, sat in the first compartment of the boat; next her was Franz, a pretty little boy, nearly eight years old. Then came Fritz, a handsome, spirited young fellow of fifteen; the two centre tubs contained the valuable cargo; then came our bold, thoughtless Jack; next him Ernest, my second son, intelligent, well-informed, and rather indolent. I myself, the anxious, loving
PENGUIN.
father, stood in the stern, endeavouring to guide the raft with its precious burden to a safe landing-place. ”

“ Although our good ship will never sail more, she is so placed that our cabin will remain above water, and to-morrow, if the winds and waves abate, I see no reason why we should not be able to get ashore. ”

“ Let the poor animals we must leave behind be well fed, and put plenty of fodder within their reach: in a few days we may be able to return, and save them likewise. After that, collect everything you can think of which may be of use to us.”
The boys joyfully obeyed me, and I selected from the large quantity of stores they got together, canvas to make a tent, a chest of carpenter's tools, guns, pistols, powder, shot, and bullets, rods and fishing tackle, an iron pot, a case of portable soup, and another of biscuit. ”

“ The little animal is a native of North America, where it makes its nest under the roots of trees, and lives upon fruit. But, Ernest, the Agouti not only looks something like a pig, but most decidedly grunts like a porker.”
While we were thus talking, Jack had been vainly endeavouring to open an oyster with his large knife. “Here is a simpler way,” said I, placing an oyster on the fire; it immediately opened. ”

“ This convinced me that we must be not far from the equator, for twilight results from the refraction of the sun's rays; the more obliquely these rays fall, the further does the partial light extend, while the more perpendicularly they strike the earth the longer do they continue their undiminished force, until, when the sun sinks, they totally disappear, thus producing sudden darkness. ”

“ As soon as we could gather our children around us on dry land, we knelt to offer thanks and praise for our merciful escape, and with full hearts we commended ourselves to God's good keeping for the time to come. ”

“ Lobster for me!”
“I believe them to be oysters, not mussels,” returned Ernest calmly.
“Be good enough, my philosophical young friend, to fetch a few specimens of these oysters in time for our next meal,” said I; “we must all exert ourselves, Ernest, for the common good, and pray never let me hear you object to wetting your feet. See how quickly the sun has dried Jack and me.”
“I can bring some salt at the same time,” said Ernest; “I remarked a good deal lying in the crevices of the rocks ”