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第49节

masterman ready-第49节

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which they could do in two trips; and Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave; with the family; were to walk through the woods after taking a very early breakfast。

All these points being arranged; they had finished their supper; when William again brought up the conversation about animals; as he was delighted to bear Mr。 Seagrave talk on the subject。 The conversation had not commenced more than a few minutes; when William said

〃Papa; they always say ‘as stupid as an ass'。 Is an ass such a stupid animal?〃

〃No; William; it is a very sagacious one; but the character has been given to the animal more on account of its obstinacy and untractableness; than on any other account。 It is usual to say; as stupid as an ass; or as stupid as a pig; or a goose。 Now; these three animals are very much maligned; for they are all sagacious animals。 But the fact is that; as regards the ass; we have only very sorry specimens of the animal in England; they are stunted and small; and; from want of corn and proper food; besides being very ill…treated; are slow and dull…looking animals。 The climate of England is much too cold for the ass; in the south of France and the Mediterranean; where it is much warmer; the ass is a much finer animal; but to see it in perfection we must go to the Torrid Zone in Guinea; right on the equator; the hottest portion of the globe; where the ass; in its native state and in its native country; is a handsome creature and as fleet as the wind; indeed; supposed to be; and mentioned in the Scriptures as the fleetest animal in creation。 The fact is; that in Asia; especially in Palestine and Syria; asses were in great repute; and used in preference to horses。 We must see an animal in its own climate to form a true estimate of its value。〃

〃Does climate; then; make so great a difference?〃 said William。

〃Of course it does; not only with animals; but with trees; plants; and even man; until he is accustomed to the change。 With respect to animals; there are some which can bear the different varieties of climate; and even change of food。 The horse; for instance; although originally indigenous to Arabia; lives as well in the Temperate; and even in the Frigid Zones it may be said; for they endure the hard winters of Russia and North America; so will domestic cattle; such as cows; sheep; pigs; &c。 It is a curious fact that; during the winter in Canada; a large proportion of the food of cattle consists of fish。〃

〃Fish; papa! Cows eat fish?〃

〃Yes; my dear boy; such is the fact。 It is a remarkable instance of a graminivorous or grass…eating animal being changed for a time into a

flesh…eating; or rather into fish…eating animal。 But there are other animals which can live under any temperature; as the wolf; the fox; the hare; and rabbit。 It is a curious provision; … that the sheep and goats in the hottest climates throw off their warm covering of wool; and retain little better than hair; while; removed to a cold climate; they recover their warm covering immediately。〃

〃But a goat has no wool; papa。〃

〃What are Cashmere shawls made of; William?〃

〃Very true; papa。〃

〃Most animals have a certain increase of covering as they recede further from the warm climates to the cold ones。 Wolves and foxes; hares and rabbits; change the colour of their skins to white when they get far north。 The little English stoat; which is destroyed by the gamekeepers; becomes the beautiful snow…white ermine in Russia and other cold countries。〃

〃Well; papa; I think it a great advantage to man; and a proof of the Almighty's care of him and kindness to him; in permitting all the animals most useful to him to be able to live in any country; but I don't know whether I am wrong in saying so; papa: I cannot see why an animal like the wolf should not have been kept to his own climate; like the lion and tiger; and other ferocious animals。〃

〃You have started a question; William; which I am glad you have done; rather than it should have remained on your mind; and have puzzled you。 It is true that the shepherd might agree with you; that the wolf is a nuisance; equally true that the husband man may exclaim; What is the good of thistles; and the various weeds which choke the soil? But; my dear boy; if they are not; which I think they are; for the benefit of man; at all events they are his doom for the first transgression。 ‘Cursed is the ground for thy sake … thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee … and by the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread;' was the Almighty's sentence; and it is only by labour that the husbandman can obtain his crops; and by watchfulness that the shepherd can guard his flocks。 Labour is in itself a benefit: without exercise there would be no health; and without health there would be no enjoyment。〃

〃I see now; papa。 You have mentioned the animals which can live in all climates; will you not tell us something about other animals?〃

〃There is but one remark to make; William; which is; that animals indigenous to; that is; originally to be found in; any one portion of the globe; invariably are so fashioned as to be most fit for that country; and have the food also most proper for them growing or to be obtained in that country。 Take; for instance; the camel; an animal fashioned expressly for the country to which he is indigenous; and without whose aid all communication must have been stopped between Asia and Africa。 He is called the ‘Ship of the Desert'; for the desert is a ‘sea of sand'。 His feet are so fashioned that he can traverse the sands with facility; he can live upon the coarsest vegetable food and salt plants which are found there; and he has the capacity of carrying water in a sort of secondary stomach; for his own supply where no water is to be found。 Here is an animal wonderfully made by the Almighty for an express locality; and for the convenience of man in that country; for; in England; or elsewhere; he would be of no value。 But it is late; my dear William; so we will first thank him for all his mercies; and then to bed。〃



Chapter LVII

The next morning was one of bustle; there was packing up and every preparation for departure。 Juno was called here and called there; and was obliged to ask little Caroline to look after the kettle and call to her if it boiled over。 Master Tommy; as usual; was in every one's way; and doing more harm than good in his attempts to assist。

At last; Ready; to get rid of him; sent him down with a large bundle to the beach。 Tommy shouldered it with great importance; but when he came back; looking rather warm with the exertion; and Ready asked him to take down another; he said he was too tired; and sat down very quietly till breakfast…time; before which everything was ready。

Mrs。 Seagrave and Juno packed up the breakfast and dinner things in a basket after breakfast was over; and then Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave and the family set off on their journey; accompanied by the dogs; through the cocoa…nut grove。

William and Ready lost no time in getting through their work; the crockery; kitchen utensils; table; and chairs; were the first articles put into the boat。 The goat was then led down; and they set off with a full load; and arrived at the bay long before the party who were walking through the wood。 They landed the things on the beach; and then shoved off again to bring round the bedding; which was all that was left。 By three o'clock in the afternoon they had arrived at the bay with their second and last load; and found that the other party had been there about an hour; and Mr。 Seagrave and Juno were very busy taking the articles up from the beach。

〃Well; William;〃 said Ready; 〃this is our last trip for some time; I expect; and so much the better; for our little boat must have something done to her as soon as I can find time。〃

〃Yes; indeed; Ready; she has done her work well。 Do you know I feel as if I were coming home; now that we are back to the bay。 I really feel quite glad that we have left the tents。 I found the pigeons among the peas; Ready; so we must pick them as soon as we can。 I think there were near twenty of them。 We shall have pigeon pies next year; I expect。〃

〃If it pleases God that we live and do well;〃 replied Ready; who had his eyes fixed upon the sea。

Before night everything was in its place again in the house; and as comfortable as before; and as they were very tired; they went very early to bed; having first arranged what they should do in the morning。 At daylight Ready and William went down to the turtle…pond and speared a turtle; for now the time was coming on for turning the turtle again; and the pond would soon be filled。 Having cut it up and put a portion of it into the pot; all ready for Mrs。 Seagrave; as soon as breakfast was over they proceeded to the storehouse。

After a little consultation with Mr。 Seagrave; Ready marked out a square of cocoa…nut trees surrounding the storehouse; so as to leave a space within them of about twenty yards each side; which they considered large enough for the inclosure。 These cocoa…nut trees were to serve as the posts between which were to be fixed other cocoa…nut trees cut down; and about fourteen feet high; so as to form a palisade or stockade; which could not be climbed over; and would protect them from any attack of t

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