Робинзон Крузо
Surveys His Position
Thislittlewanderingjourney,withoutsettledplaceofabode,hadbeensounpleasanttome,thatmyownhouse,asIcalledittomyself,wasaperfectsettlementtomecomparedtothat; anditrenderedeverythingaboutmesocomfortable,thatIresolvedIwouldnevergoagreatwayfromitagain,whileitshouldbemylottostayontheisland.
Ireposedmyselfhereaweek,torestandregalemyselfaftermylongjourney; duringwhichmostofthetimewastakenupintheweightyaffairofmakingacageformyPoll,whobegannowtobeameredomestic,andtobemightywellacquaintedwithme. ThenIbegantothinkofthepoorkidwhichIhadpennedinwithinmylittlecircle,andresolvedtogoandfetchithome,orgiveitsomefood. AccordinglyIwent,andfounditwhereIleftit,forindeeditcouldnotgetout,butalmoststarvedforwantoffood. Iwentoutandcutboughsoftrees,andbranchesofsuchshrubsasIcouldfind,andthrewitover,andhavingfedit,ItieditasIdidbefore,toleaditaway; butitwassotamewithbeinghungry,thatIhadnoneedtohavetiedit,foritfollowedmelikeadog. AndasIcontinuallyfedit,thecreaturebecamesoloving,sogentle,andsofond,thatitbecamefromthattimeoneofmydomesticsalso,andwouldneverleavemeafterwards.
Therainyseasonoftheautumnalequinoxwasnowcome,andIkeptthe30thofSeptemberinthesamesolemnmannerasbefore,beingtheanniversaryofmylandingontheisland,havingnowbeentheretwoyears, andnomoreprospectofbeingdeliveredthanthefirstdayIcamethere. Ispentthewholedayinhumbleandthankfulacknowledgmentsofthemanywonderfulmercieswhichmysolitaryconditionwasattendedwith,andwithoutwhichitmighthavebeeninfinitelymoremiserable.
