Робинзон Крузо
Tames Goats
However,forthepresentIlethimgo,knowingnobetteratthattime. ThenIwenttothethreekids,andtakingthemonebyone,Itiedthemwithstringstogether,andwithsomedifficultybroughtthemallhome.
Itwasagoodwhilebeforetheywouldfeed,butthrowingthemsomesweetcorn,ittemptedthem,andtheybegantobetame. AndnowIfoundthatifIexpectedtosupplymyselfwithgoat-fleshwhenIhadnopowderorshotleft,breedingsomeuptamewasmyonlyway,whenperhapsImighthavethemaboutmyhouselikeaflockofsheep.
ButthenitpresentlyoccurredtomethatImustkeepthetamefromthewild,orelsetheywouldalwaysrunwildwhentheygrewup; andtheonlywayforthiswastohavesomeenclosedpieceofground,wellfencedeitherwithhedgeorpale,tokeeptheminsoeffectuallythatthosewithinmightnotbreakout,orthosewithoutbreakin.
Thiswasagreatundertakingforonepairofhands; yetasIsawtherewasanabsolutenecessityofdoingit,myfirstpieceofworkwastofindoutaproperpieceofground,viz.,wheretherewaslikelytobeherbageforthemtoeat,waterforthemtodrink,andcovertokeepthemfromthesun.
ThosewhounderstandsuchenclosureswillthinkIhadverylittlecontrivancewhenIpitcheduponaplaceveryproperforallthese,beingaplainopenpieceofmeadowland,orsavanna(asourpeoplecallitinthewesterncolonies),whichhadtwoorthreelittledrillsoffreshwaterinit,andatoneendwasverywoody; Isay,theywillsmileatmyforecast,whenIshalltellthemIbeganmyenclosingofthispieceofgroundinsuchamanner,thatmyhedgeorpalemusthavebeenatleasttwomilesabout.
