Робинзон Крузо
Friday’s Education
Hetoldme, "Yes,yes,Imightgointwocanoe." Icouldnotunderstandwhathemeant,ormakehimdescribetomewhathemeantbytwocanoe; tillatlast,withgreatdifficulty,Ifoundhemeantitmustbeinalargegreatboat,asbigastwocanoes.
ThispartofFriday’sdiscoursebegantorelishwithmeverywell; andfromthistimeIentertainedsomehopesthat,onetimeorother,Imightfindanopportunitytomakemyescapefromthisplace,andthatthispoorsavagemightbeameanstohelpmetodoit.
DuringthelongtimethatFridayhadnowbeenwithme,andthathebegantospeaktome,andunderstandme,Iwasnotwantingtolayafoundationofreligiousknowledgeinhismind; particularlyIaskedhimonetime, Whomadehim? Thepoorcreaturedidnotunderstandmeatall,butthoughtIhadaskedwhowashisfather. ButItookitbyanotherhandle,andaskedhimwhomadethesea,thegroundwewalkedon,andthehillsandwoods? HetoldmeitwasoneoldBenamuckee,thatlivedbeyondall. Hecoulddescribenothingofthisgreatperson,butthathewasveryold,mucholder,hesaid,thantheseaortheland,thanthemoonorthestars, Iaskedhimthen,ifthisoldpersonhadmadeallthings,whydidnotallthingsworshiphim? Helookedverygrave,andwithaperfectlookofinnocencesaid, "AllthingsdosayOtohim." Iaskedhimifthepeoplewhodieinhiscountrywentawayanywhere? Hesaid, "Yes,theyallwenttoBenamuckee." ThenIaskedhimwhetherthesetheyeatupwentthithertoo? Hesaid"Yes."
FromthesethingsIbegantoinstructhimintheknowledgeofthetrueGod. ItoldhimthatthegreatMakerofallthingslivedupthere,pointinguptowardsheaven; thatHegovernstheworldbythesamepowerandprovidencebywhichhemadeit;