Робинзон Крузо
Start in life
thatIwasnoweighteenyearsold, whichwastoolatetogoapprenticetoatrade orclerktoanattorney; thatIwassureifIdidIshouldneverserveoutmytime, butIshouldcertainlyrunawayfrommymasterbeforemytimewasout,andgotosea; andifshewouldspeaktomyfathertoletmegoonevoyageabroad, ifIcamehomeagain,anddidnotlikeit, Iwouldgonomore;andIwouldpromise, byadoublediligence,torecoverthetimethatIhadlost.
Thisputmymotherintoagreatpassion; shetoldmesheknewitwouldbetonopurposetospeaktomyfatheruponanysuchsubject; thatheknewtoowellwhatwasmyinteresttogivehisconsenttoanythingsomuchformyhurt; andthatshewondered howIcouldthinkofanysuchthingafterthediscourseIhadhadwithmyfather, andsuchkindandtenderexpressionsassheknewmyfatherhadusedtome; andthat,inshort,ifIwouldruinmyself, therewasnohelpforme; butImightdependIshouldneverhavetheirconsenttoit; thatforherpartshewouldnothavesomuchhandinmydestruction; andIshouldneverhaveittosaythatmymotherwaswillingwhenmyfatherwasnot.
Thoughmymotherrefusedtomoveittomyfather, yetIheardafterwardsthatshereportedallthediscoursetohim, andthatmyfather,aftershowingagreatconcernatit,saidtoher,withasigh, ‘Thatboymightbehappyifhewouldstayathome; butifhegoesabroad, hewillbethemostmiserablewretchthateverwasborn: Icangivenoconsenttoit.’ ItwasnottillalmostayearafterthisthatIbrokeloose, though,inthemeantime,Icontinuedobstinatelydeaf toallproposalsofsettlingtobusiness, andfrequentlyexpostulatedwithmyfatherandmother abouttheirbeingsopositivelydetermined againstwhattheyknewmyinclinationspromptedmeto.
