Робинзон Крузо
Builds a House — The Journal
TheonlyremedyIhadwas,thatwhenIhadkilledagoatIsavedthetallow,andwithalittledishmadeofclay,whichIbakedinthesun,towhichIaddedawickofsomeoakum,Imademealamp; andthisgavemelight,thoughnotaclearsteadylightlikeacandle.
Inthemiddleofallmylaborsithappenedthatrummagingmythings,Ifoundalittlebag,which,asIhintedbefore,hadbeenfilledwithcornforthefeedingofpoultry,notforthisvoyage,butbefore,asIsuppose,whentheshipcamefromLisbon. Whatlittleremainderofcornhadbeeninthebagwasalldevouredwiththerats,andIsawnothinginthebagbuthusksanddust; andbeingwillingtohavethebagforsomeotheruse,Ithinkitwastoputpowderin,whenIdivideditforfearofthelightning,orsomesuchuse,Ishookthehusksofcornoutofitononesideofmyfortification,undertherock. Itwasalittlebeforethegreatrains,justnowmentioned,thatIthrewthisstuffaway,takingnonoticeofanythingthere; when,aboutamonthafter,orthereabout,Isawsomefewstalksofsomethinggreenshootingoutoftheground,whichIfanciedmightbesomeplantIhadnotseen; butIwassurprised,andperfectlyastonished,when,afteralittlelongertime,Isawabouttenortwelveearscomeout,whichwereperfectgreenbarleyofthesamekindasorEuropean,nay,asourEnglishbarley.
Itisimpossibletoexpresstheastonishmentandconfusionofmythoughtsonthisoccasion. Ihadhithertoacteduponnoreligiousfoundationatall; indeed,Ihadveryfewnotionsofreligioninmyhead,orhadentertainedanysenseofanythingthathadbefallenmeotherwisethanasachance,oraswelightlysay,whatpleasesGod; withoutsomuchasinquiringintotheendofProvidenceinthesethings,orHisorderingoverningeventsintheworld.
