Робинзон Крузо
Builds a House — The Journal
ButafterIsawbarleygrowthereinaclimatewhichIknewwasnotproperforcorn,andespeciallythatIknewnothowitcamethere,itstartledmestrangely,andIbegantosuggestthatGodhadmiraculouslycausedthisgraintogrowwithoutanyhelpofseedsown,anditwassodirectedpurelyformysustenanceonthatwildmiserableplace.
Thistouchedmyheartalittle,andbroughttearsoutofmyeyes; andIbegantoblessmyself,thatsuchaprodigyofNatureshouldhappenuponmyaccount,andthiswasthemorestrangetome, becauseIsawnearitstill,allalongbythesideoftherock,someotherstragglingstalks,whichprovedtobestalksofrice,andwhichIknew,becauseIhadseenitgrowinAfrica,whenIwasashorethere.
InotonlythoughtthesethepureproductionsofProvidenceformysupport,but,notdoubtingbutthattherewasmoreintheplace, IwentalloverthatpartoftheislandwhereIhadbeenbefore,peeringineverycorner,andundereveryrock,toseeformoreofit;butIcouldnotfindany. AtlastitoccurredtomythoughtsthatIhadshookabagofchicken’smeatoutinthatplace,andthenthewonderbegantocease; andImustconfess,myreligiousthankfulnesstoGod’sprovidencebegantoabatetoo,uponthediscoveringthatallthiswasnothingbutwhatwascommon; Ioughttohavebeenasthankfulforsostrangeandunforseenprovidence,asifithadbeenmiraculous; foritwasreallytheworkofProvidenceastome,thatshouldorderorappoint,thattenortwelvegrainsofcornshouldremainunspoiled(whentheratshaddestroyedalltherest),asifithadbeendroppedfromheaven; asalsothatIshouldthrowitoutinthatparticularplace,where,itbeingintheshadeofahighrock,itsprangupimmediately; whereas,ifIhadthrownitanywhereelseatthattime,ithadbeenburntupanddestroyed.
