Робінзон Крузо
Agricultural Experience
Thisthoughtranlonginmyhead,andIwasexceedingfondofitforsometime,thepleasantnessoftheplacetemptingme; butwhenIcametoanearerviewofit,andtoconsiderthatIwasnowbytheseaside,whereitwasatleastpossiblethatsomethingmighthappentomyadvantage, and,bythesameillfatethatbroughtmehither,mightbringsomeotherunhappywretchestothesameplace; andthoughitwasscarceprobablethatanysuchthingshouldeverhappen,yettoenclosemyselfamongthehillsandwoodsinthecentreoftheisland,wastoanticipatemybondage,andtorendersuchanaffairnotonlyimprobable,butimpossible;andthatthereforeIoughtnotbyanymeanstoremove.
However,IwassoenamoredofthisplacethatIspentmuchofmytimethereforthewholeremainingpartofthemonthofJuly; andthough,uponsecondthoughts,Iresolvedasabove,nottoremove,yetIbuiltmealittlekindofbower,andsurroundeditatadistancewithastrongfence,beingadoublehedgeashighasIcouldreach,wellstaked,andfilledbetweenwithbrushwood. AndhereIlayverysecure,sometimestwoorthreenightstogether,alwaysgoingoveritwithaladder,asbefore; sothatIfanciednowIhadmycountry-houseandmysea-coasthouse; andthisworktookmeuptothebeginningofAugust.
Ihadbutnewlyfinishedmyfence,andbegantoenjoymylabor,buttherainscameon,andmademestickclosetomyfirsthabitation; forthoughIhadmademeatentliketheother,withapieceofasail,andspreaditverywell,yetIhadnottheshelterofahilltokeepmefromstorms,noracavebehindmetoretreatintowhentherainswereextraordinary.
AboutthebeginningofAugust,asIsaid,Ihadfinishedmybower,andbegantoenjoymyself. The3rdofAugustIfoundthegrapesIhadhungupwereperfectlydried,andindeedwereexcellentgoodraisinsofthesun; soIbegantotakethemdownfromthetrees.
