Friday’s Education

           AfterIhadbeentwoorthreedaysreturnedtomycastle,Ithoughtthat,inordertobringFridayofffromhishorridwayoffeeding,andfromtherelishofacannibal’sstomach,Ioughttolethimtasteotherflesh; soItookhimoutwithmeonemorningtothewoods. Iwent,indeed,intendingtokillakidoutofmyownflock,andbringhimhomeanddressit; butasIwasgoing,Isawashe-goatlyingdownintheshade,andtwoyoungkidssittingbyher. IcatchedholdofFriday."Hold,"saysI,"standstill,"andmadesignstohimnottostir. ImmediatelyIpresentedmypiece,shotandkilledoneofthekids. Thepoorcreature,whohad,atadistanceindeed,seenmekillthesavage,hisenemy,butdidnotknow,orcouldimagine,howitwasdone,wassensiblysurprised,trembledandshook,andlookedsoamazed,thatIthoughthewouldhavesunkdown. HedidnotseethekidIhadshotat,orperceiveIhadkilledit,butrippeduphiswaistcoattofeelifhewasnotwounded; and,asIfoundpresently,thoughtIwasresolvedtokillhim;forhecameandkneeleddowntome,andembracingmyknees,saidagreatmanythingsIdidnotunderstand; butIcouldeasilyseethatthemeaningwastopraymenottokillhim. 

           IsoonfoundawaytoconvincehimthatIwoulddohimnoharm; andtakinghimupbythehand,laughedathim,andpointingtothekidwhichIhadkilled,beckonedtohimtorunandfetchit,whichhedid; andwhilehewaswondering,andlookingtoseehowthecreaturewaskilled,Iloadedmygunagain; andbyandbyIsawagreatfowl,likeahawk,situponatree,withinshot;so,toletFridayunderstandalittlewhatIwoulddo,Icalledhimtomeagain,pointingatthefowl,whichwasindeedaparrot,thoughIthoughtithadbeenahawk; Isay,pointingtotheparrot,andtomygun,andtothegroundundertheparrot,tolethimseeIwouldmakeitfall,ImadehimunderstandthatIwouldshootandkillthatbird.