Робінзон Крузо
Start in life
andtocloseall,hetoldmeIhadmyelderbrotherforanexample, towhomhehadusedthesameearnestpersuasionstokeephimfromgoingintotheLowCountrywars, butcouldnotprevail, hisyoungdesirespromptinghimtorunintothearmy,wherehewaskilled; andthoughhesaidhewouldnotceasetoprayforme, yethewouldventuretosaytome, thatifIdidtakethisfoolishstep,Godwouldnotblessme, andIshouldhaveleisurehereaftertoreflectuponhavingneglectedhiscounselwhentheremightbenonetoassistinmyrecovery.
Iobservedinthislastpartofhisdiscourse, whichwastrulyprophetic, thoughIsupposemyfatherdidnotknowittobesohimself -Isay,Iobservedthetearsrundownhisfaceveryplentifully, especiallywhenhespokeofmybrotherwhowaskilled: andthatwhenhespokeofmyhavingleisuretorepent,andnonetoassistme, hewassomovedthathebrokeoffthediscourse, andtoldmehisheartwassofull hecouldsaynomoretome.
Iwassincerelyaffectedwiththisdiscourse, and,indeed,whocouldbeotherwise? andIresolvednottothinkofgoingabroadanymore, buttosettleathomeaccordingtomyfather’sdesire. Butalas!afewdaysworeitalloff; and,inshort,topreventanyofmyfather’sfurtherimportunities,inafewweeksafterIresolvedtorunquiteawayfromhim.
However,Ididnotactquitesohastilyasthefirstheatofmyresolutionprompted; butItookmymotheratatimewhenIthoughtheralittlemorepleasantthanordinary, andtoldherthatmythoughtsweresoentirelybentuponseeingtheworld thatIshouldneversettletoanythingwithresolutionenoughtogothroughwithit, andmyfatherhadbettergivemehisconsent thanforcemetogowithoutit;