Франкенштейн

           "Oneday,whenIwasoppressedbycold,Ifoundafirewhichhadbeenleftbysomewanderingbeggars,andwasovercomewithdelightatthewarmthIexperiencedfromit.InmyjoyIthrustmyhandintotheliveembers,butquicklydrewitoutagainwithacryofpain.Howstrange,Ithought,thatthesamecauseshouldproducesuchoppositeeffects!Iexaminedthematerialsofthefire,andtomyjoyfoundittobecomposedofwood.Iquicklycollectedsomebranches,buttheywerewetandwouldnotburn.Iwaspainedatthisandsatstillwatchingtheoperationofthefire.ThewetwoodwhichIhadplacedneartheheatdriedanditselfbecameinflamed.Ireflectedonthis,andbytouchingthevariousbranches,Idiscoveredthecauseandbusiedmyselfincollectingagreatquantityofwood,thatImightdryitandhaveaplentifulsupplyoffire.Whennightcameonandbroughtsleepwithit,Iwasinthegreatestfearlestmyfireshouldbeextinguished.Icovereditcarefullywithdrywoodandleavesandplacedwetbranchesuponit;andthen,spreadingmycloak,Ilayonthegroundandsankintosleep.

           "ItwasmorningwhenIawoke,andmyfirstcarewastovisitthefire.Iuncoveredit,andagentlebreezequicklyfanneditintoaflame.Iobservedthisalsoandcontrivedafanofbranches,whichrousedtheemberswhentheywerenearlyextinguished.WhennightcameagainIfound,withpleasure,thatthefiregavelightaswellasheatandthatthediscoveryofthiselementwasusefultomeinmyfood,forIfoundsomeoftheoffalsthatthetravellershadlefthadbeenroasted,andtastedmuchmoresavourythantheberriesIgatheredfromthetrees.Itried,therefore,todressmyfoodinthesamemanner,placingitontheliveembers.Ifoundthattheberrieswerespoiledbythisoperation,andthenutsandrootsmuchimproved.

           "Food,however,becamescarce,andIoftenspentthewholedaysearchinginvainforafewacornstoassuagethepangsofhunger.