Франкенштейн
Chapter 12
Whatdidtheirtearsimply?Didtheyreallyexpresspain?Iwasatfirstunabletosolvethesequestions,butperpetualattentionandtimeexplainedtomemanyappearanceswhichwereatfirstenigmatic.
"AconsiderableperiodelapsedbeforeIdiscoveredoneofthecausesoftheuneasinessofthisamiablefamily:itwaspoverty,andtheysufferedthatevilinaverydistressingdegree.Theirnourishmentconsistedentirelyofthevegetablesoftheirgardenandthemilkofonecow,whichgaveverylittleduringthewinter,whenitsmasterscouldscarcelyprocurefoodtosupportit.Theyoften,Ibelieve,sufferedthepangsofhungerverypoignantly,especiallythetwoyoungercottagers,forseveraltimestheyplacedfoodbeforetheoldmanwhentheyreservednoneforthemselves.
"Thistraitofkindnessmovedmesensibly.Ihadbeenaccustomed,duringthenight,tostealapartoftheirstoreformyownconsumption,butwhenIfoundthatindoingthisIinflictedpainonthecottagers,Iabstainedandsatisfiedmyselfwithberries,nuts,androotswhichIgatheredfromaneighbouringwood.
"IdiscoveredalsoanothermeansthroughwhichIwasenabledtoassisttheirlabours.Ifoundthattheyouthspentagreatpartofeachdayincollectingwoodforthefamilyfire,andduringthenightIoftentookhistools,theuseofwhichIquicklydiscovered,andbroughthomefiringsufficientfortheconsumptionofseveraldays.
"Iremember,thefirsttimethatIdidthis,theyoungwoman,whensheopenedthedoorinthemorning,appearedgreatlyastonishedonseeingagreatpileofwoodontheoutside.Sheutteredsomewordsinaloudvoice,andtheyouthjoinedher,whoalsoexpressedsurprise.Iobserved,withpleasure,thathedidnotgototheforestthatday,butspentitinrepairingthecottageandcultivatingthegarden.
