An American Robinson Crusoe | Page 3

soon noticed that his son was no longer attending to
his work, and one morning sent for him to come to his office. When
Robinson came in his father arose from his chair and looked him long
and earnestly in the face. Then he said, "I am very sorry, Robinson, that
you seem determined to continue your evil ways. If you do not do
better you will grow up to be a beggar or worse." Robinson cast his
eyes down and said, "I do not want to be a merchant, I would rather sail
in a ship around the world." His father answered, "If you do not know
anything you cannot be of use on a ship, and no one will want you. In a

strange land you cannot live without working. If you run away from
your parents you will come to be sorry for it." Robinson wept, for he
saw that his father was right, and he promised to obey.
After two or three weeks, Robinson went to his mother and said,
"Mother, won't you go to father and tell him that if he will only let me
take one voyage and it proves to be unpleasant, I will come back to the
store and work hard?" But the mother cried. With tears in her eyes, she
said: "Robinson, your brothers are both dead. You are the only child
left to us and if you go away, we shall be entirely alone. How easy it
would be to be drowned in the sea, or torn to pieces by wild animals
away there in a foreign country. Both your father and myself are getting
along in years and who will take care of us when we are sick? Do not
cause us the grief we must suffer if you go away so far amid so many
dangers. I cannot bear to have you speak of it again."
Robinson did not speak of it again, but he did not forget it. He was
nineteen years old. It was one day in August that Robinson stood at the
wharf looking longingly after the departing ships. As he stood there,
someone touched him on the shoulder. It was a ship captain's son. He
pointed to a long ship and said, "My father sails to-day in that ship for
Africa and takes me with him."
"Oh, if I could only go with you!" cried Robinson.
"Do come along," cried his comrade.
"But I have no money," said Robinson.
"That doesn't make any difference," returned the captain's son. "We
will take you anyway."
Robinson, without thinking for a moment, gave his friend his hand and
promised to go with him.
So without saying "Good-bye" to his parents, Robinson went
immediately on board the ship with his friend. This happened on the
10th of August.

[Illustration: ROBINSON AND THE CAPTAIN'S SON]
[Illustration]

IV
ROBINSON FAR FROM HOME
ROBINSON'S VOYAGE
Once on board, Robinson watched the preparations for departure. At
command the sailors clambered up into the rigging and loosened the
sails. Then the captain from his bridge called out, "Hoist the anchor!"
Then the great iron hooks that held the ship fast were lifted up, a
cannon sounded a final farewell. Robinson stood on the deck. He saw
the great city shimmer in the sunshine before him. Very fast now the
land was being left behind. It was not long until all that could be seen
of his native city was the tops of the highest towers. Then all faded
from sight. Behind, in front, right and left, he saw nothing but waters.
He became a little afraid. At noon there arose a strong wind and the
ship rocked to and fro. He became dizzy and had to hold fast to
something. The masts and rigging began to dance. It seemed to him as
if all was turning around. Suddenly he fell full length on the deck and it
was impossible for him to get up. He was seasick. He wailed and cried,
but no one heard him, no one helped him. Then he thought of his home,
his parents whom he had so ungratefully left.
He had been on the water about two weeks when one day as he lay in
his room, Robinson heard people over his head running about and
crying, "A storm is coming!" The ship's sides trembled and creaked.
The ship was tossed like a nutshell. Now it rolled to the right, now to
the left. And Robinson was thrown from one side to the other. Every
moment he expected the ship to sink. He turned pale and trembled with
fear. "Ah, if I were only at home with my parents, safe on the land," he
said. "If I ever get safe out of this, I will go home as quickly