64 THE LIFE AND SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON Crusoe.

grown rusty or tarnished. And thus I left the island, the nineteenth of December, as I found by the ship's account, in the year 1686, after I had dwelt there twenty-eight years, two months, and nineteen days. In this vessel, after a long voyage, I arrived in England, on the eleventh of June, in the year 1687, having been thirty-five years absent.

When I found myself in England, I was as perfect a stranger to every one as if I had never been known there. I went down into Yorkshire, but my father was dead, as also my mother, and all the family except two sisters, and two of the children of one of my brothers. As I had been long before considered dead, no provision had been made for me; so that I found nothing to relieve or assist me, and the little money I had, would not go far towards settling me in the world.

I met with one piece of gratitude, however, I did not expect, and that was from the master of the ship whom I had so happily saved from probable death, and at the same time secured the vessel and cargo; having given a very handsome account to the owners of the circumstances of the case, I received a present from them of the value of nearly two hundred pounds sterling.

STORIES

OF

FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

FIRST SERIES.

OF the great powers that represent the German territory, Prussia takes precedence in point of intelligence and enlightened government. It is accordingly to that country we refer in the following narrative, which will show the affectionate relations that have frequently subsisted between the monarch and his people, which has always been the surest pledge of national prosperity. The tale, which is founded upon fact, is

called

THE GOOD WIFE.

Hubert was a strong, handsome young fellow, but his youth and

strength were almost his only possessions; the little estate he inherited. from his father being hardly sufficient to enable him to keep a couple

of cows, even when times went well, and he was obliged to work constantly at day labour. Indeed, if the truth must be told, there was a debt on the little estate amounting to some hundred dollars, and Hubert knew that if he did not pay the interest punctually to the neighbouring baron, who was his creditor, little mercy would be shown him. But the thought of this had never occasioned him much uneasiness, for he always found work for his willing hands, and was pretty well paid, being known for a diligent and good workman.

Thus he lived, free from care, till one day he saw Johanna binding sheaves with some other girls in the baron's harvest field. He had never seen her before, for she belonged to another village, and only came for a short time for the sake of earning a few pence.

As soon as the good youth caught sight of her, the sickle made a stop, and he gazed in admiration at the skill with which she performed her task. He had not once thought of leaving off his work to look after the other girls in the village, but now he felt conscious that they were laughing at him. Whether it was the glow of the setting sun, which just then spread a rosy hue over all things, or something from within which made his forehead so red-he turned away to his work, glad that he did not hear Johanna's voice among the laughers.

Well, a few days passed by, and the whole village said that Johanna had passed her word to Hubert; and perhaps they were not far from right, for the young people had been seen talking together for a long time on the day of the harvest supper.

"And now I must go back to my mother," remarked Johanna.

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"Why not stop here?" said Hubert, taken by surprise and looking down. Johanna shook her head. My time is up," she said; "there is no more work here, and I must get a place for the winter."

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Humph,” said Hubert, "that need not stop you-why—why, I say, you could remain with me!"

"I did not know you kept a servant!" said Johanna, with a look

of wonder.

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“Oh, no!” answered Hubert, no more I do; but"—still the words would not pass his lips-" but-but you know, any one may have a wife; come now, Johanna, what do you say ?"

But Johanna didn't say anything; she only looked down and played with her apron strings.

“To be sure I am not rich," said Hubert, taking courage; for he thought the worst was over; "but don't you see, dear Johanna, I'm strong and brave, and for you-yes, for you—I could do three times as much as I have ever done! Oh! we shall do well enough even in bad years!"

"That I believe," said Johanna, more to herself than to Hubert, "for I can do something too."

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"Then you'll take me," said Hubert, with a beaming face. "Look ye, you don't know what a piece of good luck this is for me, for I loved from the first moment I saw you."

you

"Well! and so did I you," said Johanna, honestly; "for don't you think I saw how you looked after me in the harvest field? Yes, yes, Hubert, I will take you, and I think I can make you a good wife!"

Well, then, so the matter was settled; and a few weeks after there was a marriage in the village. Many shook their heads, and said no good would come of it, for Johanna had nothing but the clothes she But the young couple did not distress themselves about that: they loved each other, were strong and healthy, and never feared hard labour, and so they said God would help them.

wore.

And so He did many a long day. The family became larger. They had a fine, handsome boy, and a little girl a year or two younger; and thus the joys as well as the cares of the young couple were increased; but they thought only of the joys, and worked with double zeal.

Hubert never repented the step he had taken, for Johanna kept her promise. She was a brave, good wife to him; always kind and hard-working, giving herself up entirely to her husband and children -as every wife will who loves her husband truly and respects him, because she feels he deserves her love.

So then, as we have said, thus far Johanna was all a wife should be, and bore her share of the work in the fields, and of the care of the family, faithfully, but the worst was yet to come. There came a time of scarcity; the fields produced very little corn. Hubert and Johanna suffered much-for bread was extremely dear; but they suffered in silence and patient hope. At last Hubert fell ill, not dangerously, but he was many weeks unfit for work; Johanna did not lose her courage, but tried to work the harder. Now was the time for her enemy (and she had one, namely, the baron's inspector) to revenge an insult he persuaded himself he had received at her hands, inasmuch as she had contemptuously rejected proposals that he had made to her some time before. As soon as her husband fell ill, this bad man refused her work. Casting a glance of contempt upon her enemy, who did not scruple to accompany the refusal with a renewal of his former hard expressions, Johanna immediately set off for her native village, where she obtained work. But it was a long way from her cottage, and she had to deprive herself every night of two of her accustomed hours of sleep, that she might be at her work in time. So, she kept her family from hunger, but did not get enough to pay the interest of her husband's debt. But then, she thought, the baron

was not a hard-hearted man; he would not press for the interest at such a time; he might, perhaps, even remit it altogether. But it happened otherwise. When pay-day came, the inspector summoned her to lay down the money: she begged for patience. "I have had patience long enough," said the man, "unless you pay me instantly, your cow shall be sold."

Johanna was frightened, for she knew she had everything to fear from the inspector.

"I will go to the baron," she said, "he will not be so cruel to us for the sake of a few dollars!"

The inspector laughed. "You'd better go," said he, and see what you can get by it; but just learn first that the baron is no longer your creditor: I have bought the debt; and hark ye, you must pay not only interest, but capital, within eight days."

Johanna's courage now fell. She threw herself at the man's feet, and begged for mercy.

now it is my turn.

66 Have you shown any kindness to me? You scorned me onceYour fate lies in my power, and it only remains for you to pay me. I tell you I have the power to sell your house and land, and all you call yours, and even then the debt is only half paid. Your husband goes to gaol, and you and your children a-begging. I will hear no excuses, nor submit to any delay. The money must be forthcoming, and at once.

Johanna stood for a moment pale and trembling, and then, casting a last look of contempt at her tormentor, she hurried away; but when she found herself in the open fields she could no longer restrain her tears. Where could she turn for advice? She did not doubt but that the inspector would keep his word. At length she resolved to go home and tell her good man everything. "God will help us!" said Hubert, after a pause. "We are in his hands."

They waited and watched, in hope and fear, half trusting that the inspector had only threatened; but it was not so. The day came which saw the unfortunate Hubert a prisoner, and his wife and children outcasts.

The inspector triumphed. "A few days," he thought, "and they will be starving."

He little knew Johanna's heart. For a time, it is true, she felt overcome by her grief, but in the soul of a loving wife there is a mighty power. It rose again in Johanna's mind, and roused her to a great undertaking. First, she sought help of her neighbours, of the baron, and of every one of her acquaintances, but found no one who could or would do anything for her. The times were so bad. "Well, then," said she, "I will go to one who, if a word does but reach his