The Swiss Family Robinson

The Swiss Family Robinson

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Swiss Family Robinson Told in
Words of One Syllable
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Title: The Swiss Family Robinson Told in Words of One Syllable
Author: Mary Godolphin
Release Date: October, 2004 [EBook #6692] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on January 13,
2003]
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FAMILY ROBINSON TOLD IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE ***

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THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
TOLD IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE
by Mary Godolphin

CHAPTER I.
WHEN one has a good tale to tell, he should try to be brief, and not say
more than he can help ere he makes a fair start; so I shall not say a
word of what took place on board the ship till we had been six days in a
storm. The barque had gone far out of her true course, and no one on
board knew where we were. The masts lay in splints on the deck, a leak
in the side of the ship let more in than the crew could pump out, and
each one felt that ere long he would find a grave in the deep sea, which
sent its spray from side to side of what was now but a mere hulk.
"Come, boys," said I to my four sons, who were with me, "God can
save us if it please Him so to do; but, if this is to be our last hour, let us
bow to His will--we shall at least go down side by side."
My dear wife could not hide the tears that fell down her cheeks as I
thus spoke to my sons, but she was calm, and knelt down to pray, while
the boys clung round her as if they thought she could help them.
Just then we heard a cry of "Land! land!" felt a shock, and it was clear
that we had struck on a rock, for we heard a loud cry from one of the
men, "We are lost! Launch the boat; try for your lives!"

I went at once on deck, and found that all the boats had been let down,
and that the last of the crew had just left the ship. I cried out for the
men to come back and take us with them, but it was in vain.
I then thought that our last chance was gone. Still, as I felt the ship did
not sink, I went to the stern, and found, to my joy, that she was held up
by a piece of rock on each side, and made fast like a wedge. At the
same time I saw some trace of land, which lay to the south, and this
made me go back with some hope that we had still a faint chance.
As soon as I got down stairs I took my wife by the hand, and said, "Be
of good cheer, we are at least safe for some time, and if the wind should
veer round, we may yet reach the land that lies but a short way off."
I said this to calm the fears of my wife and sons, and it did so far more
than I had a right to hope.
"Let us now take some food," said my wife. "We are sure to need it, for
this will no doubt be a night to try our strength."
My wife got some food for her boys, which we were glad to see them
eat, poor as it was; but we could not share their meal. Three out of the
four were put to bed in their berths, and soon went to sleep; but Fritz,
who was our first child, would not leave us. He said, like a good