FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139  
140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   >>   >|  
o much as on the cliffs; we had so little air, and were so much tormented by insects of all kinds. Some of the ant hills were at least three feet high; and upon merely walking near them, the angry little inhabitants came swarming out in multitudes to resent the supposed injury. On the cactuses, which grew very large, and in a most luxuriant manner, we discovered what we supposed were the insects for making cochineal, but we did not think that a grand discovery, but, on the contrary, thought the cotton plant a much greater gift. I had been used to spin when in Scotland, having taken a fancy to the thing. But, not all the wishes in the world could produce a spinning wheel, so I kept my desires secret until I saw some hope of accomplishment. Every day each person had to bring in their quota of discoveries and additions to our larder and stores, for, though we knew nothing about the climate we imagined ourselves looking remarkably silly, should bad weather come on, and find us unprovided. Taking one day as a specimen for all the rest, after three hours exploring, in different parties, we produced our treasures, as follows:--Madame had gathered a number of small reeds or rushes, out of which she had concocted two very pretty and useful baskets, one of which had been immediately appropriated by a hen. For, while she was busy with the other, this hen thought she had never beheld so cosy a nest, and, therefore, laid an egg in it. This was of course given to Madame, for her supper, as a reward for her ingenuity. Schillie came dragging with her, besides innumerable other plants and curiosities, an enormous root, as thick as her waist. _Schillie._--"Now then, young ones, come round and see what this is. You see when I cut it what milky stuff flows from it." "Yes," said they, "we see; may we not have some to put into our own tea? It is so nasty without milk." _Schillie._--"For goodness sake, brats, don't be so rash, it's rank poison." _Mother, Madame, and a whole Chorus._--"Then, what good is it to us?" _Schillie._--"Well! don't make such a row, and you shall see. Here, Jenny, you and some of the young ladies help me to rasp or scrape it up, but, for your life don't let it touch the skin, or you may die, but, at all events, you may get blisters on your hands." _Mother_ (very cross).--"How can you be so absurd, Schillie, as to bring such a dangerous thing amongst the children?" _Schillie._--"Now, pray, keep you
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139  
140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Schillie

 

Madame

 
thought
 

Mother

 

supposed

 
insects
 

curiosities

 
innumerable
 
plants
 

enormous


children
 

beheld

 

reward

 

ingenuity

 

dragging

 

supper

 

blisters

 

Chorus

 

scrape

 
events

ladies
 

poison

 

absurd

 
dangerous
 
appropriated
 

goodness

 

discovery

 
contrary
 

cotton

 

manner


luxuriant
 

discovered

 

making

 
cochineal
 

greater

 

wishes

 

produce

 

Scotland

 

cliffs

 
tormented

walking

 
injury
 

resent

 
cactuses
 
multitudes
 

swarming

 
inhabitants
 

spinning

 

exploring

 
specimen