Page:The Swiss Family Robinson (Kingston).djvu/139

This page has been validated.
AN INVALUABLE DISCOVERY.
103

“Perhaps not,” said Jack, “you are quite welcome, at all events, to the honour of the discovery; I'll have the honour of being the first to get a supply of them.” So saying, he dug up, with hands and knife, a number of plants, and filled his game-bag with the roots. The monkey followed his example, and scratching away with his paws most cleverly, soon had a heap beside him. So delighted were we with the discovery, and so eager were we to possess a large supply of the roots, that we stopped not digging until every bag, pouch, and pocket was filled. Some wished to return at once to Falconhurst, to cook and taste our new acquisition; but this I overruled, and we continued our march, heavily laden, but delighted.

PINE-APPLE.

“How,” said I, “can we thank the Giver of all these blessings, sufficiently?”

“Oh,” said Franz, “we can say, ‘We thank thee, Lord, for all thy goodness and mercy; and bless us, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.’ ”

“That would not be sufficient,” said Fritz. “Do you think it would be enough, just to say to father and mother: ‘Thank you for all you do,’ and not to show that we were really thankful, by loving them and doing what we can to please them?”

“You are quite right, Fritz,” said I; “Franz did not say all that was necessary, he should have added, ‘Give me grace to do Thy will, and to obey Thee in all things.’ ”

As we thus talked, we reached the head of our streamlet, where it fell from the rocks above in a beautiful, sparkling, splashing cascade. We crossed and entered the tall grass on the other side. We forced our way through with difficulty, so thick and tangled were the reeds. Beyond this, the landscape was most lovely. Rich tropical vegetation flourished on every side: the tall stately