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1"I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist their labours. I found that the youth spent a
2great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire, and during the night I often took his tools, the use of
3which I quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days. "I remember, the
4first time that I did this, the young woman, when she opened the door in the morning, appeared greatly astonished on
5seeing a great pile of wood on the outside. She uttered some words in a loud voice, and the youth joined her, who also
6expressed surprise. I observed, with pleasure, that he did not go to the forest that day, but spent it in repairing the
7cottage and cultivating the garden. "By degrees I made a discovery of still greater moment. I found that these people
8possessed a method of communicating their experience and feelings to one another by articulate sounds. I perceived that
9the words they spoke sometimes produced pleasure or pain, smiles or sadness, in the minds and countenances of the
10hearers. This was indeed a godlike science, and I ardently desired to become acquainted with it. But I was baffled in
11every attempt I made for this purpose. Their pronunciation was quick, and the words they uttered, not having any
12apparent connection with visible objects, I was unable to discover any clue by which I could unravel the mystery of
13their reference. By great application, however, and after having remained during the space of several revolutions of the
14moon in my hovel, I discovered the names that were given to some of the most familiar objects of discourse; I learned
15and applied the words, fire, milk, bread, and wood. I learned also the names of the cottagers themselves. The youth and
16his companion had each of them several names, but the old man had only one, which was father. The girl was called sister
17or Agatha, and the youth Felix, brother, or son. I cannot describe the delight I felt when I learned the ideas
18appropriated to each of these sounds and was able to pronounce them. I distinguished several other words without being
19able as yet to understand or apply them, such as good, dearest, unhappy. "I spent the winter in this manner. The gentle
20manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared them to me; when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they
21rejoiced, I sympathised in their joys. I saw few human beings besides them, and if any other happened to enter the
22cottage, their harsh manners and rude gait only enhanced to me the superior accomplishments of my friends. The old man,
23I could perceive, often endeavoured to encourage his children, as sometimes I found that he called them, to cast off
24their melancholy. He would talk in a cheerful accent, with an expression of goodness that bestowed pleasure even upon
25me. Agatha listened with respect, her eyes sometimes filled with tears, which she endeavoured to wipe away unperceived;
26but I generally found that her countenance and tone were more cheerful after having listened to the exhortations of her
27father. It was not thus with Felix. He was always the saddest of the group, and even to my unpractised senses, he
28appeared to have suffered more deeply than his friends. But if his countenance was more sorrowful, his voice was more
29cheerful than that of his sister, especially when he addressed the old man. "I could mention innumerable instances
30which, although slight, marked the dispositions of these amiable cottagers. In the midst of poverty and want, Felix
31carried with pleasure to his sister the first little white flower that peeped out from beneath the snowy ground. Early
32in the morning, before she had risen, he cleared away the snow that obstructed her path to the milk-house, drew water
33from the well, and brought the wood from the outhouse, where, to his perpetual astonishment, he found his store always
34replenished by an invisible hand. In the day, I believe, he worked sometimes for a neighbouring farmer, because he often
35went forth and did not return until dinner, yet brought no wood with him. At other times he worked in the garden, but as
36there was little to do in the frosty season, he read to the old man and Agatha. "This reading had puzzled me extremely
37at first, but by degrees I discovered that he uttered many of the same sounds when he read as when he talked. I
38conjectured, therefore, that he found on the paper signs for speech which he understood, and I ardently longed to
39comprehend these also; but how was that possible when I did not even understand the sounds for which they stood as
40signs? I improved, however, sensibly in this science, but not sufficiently to follow up any kind of conversation,
41although I applied my whole mind to the endeavour, for I easily perceived that, although I eagerly longed to discover
42myself to the cottagers, I ought not to make the attempt until I had first become master of their language, which
43knowledge might enable me to make them overlook the deformity of my figure, for with this also the contrast perpetually
44presented to my eyes had made me acquainted. "I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers--their grace, beauty, and
45delicate complexions; but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool! At first I started back,
46unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in
47reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification. Alas! I did
48not yet entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable deformity. "As the sun became warmer and the light of day
49longer, the snow vanished, and I beheld the bare trees and the black earth. From this time Felix was more employed, and
50the heart-moving indications of impending famine disappeared. Their food, as I afterwards found, was coarse, but it was
51wholesome; and they procured a sufficiency of it. Several new kinds of plants sprang up in the garden, which they
52dressed; and these signs of comfort increased daily as the season advanced. "The old man, leaning on his son, walked
53each day at noon, when it did not rain, as I found it was called when the heavens poured forth its waters. This
54frequently took place, but a high wind quickly dried the earth, and the season became far more pleasant than it had
55been. "My mode of life in my hovel was uniform. During the morning I attended the motions of the cottagers, and when
56they were dispersed in various occupations, I slept; the remainder of the day was spent in observing my friends. When
57they had retired to rest, if there was any moon or the night was star-light, I went into the woods and collected my own
58food and fuel for the cottage. When I returned, as often as it was necessary, I cleared their path from the snow and
59performed those offices that I had seen done by Felix. I afterwards found that these labours, performed by an invisible
60hand, greatly astonished them; and once or twice I heard them, on these occasions, utter the words good spirit,
61wonderful; but I did not then understand the signification of these terms. "My thoughts now became more active, and I
62longed to discover the motives and feelings of these lovely creatures; I was inquisitive to know why Felix appeared so
63miserable and Agatha so sad. I thought (foolish wretch!) that it might be in my power to restore happiness to these
64deserving people. When I slept or was absent, the forms of the venerable blind father, the gentle Agatha, and the
65excellent Felix flitted before me. I looked upon them as superior beings who would be the arbiters of my future destiny.
66I formed in my imagination a thousand pictures of presenting myself to them, and their reception of me. I imagined that
67they would be disgusted, until, by my gentle demeanour and conciliating words, I should first win their favour and
68afterwards their love. "These thoughts exhilarated me and led me to apply with fresh ardour to the acquiring the art of
69language. My organs were indeed harsh, but supple; and although my voice was very unlike the soft music of their tones,
70yet I pronounced such words as I understood with tolerable ease. It was as the ass and the lap-dog; yet surely the
71gentle ass whose intentions were affectionate, although his manners were rude, deserved better treatment than blows and
72execration.
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