Books: The Little Savage

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"It soon became a source of pride and gratification with my father,
to ask me to read the Bible to him. This naturally led to a good many
inquiries on my part, and numerous explanations on his. In course of
time, I became familiar with all the sacred writings, and knew their
spirit and meaning much better than many persons who were more than
double my age.

"My fondness for such studies, and consequent reputation, attracted
the attention of Dr Brightwell, the clergyman of our parish, who had
the kindness to let me share the instructions of his children, and
still further advanced my education, and still more increased my
natural predilection for religious information. By the time I was
thirteen, I became quite a prodigy in Christian learning, and was
often sent for to the parsonage, to astonish the great people of the
neighbourhood, by the facility with which I answered the most
puzzling questions that were put to me, respecting the great
mysteries of Christianity."

Chapter XXX

It was about this time that I first became acquainted with an orphan
boy, an inmate of the workhouse, who had been left to the care of the
parish by the sudden death of his parents, a German clock-maker and
his wife, from a malignant fever which had visited the neighbourhood,
and taken off a considerable portion of the labouring population. I
had been sent on errands from my father, to the master of the
workhouse, a severe, sullen man, of whom I had a great dread, and I
noticed this child, in consequence of his pale and melancholy
countenance, and apparently miserable condition. I observed that no
one took any notice of him; and that he was allowed to wander about
the great straggling workhouse, among the insane, the idiotic, and
the imbecile, without the slightest attention being paid to his going
and coming; in short, he lived the wretched life of a workhouse boy.

"I see that you are eager to ask what is a workhouse boy," said my
mother, "so I will anticipate your question. There is, in the various
parishes of the country to which we both belong, a building expressly
set apart for the accommodation and support of the destitute and
disabled poor. It usually contains inmates of all ages, from the
infant just born, to the very aged, whose infirmities shew them to be
on the verge of the grave. They are all known to be in a state of
helpless poverty, and quite unable to earn a subsistence for
themselves. In this building they are clothed and fed; the younger
provided with instruction necessary to put them in the way of earning
a livelihood; the elders of the community enjoying the consolations
of religion, accorded to them by the regular visits of the chaplain."

"I suppose," I here observed, "that the people who lived there, were
deeply impressed with their good fortune in finding such an asylum?"

"As far as I could ever ascertain," Mrs Reichardt replied, "it was
exactly the reverse. It was always thought so degrading to enter a
workhouse, that the industrious labourer would endure any and every
privation rather than live there. An honest hard-working man must be
sorely driven indeed, to seek such a shelter in his distress."

"That seems strange," I observed. "Why should he object to receive
what he so much stands in need of?"

"When he thus comes upon the funds of the parish," answered my
mother, "he becomes what is called a pauper, and among the English
peasantry of the better sort, there is the greatest possible aversion
to be ranked with this degraded class. Consequently, the inmates of
the workhouses are either those whose infirmities prevent their
earning a subsistence, or the idle and the dissolute, who feel none
of the honest prejudices of self-dependence, and care only to live
from day to day on the coarse and meagre fare afforded them by the
charity of their wealthier and more industrious fellow-creatures.

"The case of this poor boy I thought very pitiable. I found out that
his name was Heinrich Reichardt. He could speak no language but his
own, and therefore his wants remained unknown, and his feelings
unregarded. He had been brought up with a certain sense of comfort
and decency, which was cruelly outraged by the position in which he
found himself placed by the sudden death of his parents. I observed
that he was often in tears, and his fair features and light hair
contrasted remarkably with the squalid faces and matted locks of his
companions. His wretchedness never failed to make a deep impression
on me.

"I brought him little presents, and strove to express my sympathy
for his sufferings. He seemed, at first, more surprised than
grateful, but I shortly discovered that my attentions gave him
unusual pleasure, and he looked upon my visits as his only solace and
gratification.

"Even at this period I exercised considerable influence over my
father, and I managed to interest him in the case of the poor foreign
boy to such an extent, that he was induced to take him out of the
workhouse, and find him a home under his own roof. He was at first
reluctant to burden himself with the bringing up of a child, who,
from his foreign language and habits, could be of little use to him
in his avocations; but I promised to teach him English, and all other
learning of which he stood most in need, and assured my father that
in a prodigious short time I would make him a much abler assistant
than he was likely to find among the boys of the town.

"My father's desire to please me, rather than any faith he reposed
in my assertions, led him to allow me to do as I pleased in this
affair. I lost no time, therefore, in beginning my course of
instruction, and in a few weeks ascertained that I had an apt pupil,
who was determined to proceed with his education as fast as
circumstances would admit. We were soon able to express our ideas to
each other, and in a few months read together the book out of which I
had received so many invaluable lessons.

"In a short time, I became not less proud of, than partial to, my
pupil. I took him through the same studies which I had pursued under
the auspices of our clergyman, and was secretly pleased to find, not
only that he was singularly quick in imbibing my instructions, but
displayed a strong natural taste for those investigations towards
which I had shown so marked a bias.

"Day after day have we sat together discoursing of the great events
recorded in Holy Writ: going over every chapter of its marvellous
records, page by page, till the whole was so firmly fixed upon our
minds, that we had no necessity during our conversations for
referring to the Sacred Book. We found examples we held up to
ourselves for imitation; we found incidents we regarded as promises
of Divine protection; we found consolation and comfort, as well as
exhortation and advice; and, moreover, we found a sort of instruction
that led us to select for ourselves duties that apparently tended to
bring us nearer to the Great Being whose goodness we had so
diligently studied.

"My father seemed as much pleased with my successful teaching, as he
had been with my successful learning; and when young Reichardt turned
out a remarkably handy and intelligent lad, to whose assistance in
some of his avocations he could have recourse with perfect confidence
in his cleverness and discretion, he grew extremely partial to him.
Dr Brightwell also proved his friend, and in a few years, the
condition of the friendless workhouse boy was so changed, he could
not have been taken for the same person.

"He was a boy of a very grateful spirit, and always regarded me with
the devotion of a most thankful heart. Often would he contrast the
wretchedness of his previous condition, with the happiness he now
enjoyed, and express in the warmest terms his obligations to me for
the important service I had rendered him in rescuing him from the
abject misery of the workhouse. Under these circumstances, it is not
extraordinary, that we should learn to regard each other with the
liveliest feelings of affection, and while we were still children,
endured all the transports and torments which make up the existence
of more experienced lovers."

"I do not like interrupting you," I here observed, "but I certainly
should like to know what is meant by the word lovers?"

"I can scarcely explain it to you satisfactorily at present," said
Mrs Reichardt, with a smile; "but I have no doubt, before many years
have passed over your head--always provided that you escape from this
island--you will understand it without requiring any explanation. But
I must now leave my story, as many things of much consequence to our
future welfare now demand my careful attention."

I could not then ascertain from her what was meant by the word whose
meaning I had asked. It had very much excited my curiosity, but she
left me to attend to her domestic duties, of which she was extremely
regardful, and I had no opportunity at that time of eliciting from
her the explanation I desired.

Chapter XXXI

It is impossible for me to overrate the value of Mrs Reichardt's
assistance. Indeed had it not been for her, circumstanced as I was at
this particular period, I should in all probability have perished.
Her exhortations saved me from despair, when our position seemed to
have grown quite desperate. But example did more, even, than precept.
Her ingenuity in devising expedients, her activity in putting them in
force, her unfailing cheerfulness under disappointment, and Christian
resignation under privation, produced the best results. I was enabled
to bear up against the ill effects of our crippled resources,
consequent upon the ill conduct of the sailors of the whaler, and the
failure of our fish-pond.

She manufactured strong lines for deep sea fishing, and having
discovered a shelf of rock, little more than two feet above the sea,
to which with a good deal of difficulty I could descend, I took my
stand one day on the rock with my lines baited with a piece of one of
my feathered favourites, whom dire necessity had at last forced me to
destroy. I waited with all the patience of a veteran angler. I knew
the water to be very deep, and it lay in a sheltered nook or corner
of the rocks about ten feet across; I allowed the line to drop some
three or four yards, and not having any float, could only tell I had
a bite by feeling a pull at the line, which was wound round my arm.

After some time having been passed in this way, my attention was
withdrawn from the line, and given to the narrative I had so lately
heard--that is to say, though my eyes were still fixed upon the line,
I had completely given up my thoughts to the story of the poor German
boy, who had been snatched from poverty by the interference of the
parish clerk's daughter, and I contrived to speculate on what I
should have done under such circumstances, imagining all sorts of
extravagances in which I should have indulged, to testify my
gratitude to so amiable and benevolent a friend.

A singular course of ideal scenes followed each other in quick
succession in my mind--as I fancied myself the hero of a similar
adventure. I regarded my imaginary benefactress with feelings of such
intensity as I had never before experienced; and it seemed that I was
to her the exciting object of sentiments of a like nature, the
knowledge of which awoke in our hearts the most agreeable sensations.

I was rudely disturbed out of this day-dream by finding myself
suddenly plunged into the deep water beneath me. The shock was so
startling, that some seconds elapsed before I could comprehend my
situation; and then it became clear that I must have hooked a fish,
that had not only succeeded in pulling me off my balance, but the
line by which he was held being round my arm, cutting painfully into
the flesh, threatened drowning by keeping me under water. With great
difficulty I managed to rise to the surface, and loosened the
windings of the line from my limb; then, anxious to retain possession
of what from its force must have been a fish well worth some trouble
in catching, I held on with both hands, and pulled with all my
strength.

At first, by main force I was drawn through the water; then when I
found the strain slacken, I drew in the line. This manoeuvre was
repeated several times, till I succeeded in obtaining a view of what
I had caught; or, more properly speaking, of what had caught me. It
was merely a glimpse; for the fish, which was a very large one,
getting a sight of me within a few yards of him, made some desperate
plunges, and again darted off, dragging me along with him, sometimes
under the water, and sometimes on the surface.

His body was nearly round, and about seven or eight feet long--rather
a formidable antagonist for close quarters; nevertheless, I was most
eager to get at him, the more so, when I ascertained that his resistance
was evidently decreasing. I continued to approach, and at last got
near enough to plunge my knife up to the haft in his head, which at
once put an end to the struggle.

But now another difficulty presented itself. In the ardour of the
chase I had been drawn nearly a mile from the island, and I found it
impossible to carry back the produce of my sport, exhausted as I was
by the efforts I had made in capturing him. I knew I could not swim
with such a burthen for the most inconsiderable portion of the
distance. My fish therefore must be abandoned. Here was a bountiful
supply of food, as soon as placed within reach, rendered totally
unavailable.

I thought of Mrs Reichardt. I thought how gratified she would have
been, could I have brought to her such an excellent addition to our
scanty stock of food. Then I thought of her steadfast reliance upon
Providence, and what valuable lessons of piety and wisdom she would
read me, if she found me depressed by my disappointment.

Chapter XXXII

As soon as I could disconnect my tackle from the dead fish, I turned
my face homewards, and struck out manfully for the shore; luckily I
did not observe any sharks. I landed safely without further
adventure, and immediately sought my kind friend and companion, whom
I found, as usual, industriously employed in endeavouring to secure
me additional comforts. If she was not engaged in ordinary women's
work, making, mending, cleaning, or improving, in our habitation, she
was sure to be found doing something in the immediate neighbourhood,
which, though less feminine, shewed no less forethought, prudence,
and sagacity.

Our garden had prospered wonderfully under her hands. The ground
seemed now stocked with various kinds of vegetation, of which I
neither knew the value, nor the proper mode of cultivation; and we
seemed about to be surrounded with shrubs and plants--many of very
pleasing appearance--that must in a short time entirely change the
aspect of the place.

She heard my adventure with a good deal of interest, only
remonstrating with me upon my want of caution, and dwelling upon the
fatal consequences that must have ensued to herself, had I been
drowned or disabled by falling from the rock, or devoured by the
sharks.

"You may consider yourself, my dear son," she observed, with serious
earnestness, "to have been under the Divine care. Nothing can be
clearer than that a wise and kind Providence is continually watching
over his creatures when placed in unusual or perilous circumstances.
He occasionally affords them manifestations of his favour, to
encourage them when engaged in good works. This shews the
comprehensive eye of the master of many workmen, who overlooks the
labours of his more industrious servants, and indicates to them his
regard for their welfare and appreciation of their labours."

"But surely," I interposed, "if I had been under the superintendence
of the Providence of which you speak, I should not have been obliged
to abandon so capital a fish, when I had endured such trouble to
capture it, and when its possession was so necessary to our comfort,
nay, even to our existence."

"The very abandonment of so unwieldy a creature," she replied, "is
unanswerable evidence of a Divine interposition in your favour; for
had you persisted in your intention of carrying it to the shore,
there is but little doubt that its weight would have overpowered you,
and that you would have been drowned; and then what would have become
of me? A woman left in this desolate spot to her own resources, must
soon be forced to give up the struggle for existence, from want of
physical strength. Nevertheless, there are numerous instances on
record, of women having surmounted hardships which few men could
endure. Supported by our Heavenly Father, who is so powerful a
protector of the weak, and friend of the helpless, the weakest of our
weak sex may triumph over the most intolerable sufferings. I,
however, am not over confident of being so supported, and therefore,
I think it would be but shewing a proper consideration for your
fellow exile, to act in every emergency with as much circumspection
and prudence as possible."

I promised that for the future I would run no such risks, and added
many professions of regard for her safety. They had the desired
effect; I pretended to think no more of my disappointment,
nevertheless, I found myself constantly dwelling on the size of my
lost fish, and lamenting my being obliged to abandon him to his more
voracious brethren of the deep. These thoughts so filled my mind that
at night I continued to dream over again the whole incident,
beginning with my patient angling from the rock, and concluding with
my disconsolate swim to shore--and pursued my scaly antagonist quite
as determinedly in my sleep as I had done in the deep waters.

I rose early after having passed so disturbed a night, and soon made
my way to the usual haunt of Nero, whom I discovered in the sea near
the rocks making all sorts of strange tumblings and divings,
apparently after some dark object that was floating in the water. I
called him away, to examine what it was that had so attracted his
attention, and my surprise may be imagined when I made out the huge
form of my enemy of the preceding day. My shouts and exclamations of
joy soon brought Mrs Reichardt to the scene, and when she discovered
the shape of this prodigious fish, her surprise seemed scarcely less
than my own.

How to land him was our first consideration; and after some debate
on the ways and means, I got a rope and leaped into the water with
it, fastened a noose round his gills, and then swimming back and
climbing the rock; we jointly tried to pull him up on to the shore.
We hauled and tugged with all our force for a considerable time, but
to very little effect; he was too heavy to pull up perpendicularly.
At last we managed to drag him to a low piece of rock, and there I
divided him into several pieces, which Mrs Reichardt carried away to
dry and preserve in some way that she said would make the fish
capital eating all the year round.

It was very palatable when dressed by her, and as she changed the
manner of cooking several times, I never got tired of it. By its
flavour, as far as I could judge from subsequent knowledge, the
creature was something of the sturgeon kind of fish, but its proper
name I never could learn; nor was I ever able to catch another,
therefore, I must presume that it was a stranger in those seas.
Nevertheless, he proved most acceptable to us both, for we should
have fared but ill for some time, had it not been for his
providential capture.

It was one afternoon, when we had been enjoying a capital meal at
the expense of our great friend, that I led the subject to Mrs
Reichardt's adventures, subsequently to where she broke off in the
story of herself and the poor German boy; and though not without
considerable reluctance, I induced her to proceed with her narrative.

Chapter XXXIII

"Our good minister Dr Brightwell," she commenced, "was a man of
considerable scholastic attainments, and he delighted in making a
display of them. At one time, he had been master of an extensive
grammar school, and now he employed a good deal of his leisure in
teaching those boys and girls of the town, who indicated the
possession of anything like talent. The overseers used to talk
jestingly to my father of the Doctor teaching plough-boys Greek and
Latin; and wenches, whose chief employment was stone-picking in the
fields, geography and the use of the globes. Even the churchwardens
shook their heads, and privately thought the Rector a little out of
his seven senses for wasting his learning upon such unprofitable
scholars. Nevertheless, he continued his self-imposed task, without
meeting any reward beyond the satisfaction of his own conscience. It
was not till he added to his pupils myself and young Reichardt, that
he felt he was doing his duty with some prospect of advantage.

"The spirit of emulation roused both of us to make extraordinary
efforts to second our worthy master's endeavours: and this did not,
as is usually the case, proceed from rivalry--it arose entirely from
a desire of the one to stand well in the estimation of the other. In
this way we learned the French and Latin languages, geography, and
the usual branches of a superior education: but our bias was more
particularly for religious knowledge, and our preceptor encouraged
this, till we were almost as good theologians as himself.

"While this information was being carefully arranged and digested,
there sprung up in our hearts so deep a devotion for each other, that
we were miserable when absent and enjoyed no gratification so much as
being in each other's society. We knew not then the full power and
meaning of this preference, but, as we changed from boy and girl-hood
to adult life, our feelings developed themselves into that attachment
between the sexes, which from time immemorial has received the name
of love."

"I think I know what that means, now," said I, as my day-dream,
which was so rudely disturbed by my fall into the sea occurred to me.

"It would be strange if you did," she replied, "considering that it
is quite impossible you should have become acquainted with it."

"Yes, I am certain I understand it very well," I rejoined, more
confidently, and then added, not without some embarrassment, "If I
were placed in the position of Heinrich Reichardt, I am quite sure I
should feel towards any young female, who was so kind to me, the
deepest regard and affection. I should like to be constantly near
her, and should always desire that she should like me better than
anyone else."

"That is quite as good an explanation of the matter, as I could
expect from you," she observed, smiling. "But to return to my story.
Our mutual attachment attracted general attention, and was the
subject of much observation. But we had no enemies: and when we were
met strolling together in the shady lanes, gathering wild flowers, or
wandering through the woods in search of wild strawberries, no one
thought it necessary to make any remark if we had our arms round each
other's waist. My father, if he heard anything about it, did not
interfere. Young Reichardt had made himself so useful to him, and
shewed himself so remarkably clever in everything he undertook, that
the old man loved him as his own son.

"It was a settled thing between us, that we were to become man and
wife, as soon as we should be permitted. And many were our plans and
schemes for the future. Heinrich considered himself to be in the
position of Jacob, who served such a long and patient apprenticeship
for Rachel; and though he confessed he should not like to wait so
long for his wife as the patriarch had been made to do, he
acknowledged he would rather serve my father to the full period, than
give up all hope of possessing me.

"This happy state of things was, however, suddenly put an end to, by
Dr Brightwell one day sending for my father. It was a long time
before he came back, and when he did, he looked unusually grave and
reserved. In an hour or so he communicated to me the result of his
long interview with the Rector. The Doctor had resolved to send young
Reichardt to a distant place, where many learned men lived together
in colleges, for the purpose of further advancing his education, and
fitting him for a religious teacher, to which vocation he had long
expressed a desire to devote himself. The idea of separation seemed
very terrible, but I at last got reconciled to it, in the belief that
it would be greatly for Heinrich's advantage, and we parted at last
with many tears, many protestations, some fears, but a great many
more hopes.

"For some days after he had left me, everything seemed so strange,
every one seemed so dull, every place seemed so desolate, that I felt
as if I had been transported into some dismal scene, where I knew no
one, and where there was no one likely to care about me in the
slightest degree. My father went about his avocations in a different
spirit to what he had so long been used to exhibit; it was evident he
missed Heinrich as much as I did, and the villagers stared whenever I
passed them--as though my ever going about without Heinrich, was
something which they had never anticipated.

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