"I have brought up more of the potatoes, as you call them; what am I to
do with them?"
"First tell me, have you any spot that you know about the island where
there is mould--that is, earth, like you have in your garden--where we
can plant them?"
"Yes," replied I, "there is some up there;" and I pointed to one-third
up the ravine. "I brought all this earth from there, and there is
plenty of it; but what is the good of planting them?"
"Because," said she, "one of the potatoes planted will, in a very short
time, grow, and then it will produce perhaps thirty or forty potatoes at
its roots as large as these; they are excellent things for food, and
where there is nothing else to be had, may be the means of preserving
life."
"Well, that may be," replied I, "and if we were going to remain on the
island, it would be well to plant them; but as we are going away the day
after to-morrow, what's the use of it? I know that they are very nice,
for I had some for supper last night."
"But are we only to think of ourselves in this world, and not of
others?" replied she, "Suppose, two or three years hence, another boat
were to be cast away on this island, and not find, as we have, you here,
with provisions ready for them, they would starve miserably; whereas, if
we plant these potatoes, they may find plenty of food and be saved.
Only think how glad your father and mother would have been to have found
potatoes on the island when they were thrown on it. We must not live
only for ourselves, but we must think and try to do good to others--that
is the duty of a Christian."
"I think you are very right," replied I, "and a very kind person too.
If you wish it, I will go and plant the potatoes this day. How am I to
plant them?"
"They have a shovel in the boat," said she, "for I saw them throwing the
water out with it. Go down and get it, and then I will go with you and
show you."
I went down and the mate gave me the shovel, which I carried up to her.
I found her cutting the potatoes into pieces, and she showed me how she
cut them, leaving an eye in each piece, and explained the reason for it.
I was soon very busy cutting away alongside of her, and before long the
pail of potatoes was all ready to be planted.
We then walked to the ravine, and she showed me how to use the shovel,
and I made the holes. Before noon we had planted all that we had cut,
but we had still the two handkerchiefs full that we had at first brought
up with us. We returned to the cabin, and I prepared the fish for
dinner. After it was on the embers, she wished to have the screen put
up beside her bed-place.
"Go down to the mate," said she, "and ask him for the hammer and three
or four nails. I know they have them in the boat."
"I may as well take them down some birds for their dinner," replied I,
"for, they will want them."
"Yes, do so; and then come back to me as soon as you can."
The mate gave me the hammer, an article I had never seen before, and
five or six nails, with which I returned to the cabin, and nailed up the
sail as a screen.
"Now you will be able to sleep in your own bed-place to-night," said
she.
I made no reply; but I could not imagine why I could not have done so
the night before, for I had only gone out of the cabin that she might
not be frightened by Nero being so close to her.