Reading Help Frankenstein Ch.10-24
water when I heard a step, and looking through a small chink, I beheld `
` a young creature, with a pail on her head, passing before my hovel. The `
` girl was young and of gentle demeanour, unlike what I have since found `
` cottagers and farmhouse servants to be. Yet she was meanly dressed, a `
` coarse blue petticoat and a linen jacket being her only garb; her fair `
` hair was plaited but not adorned: she looked patient yet sad. I lost `
` sight of her, and in about a quarter of an hour she returned bearing `
` the pail, which was now partly filled with milk. As she walked along, `
` seemingly incommoded by the burden, a young man met her, whose `
` countenance expressed a deeper despondence. Uttering a few sounds with `
` an air of melancholy, he took the pail from her head and bore it to the `
` cottage himself. She followed, and they disappeared. Presently I saw `
` the young man again, with some tools in his hand, cross the field `
` behind the cottage; and the girl was also busied, sometimes in the `
` house and sometimes in the yard. `
` `
` "On examining my dwelling, I found that one of the windows of the `
` cottage had formerly occupied a part of it, but the panes had been `
` filled up with wood. In one of these was a small and almost `
` imperceptible chink through which the eye could just penetrate. `
` Through this crevice a small room was visible, whitewashed and clean `
` but very bare of furniture. In one corner, near a small fire, sat an `
` old man, leaning his head on his hands in a disconsolate attitude. The `
` young girl was occupied in arranging the cottage; but presently she `
` took something out of a drawer, which employed her hands, and she sat `
` down beside the old man, who, taking up an instrument, began to play `
` and to produce sounds sweeter than the voice of the thrush or the `
` nightingale. It was a lovely sight, even to me, poor wretch who had `
` never beheld aught beautiful before. The silver hair and benevolent `
` countenance of the aged cottager won my reverence, while the gentle `
` manners of the girl enticed my love. He played a sweet mournful air `
` which I perceived drew tears from the eyes of his amiable companion, `
` of which the old man took no notice, until she sobbed audibly; he then `
` pronounced a few sounds, and the fair creature, leaving her work, `
` knelt at his feet. He raised her and smiled with such kindness and `
` affection that I felt sensations of a peculiar and overpowering `
` nature; they were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such as I had never `
` before experienced, either from hunger or cold, warmth or food; and I `
` withdrew from the window, unable to bear these emotions. `
` `
` "Soon after this the young man returned, bearing on his shoulders a `
` load of wood. The girl met him at the door, helped to relieve him of `
` his burden, and taking some of the fuel into the cottage, placed it on `
` the fire; then she and the youth went apart into a nook of the cottage, `
` and he showed her a large loaf and a piece of cheese. She seemed `
` pleased and went into the garden for some roots and plants, which she `
` placed in water, and then upon the fire. She afterwards continued her `
` work, whilst the young man went into the garden and appeared busily `
` employed in digging and pulling up roots. After he had been employed `
` thus about an hour, the young woman joined him and they entered the `
` cottage together. `
` `
` "The old man had, in the meantime, been pensive, but on the appearance `
` of his companions he assumed a more cheerful air, and they sat down to `
` eat. The meal was quickly dispatched. The young woman was again `
` occupied in arranging the cottage, the old man walked before the `
` cottage in the sun for a few minutes, leaning on the arm of the youth. `
` Nothing could exceed in beauty the contrast between these two excellent `
` creatures. One was old, with silver hairs and a countenance beaming `
` with benevolence and love; the younger was slight and graceful in his `
` figure, and his features were moulded with the finest symmetry, yet his `
` eyes and attitude expressed the utmost sadness and despondency. The `
` old man returned to the cottage, and the youth, with tools different `
` from those he had used in the morning, directed his steps across the `
` fields. `
` `
` "Night quickly shut in, but to my extreme wonder, I found that the `
` cottagers had a means of prolonging light by the use of tapers, and was `
` delighted to find that the setting of the sun did not put an end to the `
` pleasure I experienced in watching my human neighbours. In the evening `
` the young girl and her companion were employed in various occupations `
` which I did not understand; and the old man again took up the `
` instrument which produced the divine sounds that had enchanted me in `
` the morning. So soon as he had finished, the youth began, not to play, `
` but to utter sounds that were monotonous, and neither resembling the `
` harmony of the old man's instrument nor the songs of the birds; I since `
` found that he read aloud, but at that time I knew nothing of the `
` science of words or letters. `
` `
` "The family, after having been thus occupied for a short time, `
` extinguished their lights and retired, as I conjectured, to rest." `
` `
` `
` Chapter 12 `
` `
` "I lay on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the `
` occurrences of the day. What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners `
` of these people, and I longed to join them, but dared not. I `
` remembered too well the treatment I had suffered the night before from `
` the barbarous villagers, and resolved, whatever course of conduct I `
` might hereafter think it right to pursue, that for the present I would `
` remain quietly in my hovel, watching and endeavouring to discover the `
` motives which influenced their actions. `
` `
` "The cottagers arose the next morning before the sun. The young woman `
` arranged the cottage and prepared the food, and the youth departed `
` after the first meal. `
` `
` "This day was passed in the same routine as that which preceded it. `
` The young man was constantly employed out of doors, and the girl in `
` various laborious occupations within. The old man, whom I soon `
` perceived to be blind, employed his leisure hours on his instrument or `
` in contemplation. Nothing could exceed the love and respect which the `
` younger cottagers exhibited towards their venerable companion. They `
` performed towards him every little office of affection and duty with `
` gentleness, and he rewarded them by his benevolent smiles. `
` `
` "They were not entirely happy. The young man and his companion often `
` went apart and appeared to weep. I saw no cause for their unhappiness, `
` but I was deeply affected by it. If such lovely creatures were `
` miserable, it was less strange that I, an imperfect and solitary being, `
` should be wretched. Yet why were these gentle beings unhappy? They `
` possessed a delightful house (for such it was in my eyes) and every `
` luxury; they had a fire to warm them when chill and delicious viands `
` when hungry; they were dressed in excellent clothes; and, still more, `
` they enjoyed one another's company and speech, interchanging each day `
` looks of affection and kindness. What did their tears imply? Did they `
` really express pain? I was at first unable to solve these questions, `
` but perpetual attention and time explained to me many appearances which `
` were at first enigmatic. `
` `
` "A considerable period elapsed before I discovered one of the causes of `
` the uneasiness of this amiable family: it was poverty, and they `
` suffered that evil in a very distressing degree. Their nourishment `
` consisted entirely of the vegetables of their garden and the milk of `
` one cow, which gave very little during the winter, when its masters `
` could scarcely procure food to support it. They often, I believe, `
` suffered the pangs of hunger very poignantly, especially the two `
` younger cottagers, for several times they placed food before the old `
` man when they reserved none for themselves. `
` `
` "This trait of kindness moved me sensibly. I had been accustomed, `
` during the night, to steal a part of their store for my own `
` consumption, but when I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on `
` the cottagers, I abstained and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and `
` roots which I gathered from a neighbouring wood. `
` `
` "I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist `
` their labours. I found that the youth spent a great part of each day `
` in collecting wood for the family fire, and during the night I often `
` took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home `
` firing sufficient for the consumption of several days. `
` `
` "I remember, the first time that I did this, the young woman, when she `
` opened the door in the morning, appeared greatly astonished on seeing a `
` great pile of wood on the outside. She uttered some words in a loud `
` voice, and the youth joined her, who also expressed surprise. I `
` observed, with pleasure, that he did not go to the forest that day, but `
` spent it in repairing the cottage and cultivating the garden. `
` `
` "By degrees I made a discovery of still greater moment. I found that `
` these people possessed a method of communicating their experience and `
` feelings to one another by articulate sounds. I perceived that the `
` words they spoke sometimes produced pleasure or pain, smiles or `
` sadness, in the minds and countenances of the hearers. This was indeed `
` a godlike science, and I ardently desired to become acquainted with `
` it. But I was baffled in every attempt I made for this purpose. Their `
` pronunciation was quick, and the words they uttered, not having any `
` apparent connection with visible objects, I was unable to discover any `
` clue by which I could unravel the mystery of their reference. By great `
` application, however, and after having remained during the space of `
` several revolutions of the moon in my hovel, I discovered the names `
` that were given to some of the most familiar objects of discourse; I `
` learned and applied the words, `fire,' `milk,' `bread,' and `wood.' I `
` learned also the names of the cottagers themselves. The youth and his `
` companion had each of them several names, but the old man had only one, `
` which was `father.' The girl was called `sister' or `Agatha,' and the `
` youth `Felix,' `brother,' or `son.' I cannot describe the delight I `
` felt when I learned the ideas appropriated to each of these sounds and `
` was able to pronounce them. I distinguished several other words `
` without being able as yet to understand or apply them, such as `good,' `
` `dearest,' `unhappy.' `
` `
` "I spent the winter in this manner. The gentle manners and beauty of `
` the cottagers greatly endeared them to me; when they were unhappy, I `
` felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized in their joys. I saw `
` few human beings besides them, and if any other happened to enter the `
` cottage, their harsh manners and rude gait only enhanced to me the `
` superior accomplishments of my friends. The old man, I could perceive, `
` often endeavoured to encourage his children, as sometimes I found that `
` he called them, to cast off their melancholy. He would talk in a `
` cheerful accent, with an expression of goodness that bestowed pleasure `
` even upon me. Agatha listened with respect, her eyes sometimes filled `
` with tears, which she endeavoured to wipe away unperceived; but I `
` generally found that her countenance and tone were more cheerful after `
` having listened to the exhortations of her father. It was not thus `
` with Felix. He was always the saddest of the group, and even to my `
` unpractised senses, he appeared to have suffered more deeply than his `
` friends. But if his countenance was more sorrowful, his voice was more `
` cheerful than that of his sister, especially when he addressed the old `
` man. `
` `
` "I could mention innumerable instances which, although slight, marked `
` the dispositions of these amiable cottagers. In the midst of poverty `
` and want, Felix carried with pleasure to his sister the first little `
` white flower that peeped out from beneath the snowy ground. Early in `
` the morning, before she had risen, he cleared away the snow that `
` obstructed her path to the milk-house, drew water from the well, and `
` brought the wood from the outhouse, where, to his perpetual `
` astonishment, he found his store always replenished by an invisible `
` hand. In the day, I believe, he worked sometimes for a neighbouring `
`
` a young creature, with a pail on her head, passing before my hovel. The `
` girl was young and of gentle demeanour, unlike what I have since found `
` cottagers and farmhouse servants to be. Yet she was meanly dressed, a `
` coarse blue petticoat and a linen jacket being her only garb; her fair `
` hair was plaited but not adorned: she looked patient yet sad. I lost `
` sight of her, and in about a quarter of an hour she returned bearing `
` the pail, which was now partly filled with milk. As she walked along, `
` seemingly incommoded by the burden, a young man met her, whose `
` countenance expressed a deeper despondence. Uttering a few sounds with `
` an air of melancholy, he took the pail from her head and bore it to the `
` cottage himself. She followed, and they disappeared. Presently I saw `
` the young man again, with some tools in his hand, cross the field `
` behind the cottage; and the girl was also busied, sometimes in the `
` house and sometimes in the yard. `
` `
` "On examining my dwelling, I found that one of the windows of the `
` cottage had formerly occupied a part of it, but the panes had been `
` filled up with wood. In one of these was a small and almost `
` imperceptible chink through which the eye could just penetrate. `
` Through this crevice a small room was visible, whitewashed and clean `
` but very bare of furniture. In one corner, near a small fire, sat an `
` old man, leaning his head on his hands in a disconsolate attitude. The `
` young girl was occupied in arranging the cottage; but presently she `
` took something out of a drawer, which employed her hands, and she sat `
` down beside the old man, who, taking up an instrument, began to play `
` and to produce sounds sweeter than the voice of the thrush or the `
` nightingale. It was a lovely sight, even to me, poor wretch who had `
` never beheld aught beautiful before. The silver hair and benevolent `
` countenance of the aged cottager won my reverence, while the gentle `
` manners of the girl enticed my love. He played a sweet mournful air `
` which I perceived drew tears from the eyes of his amiable companion, `
` of which the old man took no notice, until she sobbed audibly; he then `
` pronounced a few sounds, and the fair creature, leaving her work, `
` knelt at his feet. He raised her and smiled with such kindness and `
` affection that I felt sensations of a peculiar and overpowering `
` nature; they were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such as I had never `
` before experienced, either from hunger or cold, warmth or food; and I `
` withdrew from the window, unable to bear these emotions. `
` `
` "Soon after this the young man returned, bearing on his shoulders a `
` load of wood. The girl met him at the door, helped to relieve him of `
` his burden, and taking some of the fuel into the cottage, placed it on `
` the fire; then she and the youth went apart into a nook of the cottage, `
` and he showed her a large loaf and a piece of cheese. She seemed `
` pleased and went into the garden for some roots and plants, which she `
` placed in water, and then upon the fire. She afterwards continued her `
` work, whilst the young man went into the garden and appeared busily `
` employed in digging and pulling up roots. After he had been employed `
` thus about an hour, the young woman joined him and they entered the `
` cottage together. `
` `
` "The old man had, in the meantime, been pensive, but on the appearance `
` of his companions he assumed a more cheerful air, and they sat down to `
` eat. The meal was quickly dispatched. The young woman was again `
` occupied in arranging the cottage, the old man walked before the `
` cottage in the sun for a few minutes, leaning on the arm of the youth. `
` Nothing could exceed in beauty the contrast between these two excellent `
` creatures. One was old, with silver hairs and a countenance beaming `
` with benevolence and love; the younger was slight and graceful in his `
` figure, and his features were moulded with the finest symmetry, yet his `
` eyes and attitude expressed the utmost sadness and despondency. The `
` old man returned to the cottage, and the youth, with tools different `
` from those he had used in the morning, directed his steps across the `
` fields. `
` `
` "Night quickly shut in, but to my extreme wonder, I found that the `
` cottagers had a means of prolonging light by the use of tapers, and was `
` delighted to find that the setting of the sun did not put an end to the `
` pleasure I experienced in watching my human neighbours. In the evening `
` the young girl and her companion were employed in various occupations `
` which I did not understand; and the old man again took up the `
` instrument which produced the divine sounds that had enchanted me in `
` the morning. So soon as he had finished, the youth began, not to play, `
` but to utter sounds that were monotonous, and neither resembling the `
` harmony of the old man's instrument nor the songs of the birds; I since `
` found that he read aloud, but at that time I knew nothing of the `
` science of words or letters. `
` `
` "The family, after having been thus occupied for a short time, `
` extinguished their lights and retired, as I conjectured, to rest." `
` `
` `
` Chapter 12 `
` `
` "I lay on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the `
` occurrences of the day. What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners `
` of these people, and I longed to join them, but dared not. I `
` remembered too well the treatment I had suffered the night before from `
` the barbarous villagers, and resolved, whatever course of conduct I `
` might hereafter think it right to pursue, that for the present I would `
` remain quietly in my hovel, watching and endeavouring to discover the `
` motives which influenced their actions. `
` `
` "The cottagers arose the next morning before the sun. The young woman `
` arranged the cottage and prepared the food, and the youth departed `
` after the first meal. `
` `
` "This day was passed in the same routine as that which preceded it. `
` The young man was constantly employed out of doors, and the girl in `
` various laborious occupations within. The old man, whom I soon `
` perceived to be blind, employed his leisure hours on his instrument or `
` in contemplation. Nothing could exceed the love and respect which the `
` younger cottagers exhibited towards their venerable companion. They `
` performed towards him every little office of affection and duty with `
` gentleness, and he rewarded them by his benevolent smiles. `
` `
` "They were not entirely happy. The young man and his companion often `
` went apart and appeared to weep. I saw no cause for their unhappiness, `
` but I was deeply affected by it. If such lovely creatures were `
` miserable, it was less strange that I, an imperfect and solitary being, `
` should be wretched. Yet why were these gentle beings unhappy? They `
` possessed a delightful house (for such it was in my eyes) and every `
` luxury; they had a fire to warm them when chill and delicious viands `
` when hungry; they were dressed in excellent clothes; and, still more, `
` they enjoyed one another's company and speech, interchanging each day `
` looks of affection and kindness. What did their tears imply? Did they `
` really express pain? I was at first unable to solve these questions, `
` but perpetual attention and time explained to me many appearances which `
` were at first enigmatic. `
` `
` "A considerable period elapsed before I discovered one of the causes of `
` the uneasiness of this amiable family: it was poverty, and they `
` suffered that evil in a very distressing degree. Their nourishment `
` consisted entirely of the vegetables of their garden and the milk of `
` one cow, which gave very little during the winter, when its masters `
` could scarcely procure food to support it. They often, I believe, `
` suffered the pangs of hunger very poignantly, especially the two `
` younger cottagers, for several times they placed food before the old `
` man when they reserved none for themselves. `
` `
` "This trait of kindness moved me sensibly. I had been accustomed, `
` during the night, to steal a part of their store for my own `
` consumption, but when I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on `
` the cottagers, I abstained and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and `
` roots which I gathered from a neighbouring wood. `
` `
` "I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist `
` their labours. I found that the youth spent a great part of each day `
` in collecting wood for the family fire, and during the night I often `
` took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home `
` firing sufficient for the consumption of several days. `
` `
` "I remember, the first time that I did this, the young woman, when she `
` opened the door in the morning, appeared greatly astonished on seeing a `
` great pile of wood on the outside. She uttered some words in a loud `
` voice, and the youth joined her, who also expressed surprise. I `
` observed, with pleasure, that he did not go to the forest that day, but `
` spent it in repairing the cottage and cultivating the garden. `
` `
` "By degrees I made a discovery of still greater moment. I found that `
` these people possessed a method of communicating their experience and `
` feelings to one another by articulate sounds. I perceived that the `
` words they spoke sometimes produced pleasure or pain, smiles or `
` sadness, in the minds and countenances of the hearers. This was indeed `
` a godlike science, and I ardently desired to become acquainted with `
` it. But I was baffled in every attempt I made for this purpose. Their `
` pronunciation was quick, and the words they uttered, not having any `
` apparent connection with visible objects, I was unable to discover any `
` clue by which I could unravel the mystery of their reference. By great `
` application, however, and after having remained during the space of `
` several revolutions of the moon in my hovel, I discovered the names `
` that were given to some of the most familiar objects of discourse; I `
` learned and applied the words, `fire,' `milk,' `bread,' and `wood.' I `
` learned also the names of the cottagers themselves. The youth and his `
` companion had each of them several names, but the old man had only one, `
` which was `father.' The girl was called `sister' or `Agatha,' and the `
` youth `Felix,' `brother,' or `son.' I cannot describe the delight I `
` felt when I learned the ideas appropriated to each of these sounds and `
` was able to pronounce them. I distinguished several other words `
` without being able as yet to understand or apply them, such as `good,' `
` `dearest,' `unhappy.' `
` `
` "I spent the winter in this manner. The gentle manners and beauty of `
` the cottagers greatly endeared them to me; when they were unhappy, I `
` felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized in their joys. I saw `
` few human beings besides them, and if any other happened to enter the `
` cottage, their harsh manners and rude gait only enhanced to me the `
` superior accomplishments of my friends. The old man, I could perceive, `
` often endeavoured to encourage his children, as sometimes I found that `
` he called them, to cast off their melancholy. He would talk in a `
` cheerful accent, with an expression of goodness that bestowed pleasure `
` even upon me. Agatha listened with respect, her eyes sometimes filled `
` with tears, which she endeavoured to wipe away unperceived; but I `
` generally found that her countenance and tone were more cheerful after `
` having listened to the exhortations of her father. It was not thus `
` with Felix. He was always the saddest of the group, and even to my `
` unpractised senses, he appeared to have suffered more deeply than his `
` friends. But if his countenance was more sorrowful, his voice was more `
` cheerful than that of his sister, especially when he addressed the old `
` man. `
` `
` "I could mention innumerable instances which, although slight, marked `
` the dispositions of these amiable cottagers. In the midst of poverty `
` and want, Felix carried with pleasure to his sister the first little `
` white flower that peeped out from beneath the snowy ground. Early in `
` the morning, before she had risen, he cleared away the snow that `
` obstructed her path to the milk-house, drew water from the well, and `
` brought the wood from the outhouse, where, to his perpetual `
` astonishment, he found his store always replenished by an invisible `
` hand. In the day, I believe, he worked sometimes for a neighbouring `
`