“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.”
“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.
