Swiss Family Robinson

Amen."'
    `That would not be sufficient,' said Fritz. `Do you think it would be enough just to say to father and mother: "Thank you for all you do," and not to show that we were really thankful, by loving them and doing what we can to please them?'
    `You are quite right, Fritz,' said I; `Franz did not say all that was necessary, he should have added, "Give me grace to do Thy will, and to obey Thee in all things."'
    As we thus talked, we reached the head of our streamlet, where it fell from the rocks above in a beautiful, sparkling, splashing cascade. We crossed and entered the tall grass on the other side.
    We forced our way through with difficulty, so thick and tangled were the reeds. Beyond this, the landscape was most lovely. Rich tropical vegetation flourished on every side: the tall stately palms, surrounded by luxuriant ferns; brilliant flowers and graceful creepers; the prickly cactus, shooting up amidst them; aloe, jasmine and sweet-scented vanilla; the Indian pea and, above all, the regal pineapple*, loaded the breath of the evening breeze with their rich perfume. The boys were delighted with the pineapple, and so eagerly did they fall to, that my wife had to caution them that there were no doctors on our territory, and that if they became ill, they would have to cure themselves as best they might.
    * At this point the author seems to assume that pineapples grow on trees. They do not.
    This advice, however, seemed to have small effect on my sons, and showing Knips what they wanted, they sent him after the ripest and best fruit.
    While they were thus employed, I examined the other shrubs and bushes. Among these I presently noticed one which I knew well from description to be the karatas .
    `Come here, boys,' I said, `here is something of far more value than your pineapples. Do you see that plant with long pointed leaves and beautiful red flower? That is the karatas . The filaments of the leaves make capital thread, while the leaves themselves, bruised, form an invaluable salve. The pith of this wonderful plant may be used either for tinder or bait for fish.
    `Suppose, Ernest, you had been wrecked here, how would you have made a fire without matches, or flint and steel?'
    `As the savages do,' replied he, `I would rub two pieces of wood together until they kindled.'
    `Try it,' I said, `but, if you please, try it when you have a whole day before you, and no other work to be done, for I am certain it would be night before you accomplished the feat. But see here,' and I broke a dry twig from the karatas , and peeling off the bark, laid the pith upon a stone. I struck a couple of pebbles over it, and, they emitting a spark, the pith caught fire.
    The boys were delighted with the experiment. I then drew some of the threads from the leaves, and presented them to my wife.
    `But what,' said Fritz, `is the use of all these other prickly plants, except to annoy one? Here, for instance, is a disagreeable little tree.'
    `That is an Indian fig,' said I. `It grows best on dry, rocky ground; for most of its nourishment is derived from the air. Its juice is used, I believe, medicinally, while its fruit is pleasant and wholesome.'
    Master Jack was off in a moment when he heard of a new delicacy, and attempted to gather some of the fruit, but in vain; the sharp thorns defied his efforts, and with bleeding hands and rueful countenance, he returned.
    I removed the thorns from his hands, and making a sharp wooden skewer, I thrust it into a fig, and quickly twisted it from its branch and split it open with a knife, still holding it upon the skewer. The rest followed my example, and we regaled ourselves upon the fruit, which we found excellent.
    Ernest carefully examined the fig he was eating. `What', he exclaimed, presently, `are these little red insects? They cling all over the fruit, and I cannot shake them off. Can they be cochineal?'
    He handed me the fig, and I examined it attentively.
    `You are quite right, my boy,' I said, `there is no doubt this is the real cochineal. However, though it is worth its weight in gold to European traders, it is of little use to us, I am afraid, unless any of you care to appear in gay colours . The cochineal, you know, forms the most lovely scarlet dye.'
    `No, thank you,' said Jack, `but we will take a lot of it when we go home again. Now let us find something more useful to us.' And they thereupon plied me incessantly with questions concerning every plant and shrub we passed.
    `Stop, stop,' I