Франкенштейн

           Whatdidtheirtearsimply?Didtheyreallyexpresspain?Iwasatfirstunabletosolvethesequestions,butperpetualattentionandtimeexplainedtomemanyappearanceswhichwereatfirstenigmatic.

           "AconsiderableperiodelapsedbeforeIdiscoveredoneofthecausesoftheuneasinessofthisamiablefamily:itwaspoverty,andtheysufferedthatevilinaverydistressingdegree.Theirnourishmentconsistedentirelyofthevegetablesoftheirgardenandthemilkofonecow,whichgaveverylittleduringthewinter,whenitsmasterscouldscarcelyprocurefoodtosupportit.Theyoften,Ibelieve,sufferedthepangsofhungerverypoignantly,especiallythetwoyoungercottagers,forseveraltimestheyplacedfoodbeforetheoldmanwhentheyreservednoneforthemselves.

           "Thistraitofkindnessmovedmesensibly.Ihadbeenaccustomed,duringthenight,tostealapartoftheirstoreformyownconsumption,butwhenIfoundthatindoingthisIinflictedpainonthecottagers,Iabstainedandsatisfiedmyselfwithberries,nuts,androotswhichIgatheredfromaneighbouringwood.

           "IdiscoveredalsoanothermeansthroughwhichIwasenabledtoassisttheirlabours.Ifoundthattheyouthspentagreatpartofeachdayincollectingwoodforthefamilyfire,andduringthenightIoftentookhistools,theuseofwhichIquicklydiscovered,andbroughthomefiringsufficientfortheconsumptionofseveraldays.

           "Iremember,thefirsttimethatIdidthis,theyoungwoman,whensheopenedthedoorinthemorning,appearedgreatlyastonishedonseeingagreatpileofwoodontheoutside.Sheutteredsomewordsinaloudvoice,andtheyouthjoinedher,whoalsoexpressedsurprise.Iobserved,withpleasure,thathedidnotgototheforestthatday,butspentitinrepairingthecottageandcultivatingthegarden.