The Story of an African Farm, a novel by Olive Schreiner
page 46 of 369 (12%)
page 46 of 369 (12%)
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Not what we are taught, but what we see, makes us, and the child gathers
the food on which the adult feeds to the end. When the German looked up next there was a look of supreme satisfaction in the little mouth and the beautiful eyes. "What dost see, chicken?" he asked. The child said nothing, and an agonizing shriek was borne on the afternoon breeze. "Oh, God! my God! I am killed!" cried the voice of Bonaparte, as he, with wide open mouth and shaking flesh, fell into the room, followed by a half- grown ostrich, who put its head in at the door, opened its beak at him, and went away. "Shut the door! shut the door! As you value my life, shut the door!" cried Bonaparte, sinking into a chair, his face blue and white, with a greenishness about the mouth. "Ah, my friend," he said tremulously, "eternity has looked me in the face! My life's thread hung upon a cord! The valley of the shadow of death!" said Bonaparte, seizing the German's arm. "Dear, dear, dear!" said the German, who had closed the lower half of the door, and stood much concerned beside the stranger, "you have had a fright. I never knew so young a bird to chase before; but they will take dislikes to certain people. I sent a boy away once because a bird would chase him. Ah, dear, dear!" "When I looked round," said Bonaparte, "the red and yawning cavity was |
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