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THE TRAINING OF A WILD ASS 17S |
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dence at the bottom of the tree, between the roots and under the tarred roof I had erected ; for it was no longer possible to remain above on account of the furious winds. We took down our hammocks, mattresses, and every article that could be injured by the rain; and most fortunate did we deem ourselves in having made the winding stairs, which served as a kind of lumber room. Our little sheds between the roots, constructed for the poultry and the cattle, could scarcely contain us all; and the first days we passed in them we were very uncomfortable, crowded all together, and hardly able to move. We were half stifled with smoke whenever we lit a fire, and drenched with rain when we opened the doors. The staircase was, as I have said, very useful. The upper part of it was filled with numerous articles ; and as it was lighted and sheltered by windows, my wife often worked there seated on a stair, with little Francis at her feet.
As to the smoke, our only remedy was to open the door to get rid of it; and we lived on milk and cheese as much as possible, never making a fire but to bake our cakes, when we used the opportunity to boil enough potatoes and salt meat to last us several days. A more serious difficulty was our not having provided sufficient hay and leaves |
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