In England there was then living a man whose name was Daniel Defoe.
[Footnote: De foe'.] He was a writer of books. He had written many
stories which people at that time liked to read.
When Daniel Defoe heard how Selkirk had lived alone on the island of
Juan Fernandez, he said to himself: "Here is something worth telling
about. The story of Alexander Selkirk is very pleasing."
So he sat down and wrote a wonderful story, which he called "The
Adventures of Robinson Crusoe."
Every boy has heard of Robinson Crusoe. Many boys and indeed many girls
have read his story.
When only a child he liked to stand by the river and see the ships
sailing past. He wondered where they had come from and where they were
going. He talked with some of the sailors. They told him about the
strange lands they had visited far over the sea. They told him about
the wonderful things they had seen there. He was delighted.
"Oh, I wish I could be a sailor!" he said.
He could not think of anything else. He thought how grand it would be
to sail and sail on the wide blue sea. He thought how pleasant it would
be to visit strange countries and see strange peoples.
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