Fables

Name: Fables
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Pages: about 52
Category: Literature & Fiction
Language: English
Reading time: 58 min at 250 wpm

Start readingThe whole book, as cards or one word at a time. 32 min at 450 wpm in Read mode.

From the opening

After the 32nd chapter of Treasure Island, two of the puppets strolled out to have a pipe before business should begin again, and met in an open place not far from the story.
"Good-morning, Cap'n," said the first, with a man-o'-war salute, and a beaming countenance.
"Now, Cap'n Smollett," remonstrated Silver, "dooty is dooty, as I knows, and none better; but we're off dooty now; and I can't see no call to keep up the morality business."
"Come, come, Cap'n, be just," returned the other. "There's no call to be angry with me in earnest. I'm on'y a chara'ter in a sea story. I don't really exist."
"Well, I don't really exist either," says the Captain, "which seems to meet that."
"I wouldn't set no limits to what a virtuous chara'ter might consider argument," responded Silver. "But I'm the villain of this tale, I am; and speaking as one sea-faring man to another, what I want to know is, what's the odds?"
"Were you never taught your catechism?" said the Captain. "Don't you know there's such a thing as an Author?"
"Such a thing as a Author?" returned John, derisively. "And who better'n me? And the p'int is, if the Author made you, he made Long John, and he made Hands, and Pew, and George Merry--not that George is up to much, for he's little more'n a name; and he made Flint, what there is of him; and he made this here mutiny, you keep such a work about; and he had Tom Redruth shot; and--well, if that's a Author, give me Pew!"
"Don't you believe in a future state?" said Smollett. "Do you think there's nothing but the present story-paper?"
"I don't rightly know for that," said Silver; "and I don't see what it's got to do with it, anyway. What I know is this: if there is sich a thing as a Author, I'm his favourite chara'ter. He does me fathoms better'n he does you--fathoms, he does. And he likes doing me.

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Fables

From the opening

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