Indeed, some were so ignorant that they did not know
that cocoa-nuts grew on cocoa-nut trees!"
I could not refrain from laughing at this rebuke, for there was much
truth in it as to Peterkin's ignorance.
"Humph! maybe you're right," answered Peterkin; "but I would not give
_tuppence_ for a man of books, if he had nothing else in him."
"Neither would I," said Jack; "but that's no reason why you should run
books down, or think less of me for having read them. Suppose now,
Peterkin, that you wanted to build a ship, and I were to give you a
long and particular account of the way to do it, would not that be very
useful?"
"No doubt of it," said Peterkin, laughing.
"And suppose I were to write the account in a letter instead of telling
you in words, would that be less useful?"
"Well--no, perhaps not."
"Well, suppose I were to print it, and send it to you in the form of a
book, would it not be as good and useful as ever?"
"Oh, bother! Jack, you're a philosopher, and that's worse than
anything!" cried Peterkin, with a look of pretended horror.
"Very well, Peterkin, we shall see," returned Jack, halting under the
shade of a cocoa-nut tree. "You said you were thirsty just a minute
ago; now jump up that tree and bring down a nut--not a ripe one, bring
a green, unripe one."
Peterkin looked surprised, but seeing that Jack was in earnest, he
obeyed.
"Now cut a hole in it with your penknife, and clap it to your mouth,
old fellow," said Jack.
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