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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
the countryside after blackberries and mushrooms and helping the mussel…
man mend his nets。
Yes； it was a very pleasant life I lived in those days long ago though
of course I did not think so then。 I was nine and a half years old； and； like
all boys； I wanted to grow upnot knowing how well off I was with no
cares and nothing to worry me。 Always I longed for the time when I
should be allowed to leave my father's house； to take passage in one of
those brave ships； to sail down the river through the misty marshes to the
sea out into the world to seek my fortune。
THE SECOND CHAPTER
I HEAR OF THE GREAT NATURALIST
ONE early morning in the Springtime； when I was wandering among
the hills at the back of the town； I happened to come upon a hawk with a
squirrel in its claws。 It was standing on a rock and the squirrel was
fighting very hard for its life。 The hawk was so frightened when I came
upon it suddenly like this； that it dropped the poor creature and flew away。
I picked the squirrel up and found that two of its legs were badly hurt。 So I
carried it in my arms back to the town。
When I came to the bridge I went into the musselman's hut and asked
him if he could do anything for it。 Joe put on his spectacles and examined
it carefully。 Then he shook his head。
〃Yon crittur's got a broken leg；〃 he said〃and another badly cut an' all。
I can mend you your boats； Tom； but I haven't the tools nor the learning to
make a broken squirrel seaworthy。 This is a job for a surgeonand for a
right smart one an' all。 There be only one man I know who could save yon
crittur's life。 And that's John Dolittle。〃
〃Who is John Dolittle？〃 I asked。 〃Is he a vet？〃
〃No；〃 said the mussel…man。 〃He's no vet。 Doctor Dolittle is a
nacheralist。〃
〃What's a nacheralist？〃
〃A nacheralist；〃 said Joe； putting away his glasses and starting to fill
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
his pipe； 〃is a man who knows all about animals and butterflies and plants
and rocks an' all。 John Dolittle is a very great nacheralist。 I'm surprised
you never heard of himand you daft over animals。 He knows a whole lot
about shellfishthat I know from my own knowledge。 He's a quiet man
and don't talk much； but there's folks who do say he's the greatest
nacheralist in the world。〃
〃Where does he live？〃 I asked。
〃Over on the Oxenthorpe Road； t'other side the town。 Don't know just
which house it is； but 'most anyone 'cross there could tell you； I reckon。
Go and see him。 He's a great man。〃
So I thanked the mussel…man； took up my squirrel again and started oft
towards the Oxenthorpe Road。
The first thing I heard as I came into the marketplace was some one
calling 〃Meat！ M…E…A…T！〃
〃There's Matthew Mugg；〃 I said to myself。 〃He'll know where this
Doctor lives。 Matthew knows everyone。〃
So I hurried across the market…place and caught him up。
〃Matthew；〃 I said； 〃do you know Doctor Dolittle？〃
〃Do I know John Dolittle！〃 said he。 〃Well； I should think I do！ I know
him as well as I know my own wifebetter； I sometimes think。 He's a
great mana very great man。〃
〃Can you show me where he lives？〃 I asked。 〃I want to take this
squirrel to him。 It has a broken leg。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the cat's…meat…man。 〃I'll be going right by his house
directly。 Come along and I'll show you。〃
So off we went together。
〃Oh； I've known John Dolittle for years and years；〃 said Matthew as
we made our way out of the market…place。 〃But I'm pretty sure he ain't
home just now。 He's away on a voyage。 But he's liable to be back any day。
I'll show you his house and then you'll know where to find him。〃
All the way down the Oxenthorpe Road Matthew hardly stopped
talking about his great friend； Doctor John Dolittle〃M。 D。〃 He talked so
much that he forgot all about calling out 〃Meat！〃 until we both suddenly
noticed that we had a whole procession of dogs following us patiently。
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃Where did the Doctor go to on this voyage？〃 I asked as Matthew
handed round the meat to them。
〃I couldn't tell you；〃 he answered。 〃Nobody never knows where he
goes； nor when he's going； nor when he's coming back。 He lives all alone
except for his pets。 He's made some great voyages and some wonderful
discoveries。 Last time he came back he told me he'd found a tribe of Red
Indians in the Pacific Oceanlived on two islands； they did。 The husbands
lived on one island and the wives lived on the other。 Sensible people； some
of them savages。 They only met once a year； when the husbands came
over to visit the wives for a great feast Christmas…time； most likely。 Yes；
he's a wonderful man is the Doctor。 And as for animals； well； there ain't no
one knows as much about 'em as what he does。〃
〃How did he get to know so much about animals？〃 I asked。
The cat's…meat…man stopped and leant down to whisper in my car。
〃HE TALKS THEIR LANGUAGE；〃 he said in a hoarse； mysterious
voice。
〃The animals' language？〃 I cried。
〃Why certainly；〃 said Matthew。 〃All animals have some kind of a
language。 Some sorts talk more than others； some only speak in sign…
language； like deaf…and…dumb。 But the Doctor； he understands them all
birds as well as animals。 We keep it a secret though； him and me； because
folks only laugh at you when you speak of it。 Why； he can even write
animal…language。 He reads aloud to his pets。 He's wrote history…books in
monkey…talk； poetry in canary language and comic songs for magpies to
sing。 It's a fact。 He's now busy learning the language of the shellfish。 But
he says it's hard workand he has caught some terrible colds； holding his
head under water so much。 He's a great man。〃
〃He certainly must be；〃 I said。 〃I do wish he were home so I could
meet him。〃
〃Well； there's his house； look；〃 said the cat's； meat…man〃that little one
at the bend in the road therethe one high up like it was sitting on the
wall above the street。〃
We were now come beyond the edge of the town。 And the house that
Matthew pointed out was quite a small one standing by