Jock of the Bushveld (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Jock of the Bushveld

There was a Boy who went to seek his fortune. Call him boy or man: the years proved nothing either way! Some will be boyish always; others were never young: a few - most richly dowered few - are man and boy together. He went to seek his fortune, as boys will and should; no pressure on him from about; no promise from beyond. For life was easy there, and all was pleasant, as it may be in a cage. 'To-day' is sure and happy; and there is no to-morrow in a cage.

There were friends enough - all kind and true - and in their wisdom they said: "Here it is safe: yonder all is chance, where many indeed are called, but few - so few - are chosen. Many have gone forth; some to return, beaten, hopeless, and despised; some to fall in sight outside; others are lost, we know not where; and ah! so few are free and well. But the fate of numbers is unheeded still; for the few are those who count, and lead; and those who follow do not think 'How few,' but cry 'How strong! How free!' Be wise and do not venture. Here it is safe: there is no fortune!"

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

James Percy Fitzpatrick was born in King William's Town in 1862 and died on his Eastern Cape Farm, Amanzi, in 1931. He worked for the firm of H Eckstein and Co, later becoming a partner, and a director of Rand Mines Ltd. Always active in politics, he also found time to write several books besides the classic Jock of the Bushveld. His first book, Through Mashonaland with Pick and Pen, was published in 1892, followed by The Outspan: Tales of South Africa in 1897 and The Transvaal from Within in 1899.