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〃God knows I don't care who I chum with perhaps I like sailors best； but to go round and sue and sneak to keep a crowd together … never！〃
If Stevenson's natural bent was to be an explorer； a mountain… climber； or a sailor … to sail wide seas； or to range on mountain… tops to gain free and extensive views … yet he inclines well to farmer work； and indeed； has to confess it has a rare attraction for him。
〃I went crazy over outdoor work；〃 he says at one place； 〃and had at last to confine myself to the house； or literature must have gone by the board。 NOTHING is so interesting as weeding； clearing； and path…making： the oversight of labourers becomes a disease。 It is quite an effort not to drop into the farmer； and it does make you feel so well。〃
The odd ways of these Samoans； their pride of position； their vices； their virtues； their vanities； their small thefts； their tricks； their delightful INSOUCIANCE sometimes； all amused him。 He found in them a fine field of study and observation … a source of fun and fund of humanity … as this bit about the theft of some piglings will sufficiently prove：
〃Last night three piglings were stolen from one of our pig…pens。 The great Lafaele appeared to my wife uneasy； so she engaged him in conversation on the subject； and played upon him the following engaging trick： You advance your two forefingers towards the sitter's eyes； he closes them； whereupon you substitute （on his eyelids） the fore and middle fingers of the left hand； and with your right （which he supposes engaged） you tap him on the head and back。 When you let him open his eyes； he sees you withdrawing the two forefingers。 'What that？' asked Lafaele。 'My devil；' says Fanny。 'I wake um； my devil。 All right now。 He go catch the man that catch my pig。' About an hour afterwards Lafaele came for further particulars。 'Oh； all right；' my wife says。 'By…and…by that man be sleep； devil go sleep same place。 By…and…by that man plenty sick。 I no care。 What for he take my pig？' Lafaele cares plenty； I don't think he is the man； though he may be； but he knows him； and most likely will eat some of that pig to…night。 He will not eat with relish。'〃
Yet in spite of this R。 L。 Stevenson declares that：
〃They are a perfectly honest people： nothing of value has ever been taken from our house； where doors and windows are always wide open； and upon one occasion when white ants attacked the silver chest； the whole of my family treasure lay spread upon the floor of the hall for two days unguarded。〃
Here is a bit on a work of peace； a reflection on a day's weeding at Vailima … in its way almost as touching as any：
〃I wonder if any one had ever the same attitude to Nature as I hold； and have held for so long？ This business fascinates me like a tune or a passion； yet all the while I thrill with a strong distaste。 The horror of the thing； objective and subjective； is always present to my mind； the horror of creeping things； a superstitious horror of the void and the powers about me； the horror of my own devastation and continual murders。 The life of the plants comes through my finger…tips； their struggles go to my heart like supplications。 I feel myself blood…boltered； then I look back on my cleared grass； and count myself an ally in a fair quarrel； and make stout my heart。〃
Here； again； is the way in which he celebrates an act of friendly kindness on the part of Mr Gosse：
〃MY DEAR GOSSE； … Your letter was to me such a bright spot that I answer it right away to the prejudice of other correspondents or … dants （don't know how to spell it） who have prior claims。 。 。 。 It is the history of our kindnesses that alone makes this world tolerable。 If it were not for that； for the effect of kind words； kind looks； kind letters； multiplying； spreading； making one happy through another and bringing forth benefits； some thirty； some fifty； some a thousandfold； I should be tempted to think our life a practical jest in the worst possible spirit。 So your four pages have confirmed my philosophy as well as consoled my heart in these ill hours。〃
CHAPTER VIII … WORK OF LATER YEARS
MR HAMMERTON； in his STEVENSONIANA （pp。 323…4）； has given the humorous inscriptions on the volumes of his works which Stevenson presented to Dr Trudeau； who attended him when he was in Saranac in 1887…88 … very characteristic in every way； and showing fully Stevenson's fine appreciation of any attention or service。 On the DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE volume he wrote：
〃Trudeau was all the winter at my side： I never saw the nose of Mr Hyde。〃
And on KIDNAPPED is this：
〃Here is the one sound page of all my writing； The one I'm proud of and that I delight in。〃
Stevenson was exquisite in this class of efforts； and were they all collected they would form indeed； a fine supplement and illustration of the leading lesson of his essays … the true art of pleasing others； and of truly pleasing one's self at the same time。 To my thinking the finest of all in this line is the legal （？） deed by which he conveyed his birthday to little Miss Annie Ide； the daughter of Mr H。 C。 Ide； a well…known American； who was for several years a resident of Upolo； in Samoa； first as Land Commissioner； and later as Chief Justice under the joint appointment of England； Germany； and the United States。 While living at Apia； Mr Ide and his family were very intimate with the family of R。 L。 Stevenson。 Little Annie was a special pet and protege of Stevenson and his wife。 After the return of the Ides to their American home； Stevenson 〃deeded〃 to Annie his birthday in the following unique document：
I； ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON； advocate of the Scots Bar； author of THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE and MORAL EMBLEMS； civil engineer； sole owner and patentee of the palace and plantation known as Vailima； in the island of Upolo； Samoa； a British subject； being in sound mind； and pretty well； I thank you； in mind and body；
In consideration that Miss Annie H。 Ide； daughter of H。 C。 Ide； in the town of Saint Johnsbury； in the County of Caledonia； in the State of Vermont； United States of America； was born； out of all reason； upon Christmas Day； and is； therefore； out of all justice； denied the consolation and profit of a proper birthday；
And considering that I； the said Robert Louis Stevenson； have attained the age when we never mention it； and that I have now no further use for a birthday of any description；
And in consideration that I have met H。 C。 Ide； the father of the said Annie H。 Ide； and found him as white a land commissioner as I require； I have transferred； and do hereby transfer； to the said Annie H。 Ide； all and whole of my rights and privileges in the 13th day of November； formerly my birthday； now； hereby and henceforth； the birthday of the said Annie H。 Ide； to have； hold； exercise； and enjoy the same in the customary manner； by the sporting of fine raiment； eating of rich meats； and receipt of gifts； compliments； and copies of verse； according to the manner of our ancestors；
And I direct the said Annie H。 Ide to add to the said name