initial commit of ebook 1904HEADmain

2 files changed, 2983 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/old/lpoam10.txt b/old/lpoam10.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a08b7e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/lpoam10.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2983 @@
+*Project Gutenberg Etext The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse*
+by Dorothy Kilner
+
+
+Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check
+the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!!
+
+Please take a look at the important information in this header.
+We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an
+electronic path open for the next readers.  Do not remove this.
+
+
+**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
+
+**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
+
+*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations*
+
+Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and
+further information is included below.  We need your donations.
+
+
+The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse
+
+by Dorothy Kilner
+
+September, 1999  [Etext #1904]
+
+
+*Project Gutenberg Etext The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse*
+******This file should be named lpoam10.txt or lpoam10.zip******
+
+Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, lpoam11.txt
+VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, lpoam10a.txt
+
+
+This Etext prepared by Pat Pflieger
+feste@keystonenet.com
+
+Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions,
+all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a
+copyright notice is included.  Therefore, we usually do NOT keep any
+of these books in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+We are now trying to release all our books one month in advance
+of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing.
+
+Please note:  neither this list nor its contents are final till
+midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement.
+The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at
+Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month.  A
+preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment
+and editing by those who wish to do so.  To be sure you have an
+up to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes
+in the first week of the next month.  Since our ftp program has
+a bug in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a
+look at the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a
+new copy has at least one byte more or less.
+
+
+Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)
+
+We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work.  The
+time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours
+to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright
+searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc.  This
+projected audience is one hundred million readers.  If our value
+per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2
+million dollars per hour this year as we release thirty-six text
+files per month, or 432 more Etexts in 1999 for a total of 2000+
+If these reach just 10% of the computerized population, then the
+total should reach over 200 billion Etexts given away this year.
+
+The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext
+Files by December 31, 2001.  [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion]
+This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers,
+which is only ~5% of the present number of computer users.
+
+At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third
+of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 3,333 Etexts unless we
+manage to get some real funding; currently our funding is mostly
+from Michael Hart's salary at Carnegie-Mellon University, and an
+assortment of sporadic gifts; this salary is only good for a few
+more years, so we are looking for something to replace it, as we
+don't want Project Gutenberg to be so dependent on one person.
+
+We need your donations more than ever!
+
+
+All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/CMU": and are
+tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.  (CMU = Carnegie-
+Mellon University).
+
+For these and other matters, please mail to:
+
+Project Gutenberg
+P. O. Box  2782
+Champaign, IL 61825
+
+When all other email fails. . .try our Executive Director:
+Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com>
+hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org
+if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if
+it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . .
+
+We would prefer to send you this information by email.
+
+******
+
+To access Project Gutenberg etexts, use any Web browser
+to view http://promo.net/pg.  This site lists Etexts by
+author and by title, and includes information about how
+to get involved with Project Gutenberg.  You could also
+download our past Newsletters, or subscribe here.  This
+is one of our major sites, please email hart@pobox.com,
+for a more complete list of our various sites.
+
+To go directly to the etext collections, use FTP or any
+Web browser to visit a Project Gutenberg mirror (mirror
+sites are available on 7 continents; mirrors are listed
+at http://promo.net/pg).
+
+Mac users, do NOT point and click, typing works better.
+
+Example FTP session:
+
+ftp sunsite.unc.edu
+login: anonymous
+password: your@login
+cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg
+cd etext90 through etext99
+dir [to see files]
+get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files]
+GET GUTINDEX.??  [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99]
+GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books]
+
+***
+
+**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor**
+
+(Three Pages)
+
+
+***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START***
+Why is this "Small Print!" statement here?  You know: lawyers.
+They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with
+your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from
+someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our
+fault.  So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement
+disclaims most of our liability to you.  It also tells you how
+you can distribute copies of this etext if you want to.
+
+*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT
+By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
+etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept
+this "Small Print!" statement.  If you do not, you can receive
+a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by
+sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person
+you got it from.  If you received this etext on a physical
+medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request.
+
+ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS
+This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-
+tm etexts, is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor
+Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association at
+Carnegie-Mellon University (the "Project").  Among other
+things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright
+on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and
+distribute it in the United States without permission and
+without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules, set forth
+below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext
+under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark.
+
+To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable
+efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain
+works.  Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any
+medium they may be on may contain "Defects".  Among other
+things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
+intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged
+disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer
+codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.
+
+LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES
+But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below,
+[1] the Project (and any other party you may receive this
+etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including
+legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR
+UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT,
+INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE
+OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE
+POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
+
+If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of
+receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any)
+you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that
+time to the person you received it from.  If you received it
+on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and
+such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement
+copy.  If you received it electronically, such person may
+choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to
+receive it electronically.
+
+THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS".  NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS
+TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
+PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or
+the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the
+above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you
+may have other legal rights.
+
+INDEMNITY
+You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors,
+officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost
+and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or
+indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause:
+[1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification,
+or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect.
+
+DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm"
+You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by
+disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this
+"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg,
+or:
+
+[1]  Only give exact copies of it.  Among other things, this
+     requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the
+     etext or this "small print!" statement.  You may however,
+     if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable
+     binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form,
+     including any form resulting from conversion by word pro-
+     cessing or hypertext software, but only so long as
+     *EITHER*:
+
+     [*]  The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and
+          does *not* contain characters other than those
+          intended by the author of the work, although tilde
+          (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may
+          be used to convey punctuation intended by the
+          author, and additional characters may be used to
+          indicate hypertext links; OR
+
+     [*]  The etext may be readily converted by the reader at
+          no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent
+          form by the program that displays the etext (as is
+          the case, for instance, with most word processors);
+          OR
+
+     [*]  You provide, or agree to also provide on request at
+          no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the
+          etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC
+          or other equivalent proprietary form).
+
+[2]  Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this
+     "Small Print!" statement.
+
+[3]  Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the
+     net profits you derive calculated using the method you
+     already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  If you
+     don't derive profits, no royalty is due.  Royalties are
+     payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon
+     University" within the 60 days following each
+     date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare)
+     your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return.
+
+WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO?
+The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time,
+scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty
+free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution
+you can think of.  Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg
+Association / Carnegie-Mellon University".
+
+*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END*
+
+
+
+
+
+This Etext prepared by Pat Pflieger
+feste@keystonenet.com
+
+
+
+
+
+THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE (1783-1784)
+by Dorothy Kilner
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+During a remarkably severe winter, when a prodigious fall of snow
+confined everybody to their habitations, who were happy enough to
+have one to shelter them from the inclemency of the season, and
+were hot obliged by business to expose themselves to its rigour, I
+was on a visit to Meadow Hall; where had assembled likewise a
+large party of young folk, who all seemed, by their harmony and
+good humour, to strive who should the most contribute to render
+pleasant that confinement which we were all equally obliged to
+share.  Nor were those further advanced in life less anxious to
+contribute to the general satisfaction and entertainment.
+
+After the more serious employment of reading each morning was
+concluded, we danced, we sung, we played at blind-man's-buff,
+battledore and shuttlecock, and many other games equally diverting
+and innocent; and when tired of them, drew our seats round the
+fire, while each one in turn told some merry story to divert the
+company.
+
+At last, after having related all that we could recollect worth
+reciting, and being rather at a loss what to say next, a sprightly
+girl in company proposed that every one should relate the history
+of their own lives; 'and it must be strange indeed,' added she,
+'if that will not help us out of this difficulty, and furnish
+conversation for some days longer; and by that time, perhaps, the
+frost will break, the snow will melt, and set us all at liberty. 
+But let it break when it will, I make a law, that no one shall go
+from Meadow Hall till they have told their own history:  so take
+notice, ladies and gentlemen, take notice, everybody, what you
+have to trust to.  And because,' continued she, 'I will not be
+unreasonable, and require more from you than you can perform, I
+will give all you who may perhaps have forgotten what passed so
+many years ago, at the beginning of your lives, two days to
+recollect and digest your story; by which time if you do not
+produce something pretty and entertaining, we will never again
+admit you to dance or play among us.'  All this she spoke with so
+good-humoured a smile, that every one was delighted with her, and
+promised to do their best to acquit themselves to her
+satisfaction; whilst some (the length of whose lives had not
+rendered them forgetful of the transactions which had passed)
+instantly began their memoirs, as they called them:  and really
+some related their narratives with such spirit and ingenuity, that
+it quite distressed us older ones, lest we should disgrace
+ourselves when it should fall to our turns to hold forth. 
+However, we were all determined to produce something, as our fair
+directress ordered.  Accordingly, the next morning I took up my
+pen, to endeavour to draw up some kind of a history, which might
+satisfy my companions in confinement.  I took up my pen, it is
+true, and laid the paper before me; but not one word toward my
+appointed task could I proceed. The various occurrences of my life
+were such as, far from affording entertainment, would, I was
+certain, rather afflict; or, perhaps, not interesting enough for
+that, only stupefy, and render them more weary of the continuation
+of the frost than they were before I began my narration.  Thus
+circumstanced, therefore, although by myself, I broke silence by
+exclaiming, 'What a task his this sweet girl imposed upon me!  One
+which I shall never be able to execute to my own satisfaction or
+her amusement.  The adventures of my life (though deeply
+interesting to myself) will be insipid and unentertaining to
+others, especially to my young hearers:  I cannot, therefore,
+attempt it.'--'Then write mine, which may be more diverting,' said
+a little squeaking voice, which sounded as if close to me.  I
+started with surprise, not knowing any one to be near me; and
+looking round, could discover no object from whom it could
+possibly proceed, when casting my eyes upon the ground, in a
+little hole under the skirting-board, close by the fire, I
+discovered thehead of a mouse peeping out.  I arose with a design
+to stop the hole with a cork, which happened to lie on the table
+by me; and I was surprised to find that it did not run away, but
+suffered me to advance quite close, and then only retreated a
+little into the hole, saying in the same voice as before, 'Will
+you write my history?'  You may be sure that I was much surprised
+to be so addressed by such an animal; but, ashamed of discovering
+any appearance of astonishment, lest the mouse should suppose it
+had frightened me, I answered with the utmost composure, that I
+would write it willingly if it would dictate to me.  'Oh, that I
+will do,' replied the mouse, 'if you will not hurt me.'--'Not for
+the world,' returned I; 'come, therefore, and sit upon my table,
+that I may hear more distinctly what you have to relate.'  It
+instantly accepted my invitation, and with all the nimbleness of
+its species, ran up the side of my chair, and jumped upon my
+table; when, getting into a box of wafers, it began as follows.
+
+
+
+But, before I proceed to relate my new little companion's history,
+I must beg leave to assure my readers that, in earnest, I never
+heard a mouse speak in all my life; and only wrote the following
+narrative as being far more entertaining, and not less
+instructive, than my own life would have been:  and as it met with
+the high approbation of those for whom it was written, I have sent
+it to Mr. Marshall, for him to publish it, if he pleases, for the
+equal amusement of his little customers.
+
+
+
+PART I.
+
+Like all other newborn animals, whether of the human, or any other
+species, I can not pretend to remember what passed during my
+infant days.  The first circumstance I can recollect was my
+mother's addressing me and my three brothers, who all lay in the
+same nest, in the following words:-'I have, my children, with the
+greatest difficulty, and at the utmost hazard of my life, provided
+for you all to the present moment; but the period is arrived, when
+I can no longer pursue that method:  snares and traps are
+everywhere set for me, nor shall I, without infinite danger, be
+able to procure sustenance to support my own existence, much less
+can I find sufficient for you all; and, indeed, with pleasure I
+behold it as no longer necessary, since you are of age now to
+provide and shift for yourselves; and I doubt not but your agility
+will enable you to procure a very comfortable livelihood.  Only
+let me give you this one caution--never (whatever the temptation
+may be) appear often in the same place; if you do, however you may
+flatter yourselves to the contrary, you will certainly at last be
+destroyed.'  So saying, she stroked us all with her fore paw as a
+token of her affection, and then hurried away, to conceal from us
+the emotions of her sorrow, at thus sending us into the wide
+world.
+
+She was no sooner gone, than the thought of being our own
+directors so charmed our little hearts, that we presently forgot
+our grief at parting from our kind parent; and, impatient to use
+our liberty, we all set forward in search of some food, or rather
+some adventure, as our mother had left us victuals more than
+sufficient to supply the wants of that day.  With a great deal of
+difficulty, we clambered up a high wall on the inside of a
+wainscot, till we reached the story above that we were born in,
+where we found it much easier to run round within the
+skirting-board, than to ascend any higher.
+
+While we were there, our noses were delightfully regaled with the
+scent of the most delicate food that we had ever smelt; we were
+anxious to procure a taste of it likewise, and after running round
+and round the room a great many times, we at last discovered a
+little crack, through which we made our entrance.  My brother
+Longtail led the way; I followed; Softdown came next; but
+Brighteyes would not be prevailed upon to venture.  The apartment
+which we entered was spacious and elegant; at least, differed so
+greatly from anything we had seen, that we imagined it the finest
+place upon earth.  It was covered all over with a carpet of
+various colours, that not only concealed some bird-seeds which we
+came to devour, but also for some time prevented our being
+discovered; as we were of much the same hue with many of the
+flowers on the carpet.  At last a little girl, who was at work in
+the room, by the side of her mamma, shrieked out as if violently
+hurt.  Her mamma begged to know the cause of her sudden alarm. 
+Upon which she called out, 'A mouse! a mouse!  I saw one under the
+chair!'  'And if you did, my dear,' replied her mother, 'is that
+any reason for your behaving so ridiculously?  If there were
+twenty mice, what harm could they possibly do? You may easily hurt
+and destroy then,; but, poor little things! they cannot, if they
+would, hurt you.'  'What, could they not bite me?' inquired the
+child.  'They may, indeed, be able to do that; but you may be very
+sure that they have no such inclination,' rejoined the mother.  'A
+mouse is one of the most timorous things in the world; every noise
+alarms it:  and though it chiefly lives by plunder, it appears as
+if punished by its fears for the mischiefs which it commits among
+our property.  It is therefore highly ridiculous to pretend to be
+alarmed at the sight of a creature that would run from the sound
+of your voice, and wishes never to come near you, lest, as you are
+far more able, you should also be disposed to hurt it.'  'But I am
+sure, madam,' replied the little girl, whose name I afterwards
+heard was Nancy, 'they do not always run away; for one day, as
+Miss Betsy Kite was looking among some things which she had in her
+box, a mouse jumped out and ran up her frock sleeve--she felt it
+quite up on her arm.'  'And what became of it then?' inquired the
+mother.  'It jumped down again,' replied Nancy, 'and got into a
+little hole in the window-seat; and Betsy did not see it again.' 
+'Well, then, my dear,' resumed the lady, 'what harm did it do her?
+Is not that a convincing proof of what I say, that you have no
+cause to be afraid of them, and that it is very silly to be so? 
+It is certainly foolish to be afraid of any thing, unless it
+threatens us with immediate danger; but to pretend to be so at a
+mouse, and such like inoffensive things, is a degree of weakness
+that I can by no means suffer any of my children to indulge.' 
+'May I then, madam,' inquired the child, 'be afraid of cows and
+horses, and such great beasts as those?'  'Certainly not,'
+answered her mother, 'unless they are likely to hurt you.  If a
+cow or an horse runs after you, I would have you fear them so much
+as to get out of the way; but if they are quietly walking or
+grazing in a field, then to fly from them, as if you thought they
+would eat you instead of the grass, is most absurd, and discovers
+great want of sense.  I once knew a young lady, who, I believe,
+thought it looked pretty to be terrified at everything, and scream
+if dog or even a mouse looked at her:  but most severely was she
+punished for her folly, by several very disagreeable accidents she
+by those means brought upon herself.
+
+'One day when she was drinking tea in a large company, on the door
+being opened, a small Italian greyhound walked into the
+drawing-room.  She happened to be seated near the mistress of the
+dog, who was making tea:  the dog, therefore, walked toward her,
+in order to be by his favourite; but, upon his advancing near her,
+she suddenly jumped up, without considering what she was about,
+overturned the water-urn, the hot iron of which rolling out, set
+fire to her clothes, which instantly blazed up, being only muslin,
+and burnt her arms, face, and neck, most dreadfully:  she was so
+much hurt as to be obliged to be put immediately to bed; nor did
+she recover enough to go abroad for many months.  Now, though
+every one was sorry for her sufferings, who could possibly help
+blaming her for her ridiculous behaviour, as it was entirely owing
+to her own folly that she was so hurt? When she was talked to upon
+the subject, she pleaded for her excuse, that she was so
+frightened she did not know what she did, nor whither she was
+going; but as she thought that the dog was coming to her she could
+not help jumping up, to get out of his way.  Now what ridiculous
+arguing was this! Why could not she help it?  And if the dog had
+really been going to her, what harm would it have done?  Could she
+suppose that the lady whose house she was at, would have suffered
+a beast to walk about the house loose, and go into company, if he
+was apt to bite and hurt people?  Or why should she think he would
+more injure her, than those he had before passed by?  But the real
+case was, she did not think at all; if she had given herself time
+for that, she could not have acted so ridiculously.  Another time,
+when she was walking, from the same want of reflection, she very
+nearly drowned herself.  She was passing over a bridge, the
+outside rails of which were in some places broken down:  while she
+was there, some cows, which a man was driving, met her: 
+immediately, without minding whither she went, she shrieked out,
+and at the same time jumped on one side just where the rail
+happened to be broken, and down she fell into the river; nor was
+it without the greatest difficulty that she was taken out time
+enough to save her life.  However, she caught a violent cold and
+fever, and was again, by her own foolish fears, confined to her
+bed for some weeks.  Another accident she once met with, which
+though not quite so bad as the two former, yet might have been
+attended with fatal consequences.  She was sitting in a window,
+when a wasp happened to fly toward her; she hastily drew back her
+head, and broke the pane of glass behind her, some of which stuck
+in her neck.  It bled prodigiously; but a surgeon happily being
+present, made some application to it, which prevented its being
+followed by any other ill effects than only a few days weakness,
+occasioned by the loss of blood.  Many other misfortunes of the
+like kind she frequently experienced; but these which I have now
+related may serve to convince you how extremely absurd it is for
+people to give way to and indulge themselves in such groundless
+apprehensions, and, by being afraid when there is no danger,
+subject themselves to real misfortunes and most fatal accidents. 
+And if being afraid of cows, dogs, and wasps (all of which, if
+they please, can certainly hurt us) is so ridiculous, what must be
+the folly of those people who are terrified at a little silly
+mouse, which never was known to hurt anybody?'
+
+Here the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of some
+gentlemen and ladies; and we having enjoyed a very fine repast
+under one of the chairs during the time that the mother and
+daughter had held the above discourse, on the chairs being removed
+for some of the visitors to sit upon, we thought it best to
+retire:  highly pleased with our meal, and not less with the kind
+goodwill which the lady had, we thought, expressed towards us.  We
+related to our brother Brighteyes all that had passed, and assured
+him he had no reason to apprehend any danger from venturing
+himself with us.  Accordingly he promised, if such was the case,
+that the next time we went and found it safe, if we would return
+back and call him, he would certainly accompany us.  'In the mean
+time, do pray, Nimble,' said he, addressing himself to me, 'come
+with me to some other place, for I long to taste some more
+delicate food than our mother has provided for us:  besides, as
+perhaps it may be a long while before we shall be strong enough to
+bring anything away with us, we had better leave that, in case we
+should ever be prevented from going abroad to seek for fresh
+supplies.'  'Very true,' replied I; 'what you say is quite just
+and wise, therefore I will with all my heart attend you now, and
+see what we can find.'  So saying, we began to climb; but not
+without difficulty, for very frequently the bits of mortar which
+we stepped upon gave way beneath our feet, and tumbled us down
+together with them lower than when we first set off.  However, as
+we were very light, we were not much hurt by our falls; only
+indeed poor Brighteyes, by endeavouring to save himself, caught by
+his nails on a rafter, and tore one of them from off his right
+fore-foot, which was very sore and inconvenient.  At length we
+surmounted all difficulties, and, invited by a strong scent of
+plum-cake, entered a closet, where we found a fine large one,
+quite whole and entire.  We immediately set about making our way
+into it, which we easily effected, as it was most deliciously
+nice, and not at all hard to our teeth.
+
+Brighteyes, who had not before partaken of the bird-seed, was
+overjoyed at the sight.  He almost forgot the pain of his foot,
+and soon buried himself withinside the cake; whilst I, who had
+pretty well satisfied my hunger before, only ate a few of the
+crumbs, and then went to take a survey of the adjoining apartment. 
+I crept softly under the door of the closet into a room, as large
+as that which I had before been in, though not so elegantly
+furnished; for, instead of being covered with a carpet, there was
+only a small one round the bed; and near the fire was a cradle,
+with a cleanly-looking woman sitting by it, rocking it with her
+foot, whilst at the same time she was combing the head of a little
+boy about four years old.  In the middle of the room stood a
+table, covered with a great deal of litter; and in one corner was
+the little girl whom I had before seen with her mamma, crying and
+sobbing as if her heart would break.  As I made not the least
+noise at my entrance, no one observed me for some time; so
+creeping under one of the beds, I heard the following discourse:--
+
+'It does not signify, miss,' said the woman, who I found was the
+children's nurse, 'I never will put up with such behaviour:  you
+know that I always do everything for you when you speak prettily;
+but to be ordered to dress you in such a manner, is what I never
+will submit to:  and you shall go undressed all day before I will
+dress you, unless you ask me as you ought to do.'  Nancy made no
+reply, but only continued crying.  'Aye! you may cry and sob as
+much as you please,' said the nurse; 'I do not care for that:  I
+shall not dress you for crying and roaring, but for being good and
+speaking with civility.'  Just as she said these words, the door
+opened, and in came the lady whom I before saw, and whose name I
+afterwards found was Artless.  As soon as she entered, the nurse
+addressed her, saying, 'Pray, madam, is it by your desire that
+Miss Nancy behaves so rudely, and bids me dress her directly, and
+change the buckles in her shoes, or else she will slap my face? 
+Indeed she did give me a slap upon my hand; so I told her, that I
+would not dress her at all; for really, madam, I thought you would
+not wish me to do it, whilst she behaved so; and I took the
+liberty of putting her to stand in the corner.'  'I do not think,'
+replied Mrs. Artless, 'that she deserves to stand in the room at
+all, or in the house either, if she behaves in that manner:  if
+she does not speak civilly when she wants to be assisted, let her
+go without help, and see what will become of her then.  I am quite
+ashamed of you, Nancy!  I could not have thought you would behave
+so; but since you have, I promise that you shall not be dressed
+today, or have any assistance given you, unless you speak in a
+very different manner.'
+
+Whilst Mrs. Artless was talking, nurse went out of the room.  Mrs.
+Artless then took her seat by the cradle, and looking into it,
+found the child awake, and I saw her take out a fine little girl,
+about five months old:  she then continued her discourse, saying,
+'Look here, Nancy, look at this little baby, see how unable it is
+to help itself; were we to neglect attending to it, what do yon
+think would become of it?  Suppose I were now to put your sister
+upon the floor, and there leave her, tell me what do you think she
+could do, or what would become of her?'  Nancy sobbed out, that
+she would die.  'And pray, my dear,' continued Mrs. Artless, 'if
+we were to leave you to yourself, what would become of you?  It is
+true, you talk and run about better than Polly:  but not a bit
+better could you provide for, or take care of yourself.  Could you
+buy or dress your own victuals? could you light your own fire?
+could you clean your own house, or open and shut the doors and
+windows? could you make your own clothes, or even put them on
+without some assistance, when made?  And who do you think will do
+anything for you, if you are not good, and do not speak civilly? 
+Not I, I promise you, neither shall nurse, nor any of the
+servants; for though I pay them wages to help to do my business
+for me, I never want them to do anything unless they are desired
+in a pretty manner.  Should you like, if when I want you to pick
+up my scissors, or do any little job, I were to say, "Pick up my
+scissors this moment, or I will slap your face?"  Should not you
+think that it sounded very cross and disagreeable?'  'Yes, madam,'
+replied Nancy.  'Then why,' rejoined Mrs. Artless, 'should you
+speak cross to anybody, particularly to servants and poor people?
+for to behave so to them, is not only cross, but insolent and
+proud:  it is as if you thought that because they are rather
+poorer, they are not so good as yourself, whereas, I assure you,
+poverty makes no difference in the merit of people; for those only
+are deserving of respect who are truly good; and a beggar who is
+virtuous, is far better than a prince who is wicked.'  I was
+prevented from hearing any more of this very just discourse, by
+the little boy's opening the door and letting in a cat; which,
+though it was the first that I had ever seen in my life, I was
+certain was the same destructive animal to our race, which I had
+frequently heard my mother describe.  I therefore made all
+possible haste back to the closet, and warning Brighteyes of our
+danger, we instantly returned by the same way which we came, to
+our two brothers, whom we found waiting for us, and wondering at
+our long absence.  We related to them the dainty cheer which we
+had met with, and agreed to conduct them thither in the evening. 
+Accordingly, as soon as it grew towards dusk, we climbed up the
+wall, and all four together attacked the plum-cake, which no one
+had touched since we left it; but scarcely had we all seated
+ourselves round it, than on a sudden the closet-door opened, and a
+woman entered.  Away we all scampered as fast as possible, but
+poor Brighteyes, who could not move quite so fast on account of
+his sore toe, and who likewise having advanced farther into the
+cake, was discovered before he could reach the crack by which we
+entered.  The woman, who had a knife in her hand, struck at him
+with it, at the same time exclaiming, 'Bless me, nurse, here is a
+mouse in the closet!'  Happily, she missed her aim, and he only
+received a small wound on the tip of his tail.  This interruption
+sadly alarmed us, and it was above an hour before we could have
+courage to venture back, when finding everything quiet, except
+Mrs. Nurse's singing to her child, we again crept out, and once
+more surrounded the cake.  We continued without any further alarm
+till we were perfectly satisfied, and then retired to a little
+distance behind the wainscot, determined there to sleep, and to
+breakfast on the cake the next day.
+
+Early in the morning I waked, and calling my brothers, we all
+marched forward, and soon arrived at the delightful cake, where we
+highly enjoyed ourselves without the least disturbance, till our
+appetites were fully satisfied.  We then retired, took a little
+run round some other parts of the house, but met with nothing
+worth relating.  At noon we again made our way into the closet,
+intending to dine on the dish on which we breakfasted; but, to our
+no small mortification, the delicious dainty was removed.  This
+you may be sure was a sad disappointment; yet as we were not
+extremely hungry, we had time to look about for more.  We were not
+long in finding it; for upon the same shelf from which the cake
+was removed, there was a round tin box, the lid of which was not
+quite close shut down; into this we all crept, and were highly
+regaled with some nice lumps of sugar.  But it would be endless to
+enumerate all the various repasts which we met with in this
+closet, sometimes terrified by the entrance of people, and
+sometimes comfortably enjoying ourselves without alarm:  it is
+sufficient to inform you, that, unmindful of our mother's advice,
+we continued to live upon the contents of the same cupboard for
+above a week; when, one evening, as we were as usual hastening to
+find our suppers, Softdown, who happened to be first, ran eagerly
+to a piece of cheese, which he saw hanging before him.  'Come
+along,' said he, 'here is some nice cheese, it smells most
+delightfully good!'  Just as he spoke these words, before any of
+us came up to him, a little wooden door on a sudden dropped down,
+and hid him and the cheese from our sight.
+
+It is impossible to describe our consternation and surprise upon
+this occasion, which was greatly increased when we advanced near
+the place, at seeing him (through some little wire bars) confined
+in a small box, without any visible way for him to get out, and
+hearing him in the most moving accents beg us to assist him in
+procuring his liberty.  We all ran round and round his place of
+confinement several times; but not the least crack or opening
+could we discover, except through the bars, which being of iron,
+it was impossible for us to break or bend.  At length we
+determined to try to gnaw through the wood-work close at the edge,
+which being already some little distance from one of the bars, we
+hoped, by making the opening a little wider, he would escape: 
+accordingly we all began, he on the inside, and we all on the out,
+and by our diligence had made some very considerable progress,
+when we were interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Nurse with the
+child in her arms.
+
+Upon the sight of her, though much grieved to leave our brother in
+his distress, yet fearing instant death would be the fate of all
+of us if we stayed, to preserve our own existence, we retired as
+quick as possible, but not without her seeing some of us, for we
+heard her say to herself, or to the babe in her arms, 'I declare,
+this closet swarms with mice, they spoil everything one puts
+here.'  Then taking up the box in which was poor Softdown (and
+which I afterwards learned was called a trap) she carried it intO
+the room.  I crept softly after her, to see what would be the fate
+of my beloved brother.  But what words can express my horror, when
+I saw her holding it in one hand close to the candle, whilst in
+the other she held the child, singing to her with the utmost
+composure, and bidding her to look at the mousy! mousy!
+
+What were the actions or sensations of poor Softdown at that
+dreadful moment I know not:  but my own anguish, which it is
+impossible to describe, was still augmented every moment by seeing
+her shake the trap almost topsy-turvy, then blow through the trap
+at one end, at which times I saw the dear creature's tail come out
+between the wires on the contrary side, as he was striving, I
+suppose, to retreat from her.  At length, after she had thus
+tortured him for some time, she set the trap on the table, so
+close to a large fire, that I am sure he must have been much
+incommoded by the heat, and began to undress her child.
+
+Then hearing somebody go by the door, she cried out, 'Who is
+there? is it you, Betty? if it is, I wish you would come and take
+down the mouse-trap, for I have caught a mouse.'  Betty instantly
+obeyed her call, and desired to know what she wanted.  'I want you
+to take down the mouse-trap,' she replied, 'for I cannot leave the
+child.  I am glad that I have got it, I am sure, for the closet
+swarms so, there is no such thing as bearing it.  They devour
+everything:  I declare they have eaten up a whole pound of sugar,
+which cost me elevenpence, sugar is now so monstrously dear!
+indeed the man made a favour to let me have it for that; only, he
+said, as our family were good customers, and I was but a servant,
+he would take no more.  And enough too I thought it was, to have
+only a penny back in change out of a whole shilling for one pound
+of sugar:  and then to think of the poison mice to have it all;
+but I will break their filthy necks.  Do, Betty, pray take the
+trap down, and return with it as soon as you can, and I will set
+it again:  for I dare say I shall catch another before I go to
+bed, for I heard some more rustling among the things.'  'O lauk!'
+replied Betty, 'yon do not think that I will take down the trap,
+do you? I would not touch it for twenty pounds.  I am always
+frightened, and ready to die at the sight of a mouse.  Once, when
+I was a girl, I had one thrown in my face, and ever since I have
+always been scared out of my wits at them; and if ever I see one
+running loose, as I did one night in the closet below stairs,
+where the candles are kept, I scream as if I was being killed.' 
+'Why then,' answered Nurse, 'I think you behave like a great fool,
+for what harm could a mouse do to you?'  'O la! I hate them,'
+returned she, and then ran away without the trap.  Greatly was I
+rejoiced at her departure, as I hoped that, by some means,
+Softdown might still be able to make his escape.  But, alas! no
+such good fortune attended him.  Some person again passing the
+door, Nurse once more called out, 'Who is there? John is it you?' 
+'Yes,' replied a man's voice.  'Then do you step in, will you, for
+a moment?' rejoined Mrs. Nurse:  and instantly entered a man whom
+I had never before seen.  'What do you want, Nurse?' said he.  'I
+only want to get rid of a mouse,' returned she; 'and, do you know,
+Betty is such a fool that she is afraid of taking it, and I want
+the trap to set it again, for they swarm here like bees in a hive,
+one can have no peace for them:  they devour and spoil every
+thing; I say sometimes that I believe they will eat me up at
+last.'  While she was saying this, John took the trap in his hand,
+held it up once more to the candle, then taking a piece of thread
+out of a paper, that lay bound round with a dirty blue ribbon upon
+the table, he shook the trap about till he got my brother's tail
+through the wires, when catching hold of it, he tied the thread
+tight round it and dragged him by it to the door of the trap,
+which he opened, and took him out, suspending the weight of his
+body upon his tail.
+
+Softdown, who till the thread was tied had patiently continued
+perfectly quiet, could no longer support the pain without dismal
+cries and anguish:  he squeaked as loud as his little throat would
+let him, exerting at the same time the utmost of his strength to
+disengage himself.  But in such a position, with his head
+downward, in vain were all his efforts to procure relief; and the
+barbarous monster who held him discovered not the smallest
+emotions of pity for his sufferings.  Oh! how at that moment did I
+abhor my own existence, and wish that I could be endowed with size
+and strength sufficient, at once both to rescue him, and severely
+punish his tormentors.  But my wish was ineffectual, and I had the
+inexpressible affliction of seeing the inhuman wretch hold him
+down upon the hearth, whilst, without remorse, he crushed him
+beneath his foot, and then carelessly kicked him into the ashes,
+saying, 'There!  The cat will smell it out when she comes up.'  My
+very blood runs cold within me at the recollection of seeing
+Softdown's as it spurted from beneath the monster's foot; whilst
+the crunch of his bones almost petrified me with horror.  At
+length, however, recollecting the impossibility of restoring my
+beloved brother to life, and the danger of my own situation, I,
+with trembling feet and palpitating heart, crept softly back to my
+remaining two brothers, who were impatiently expecting me behind
+the closet.  There I related to them the horrid scene which had
+passed before my eyes, whilst the anguish it caused in their
+gentle bosoms far exceeds my power to describe.
+
+After having mingled our lamentations for some time, I thus
+addressed them:  'We have this night, my brothers, tasted the
+severest affliction in the cruel death of our dear brother,
+companion, and friend; let us not, however, only mourn his loss,
+but also gather wisdom from our misfortune, and return to that
+duty which we have hitherto neglected.  Recollect, my dear
+friends, what were the last words which our good mother spoke to
+us at parting.  She charged us, upon no account, for no temptation
+whatever, to return frequently to the same place:  if we did, she
+forewarned us that death and ruin would certainly await us.  But
+in what manner have we obeyed this her kind advice?  We have not
+even so much as once recollected it since she left us; or, if we
+thought of it for a moment, we foolishly despised it as
+unnecessary.  Now, therefore, we sincerely feel the consequence of
+our disobedience; and, though our sufferings are most distressing,
+yet we must confess that we amply deserve them.  Let us therefore,
+my brothers, instantly fly from a place which has already cost us
+the life of our beloved Softdown, lest we should all likewise fall
+a sacrifice to our disobedience.'--And here the writer cannot help
+observing how just were the reflections of the mouse on the crime
+which they had been guilty of; and begs every reader will be
+careful to remember the fatal consequences that attended their
+disobedience of their mother's advice, since they may be assured
+that equal if not the same misfortune will always attend those who
+refuse to pay attention to the advice of their parents.  But, to
+return to the history.
+
+To this proposal (continued the mouse) my brothers readily agreed;
+and we directly descended to the place we were in when we
+discovered the crack that led us to the room in which we feasted
+on bird-seed.  Here we determined to wait, and when the family
+were all quiet in bed, to go forth in search of provision, as we
+began to be rather hungry, not having eaten anything a long while. 
+Accordingly we stayed till after the clock struck twelve, when
+peeping out, we saw that the room was empty:  we then ventured
+forth, and found several seeds, though not enough to afford a very
+ample meal for three of us.
+
+After we had cleared the room, we again returned to our
+hiding-place, where we continued till after the family had
+finished their breakfast.  They all then went to take a walk in
+the garden, and we stepped out to pick up the crumbs which had
+fallen from the table.  Whilst we were thus employed, at a
+distance from our place of retreat, we were alarmed by the
+entrance of two boys, who appeared to be about twelve or thirteen
+years of age.  We directly ran towards the crack; but alas! we
+were not quick enough to escape their observation; for, seeing us,
+they both at once exclaimed, 'Some mice! some mice!' and at the
+same time took off their hats, and threw at us.  Longtail happily
+eluded the blow, and safely got home, but poor Brighteyes and
+myself were less fortunate; and though we for a considerable time,
+by our quickness, prevented their catching us, at length, being
+much disabled by a blow that one of them gave me with a book which
+he threw at me, I was unable any longer to run, and hobbling very
+slowly across the room, he picked me up.  At the same moment
+Brighteyes was so entangled in a handkerchief which the other boy
+tossed over him, that he likewise was taken prisoner.  Our little
+hearts now beat quick with fear of those tortures we expected to
+receive; nor were our apprehensions lessened by hearing the boys
+consult what they should do with us, 'I,' said one, 'will throw
+mine into the pond, and see how he will swim out again.'  'And I,'
+said the other, 'will keep mine and tame it.'  'But where will you
+keep it?' inquired his companion.  'Oh,' replied he, 'I will keep
+it under a little pan till I can get a house made for it.'  He
+then, holding me by the skin at the back of my neck, ran with me
+into the kitchen to fetch a pan.  Here I was not only threatened
+with death by three or four of the servants, who all blamed Master
+Peter for keeping me; but likewise two or three cats came round
+him, rubbing themselves backward and forward against his legs, and
+then standing upon their hind feet to endeavour to make themselves
+high enough to reach me.  At last, taking a pan in his hand, he
+returned to his brother with one of the cats following him. 
+Immediately upon our entrance, the boy exclaimed, 'Oh, now I know
+what I will do:  I will tie a piece of string to its tail, and
+teach the cat to jump for it.'  No sooner did this thought present
+itself than it was put into practice, and I again was obliged to
+sustain the shocking sight of a brother put to the torture.  I, in
+the mean time, was placed upon the table, with a pan put over me,
+in which there was a crack, so that I could see as well as hear
+all that passed:  and from this place it was that I beheld my
+beloved Brighteyes suspended at one end of a string by his tail;
+one while swinging backward and forward, at another pulled up and
+down, then suffered to feel his feet on the ground, and again
+suddenly snatched up as the cat advanced, then twisted round and
+round as fast as possible at the full length of the string:  in
+short, it is impossible to describe all his sufferings of body, or
+my anguish of mind.  At length a most dreadful conclusion was put
+to them, by the entrance of a gentleman booted and spurred, with a
+whip in his hand.  'What in the world, Charles!' said he, as he
+came in, 'are you about?  What have you got there?'  'Only a
+mouse, sir,' replied the boy.  'He is teaching the cat to jump,
+sir,' said Peter, 'that is all.'
+
+Brighteyes then gave a fresh squeak from the violence of his pain. 
+The gentleman then turning hastily round, exclaimed eagerly,
+'What, is it alive?'  'Yes, sir,' said the boy.  'And how can you,
+you wicked, naughty, cruel boy,' replied the gentleman, 'take
+delight in thus torturing a little creature that never did you any
+injury?  Put it down this moment,' said he, at the same time
+giving him a severe stroke with his horse-whip across that hand by
+which he held my brother.  'Let it go directly,' and again
+repeated the blow:  the boy let go the string, and Brighteyes fell
+to the ground; and was instantly snapped up by the cat, who
+growling, ran away with him in her mouth, and, I suppose, put a
+conclusion to his miseries and life together, as I never from that
+moment have heard any account of him.
+
+As soon as he was thus taken out of the room, the gentleman sat
+down, and, taking hold of his son's hand, thus addressed him: 
+'Charles, I had a much better opinion of you, than to suppose you
+were capable of so much cruelty.  What right, I desire to know,
+have you to torment any living creature?  If it is only be cause
+you are larger, and so have it in your power, I beg you will
+consider, how you would like, that either myself, or some great
+giant, as much larger than you as you are bigger than the mouse,
+should hurt and torment you?  And I promise you, the smallest
+creature can feel as acutely as you, nay, the smaller they are,
+the more susceptible are they of pain, and the sooner they are
+hurt:  a less touch will kill a fly than a man, consequently a
+less wound will cause it pain; and the mouse which you have now
+been swinging by the tail over the cat's mouth, has not, you may
+assure yourself, suffered less torment or fright than you would
+have done, had you been suspended by your leg, either over water,
+which would drown you, or over stones, where if you fell you must
+certainly be dashed to pieces.  And yet you could take delight in
+thus torturing and distressing a poor inoffensive animal.  Fie
+upon it, Charles! fie upon it!  I thought you had been a better
+boy, and not such a cruel, naughty, wicked fellow.'  'Wicked!'
+repeated the boy, 'I do not think that I have been at all wicked.' 
+'But I think you have been extremely so,' replied his father;
+'every action that is cruel, and gives pain to any living
+creature, is wicked, and is a sure sign of a bad heart.  I never
+knew a man, who was cruel to animals, kind and compassionate
+towards his fellow-creatures:  he might not perhaps treat them in
+the same shocking manner, because the laws of the land would
+severely punish him if he did; but if he is restrained from bad
+actions by no higher motive than fear of present punishment, his
+goodness cannot be very great.  A good man, Charles, always takes
+delight in conferring happiness on all around him; nor would he
+offer the smallest injury to the meanest insect that was capable
+of feeling.  'I am sure,' said the boy, 'I have often seen you
+kill wasps, and spiders too; and it was but last week that you
+bought a mouse-trap yourself to catch mice in, although you are so
+angry now with me.'  'And pray,' resumed his father, 'did you ever
+see me torment as well as kill them?  Or did I ever keep them in
+pain one moment longer than necessary? I am not condemning people
+for killing vermin and animals, provided they do it expeditiously,
+and put them to death with as little pain as possible; but it is
+putting them to needless torment and misery that I say is wicked. 
+Had you destroyed the mouse with one blow, or rather given it to
+somebody else to destroy it (for I should not think a
+tender-hearted boy would delight in such operations himself), I
+would not have condemned you; but, to keep it hanging the whole
+weight of its body upon its tail, to swing it about, and, by that,
+to hold it terrifying over the cat's jaws, and to take pleasure in
+hearing it squeak, and seeing it struggle for liberty, is such
+unmanly, such detestable cruelty, as calls for my utmost
+indignation and abhorrence.  But, since you think pain so very
+trifling an evil, try.  Charles, how you like that,' said he,
+giving him at the same time some severe strokes with his
+horsewhip.  The boy then cried, and called out, 'I do not like it
+at all, I do not like it at all.'  'Neither did the mouse,'
+replied his father, 'like at all to be tied to a string, and swung
+about by his tail:  he did not like it, and told you so in a
+language which you perfectly well understood; but you would not
+attend to his cries; you thought it pleasure to hear it squeak,
+because you were bigger, and did not feel its torture.  I am now
+bigger than you.  and do not feel your pain.  I therefore shall
+not yet leave off; as I hope it will teach you not to torment
+anything another time.' Just as he said these words, the boy,
+endeavouring to avoid the whip, ran against the table on which I
+was placed, and happily threw down the pan that confined me.  I
+instantly seized the opportunity, jumped down, and once more
+escaped to the little hole by which I first entered.  There I
+found my only brother waiting for me, and was again under the
+dreadful necessity of paining his tender heart with the recital of
+the sufferings which I had been witness to in our dear Brighteyes,
+as well as the imminent danger I myself had been exposed to. 
+'And, surely,' said I, 'we have again drawn this evil upon
+ourselves by our disobedience to our mother's advice; she,
+doubtless, intended that we should not continue in the same house
+long together; whereas from the day of her leaving us, we have
+never been in any other but this, which has occasioned us such
+heavy affliction.  Therefore, upon no account, let us continue
+another night under this roof; but, as soon as the evening begins
+to grow dark enough to conceal us from the observation of any one,
+we will set off, and seek a lodging in some other place; and
+should any misfortune befall us on our passage, we shall at least
+have the consolation of thinking.  that we were doing our duty by
+following the advice of our parent.'  'It is true,' said my
+brother, 'we have been greatly to blame; for the future we will be
+more careful of our conduct; but do, my dear Nimble,' continued
+he, 'endeavour to compose yourself, and take a little rest, after
+the pain and fatigue which you have gone through, otherwise you
+may be sick; and what will become of me, if any mischief should
+befall you?  I shall then have no brother to converse with, no
+friend to advise me what to do.'  Here he stopped, overpowered
+with his grief for the loss of our two murdered brothers, and with
+his tender solicitude for my welfare.  I endeavoured all in my
+power to comfort him, and said I hoped that I should soon recover
+from the bruises I had received both from the boy's hat and book,
+as well as the pinches in my neck with his finger and thumb, by
+which he held me, and promised to compose myself.  This promise I
+fulfilled by endeavouring to sleep; but the scene that I had so
+lately been witness to was too fresh in my imagination to suffer
+me to close my eyes:  however, I kept for some time quiet.
+
+The rest of the day we spent in almost total silence, having no
+spirits for conversation, our hearts being almost broken with
+anguish.  When it grew toward evening, we agreed to find our way
+out of that detested house, and seek for some other habitation,
+which might be more propitious.  But we found more difficulty in
+this undertaking than we were at all aware of; for though we could
+with tolerable ease go from room to room within the house, still,
+when we attempted to quit it, we found it every way surrounded
+with so thick a brick wall, that it was impossible for us to make
+our way through it:  we therefore ran round and round it several
+times, searching for some little crevice through which we might
+escape; but all to no purpose, not the least crack could we
+discover:  and we might have continued there till this time, had
+we not at length, after the family were in bed, resolved to
+venture through one of the apartments into the hall, and so creep
+out under the house door.  But the dangers we exposed ourselves to
+in this expedition were many and great; we knew that traps were
+set for us about the house, and where they might chance to be
+placed we could not tell.  I had likewise been eye-witness to no
+less than four cats, who might, for ought we knew to the contrary,
+at that hour of darkness, be prowling in search of some of our
+unhappy species.
+
+But, in spite of every difficulty and hazard, we determined to
+venture rather than continue in opposition to our mother's
+commands; and, to reward our obedience, we escaped with trembling
+hearts, unobserved, at least unmolested, by any one.  And now, for
+the first time since our birth, we found ourselves exposed to the
+inclemency of the weather.  The night was very dark and
+tempestuous; the rain poured down in torrents; and the wind blew
+so exceedingly high, that, low upon the ground as we were, it was
+with difficulty that we could keep our legs:  added to which, even
+step we took, we were in water up to our stomachs.  In this
+wretched condition we knew not which way to turn ourselves, or
+where to seek for shelter.  The spattering of the rain, the
+howling of the wind, together with the rattling and shaking of the
+trees, all contributed to make such a noise as rendered it
+impossible for us to hear whether any danger was approaching us or
+not.
+
+In this truly melancholy situation we waded on for a considerable
+time, till at length we reached a small house, and very easily
+gained admittance through a pretty large hole on one side of the
+door.  Most heartily did we rejoice at finding ourselves once more
+under shelter from the cold and rain, and for some time only
+busied ourselves in drying our hair, which was as thoroughly wet
+as if we had been served as the boy threatened my brother
+Brighteyes, and we had really been drawn through a pond.  After we
+had done this, and had a little rested ourselves, we began to look
+about in search of food, but we could find nothing.  except a few
+crumbs of bread and cheese in a man's coat pocket, and a piece of
+tallow-candle stuck on the top of a tinder-box.  This, however,
+though not such delicate eating as we had been used to, yet served
+to satisfy our present hunger; and we had just finished the candle
+when we were greatly alarmed by the sight of a human hand (for we
+mice can see a little in the dark) feeling about the very chair on
+which we stood.  We jumped down in an instant, and hid ourselves
+in a little hole behind a black trunk that stood in one corner of
+the room.
+
+We then heard very distinctly a man say, 'Betty, did you not put
+the candle by the bedside?'  'Yes, that I am very sure I did,'
+replied a female voice.  'I thought so,' answered the man; 'but I
+am sure it is not here now.  Tom! Tom! Tom!' continued he.  'What,
+father?' replied a boy, starting up, 'what is the matter?'  'Why,
+do you know anything of the candle?  I cannot find it, my dear,
+and I want it sadly, for I fancy it is time we should be up and be
+jogging.  Dost know any thing of it, my lad?'  'Not I, truly,
+father,' said the boy, 'I only know that I saw mother stick it in
+the box-lid last night, and put it upon the chair, which she set
+by the bedside, after you had put your clothes upon the back of
+it; I know I saw her put it there, so it must be there now, I
+fancy.'  'Well, I cannot find it,' replied the father; so we must
+e'en get up in the dark, for I am sure it must be time.' The
+father and son then both dressed themselves, and the man, taking a
+shilling out of his pocket, laid it upon the chair, saying at the
+same time, 'There, Betty.  I have left a shilling for you; take
+care it does not go after the candle, for where that is I cannot
+tell any more than the carp at the bottom of the squire's
+fish-pond.' He then unlocked the door, and went away, accompanied
+by his son.
+
+After their departure, we again came out, and took another walk
+round the room, and found our way into a little cupboard, which we
+had not before observed.  Here we discovered half a loaf of bread,
+a piece of cold pudding, a lump of salt butter, some soft sugar in
+a basin, and a fine large slice of bacon.  On these dainties we
+feasted very amply, and agreed that we should again hide ourselves
+behind the black trunk all day, and at night, when the family were
+in bed, return to take another meal on the plenty of nice
+provision which we so happily discovered.  Accordingly, we crept
+back just as the woman went to fill her teakettle at a pump, which
+stood between her house and the next neighbour's.  When she
+returned, she put it upon the fire she had just lit, and, taking a
+pair of bellows in her hand, sat down to blow it.
+
+While she was so employed, a young gentleman, about ten years of
+age, very genteelly dressed, entered the room, and in a familiar
+manner asked her how she did.  'I am very well, thank you, my
+dear,' replied she:  'and pray, Master George, how does your mamma
+and papa do; and all your brothers and sisters?'  'They are all
+very well, thank you,' returned the boy:  'And I am come to bring
+you a slice of cake, which my grandpapa gave me yesterday.' Then
+throwing his arms round her neck, he went on saying, 'Oh! my dear,
+dear Betty Flood, how I do love you!  I would do anything in the
+world to serve you.  I shall save all my Christmas-boxes to give
+to you; and when I am a man, I will give you a great deal of
+money.  I wish you were a lady, and not so poor.'  'I am much
+obliged to you, my dear,' said she, 'for your kind good-wishes;
+but, indeed, love, I am very well contented with my station:  I
+have a good husband, and three good children, and that is more
+than many a lady can say; and riches, Master George, unless people
+are good, and those one lives with are kind and obliging, will
+never make anybody happy.  What comfort, now, do you think a body
+could ever have at Squire Stately's?  I declare, if it was put to
+my choice, I would rather a thousand times be as I am.  To be
+sure, they are very rich; but what of that? they cannot eat gold;
+neither can gold ease their hearts when they are bursting almost
+with pride and ill-nature.  They say, indeed, that Madam Stately
+would be kind enough, if they would let her rest; but what with
+the Squire's drinking and swearing, and the young gentleman's
+extravagance, and her daughter's pride and quarrelling, she is
+almost tired out of her life.  And so, Master George, I say I had
+rather be poor Betty Flood, with honest Abraham for my husband,
+than the finest lady in the land, if I must live at such a rate. 
+To be sure, nobody can deny but that money is very desirable, and
+people that are rich can do many agreeable things which we poor
+ones cannot; but yet, for all that, money does not make people
+happy.  Happiness, Master George, depends greatly upon people's
+own tempers and dispositions:  a person who is fretful and cross
+will never be happy, though he should be made king of all England;
+and a person who is contented and good-humoured will never be
+wretched, though he should be as poor as a beggar.  So never fret
+yourself, love, because Betty Flood is poor; for though I am poor,
+I am honest; and whilst my husband and I are happy enough to be
+blessed with health, and the use of our limbs, we can work for our
+living; and though we have no great plenty, still we have
+sufficient to support us.  So pray, dear, eat your cake yourself,
+for I would not take it from you for ever so much.'  They then
+disputed for some time who should have it:  at last, George
+scuffled away from her, and put it into the closet, and then,
+nodding his head at her, ran away, saying, he must go to school
+that moment.
+
+Betty Flood then ate her breakfast; and we heard her say something
+about the nasty mice, but what we could not make out, as she
+muttered softly to herself.  She then came to the trunk behind
+which we lay, and taking out of it a roll of new linen, sat down
+to needlework.  At twelve o'clock her husband and son returned; so
+moving her table out of the way, she made room for them at the
+fire, and, fetching the frying pan, dressed some rashers of the
+nice bacon we had before tasted in the cupboard.  The boy, in the
+mean time, spread a cloth on the table, and placed the bread and
+cold pudding on it likewise:  then, returning to the closet for
+their plates, he cried out, 'Lauk! father, here is a nice hunch of
+plum-cake; can you tell how it came?'  'Not I, indeed, Tom,'
+replied his father; 'I can tell no more than the carp at the
+bottom of the squire's fish-pond.'  'Oh, I will tell you.' said
+Mrs. Flood; 'I know how it came.  Do you know, that dear child,
+Master George Kendall, brought it for me; he called as he went to
+school this morning.  I told him I would not have it; but the dear
+little soul popped it into the cupboard, and ran away without it. 
+Bless his little heart!  I do think he is the sweetest child that
+ever was born.  You may laugh at me for saying so; but I am sure I
+should have thought the same if I had not nursed him myself.' 
+'Indeed,' replied her husband, 'I do not laugh at you for saying
+so, for I think so too, and so must everyone who knows him; for
+when young gentlemen behave as he does, everybody must love and
+admire them.  There is nothing I would not do to help and serve
+that child, or any of his family; they always are so kind, and
+speak as civilly to us poor folk as if we were the first lords or
+ladies in the land.  I am sure, if it were needful, I would go
+through fire and water for their sakes; and so would every man in
+the parish, I dare say.  But I wonder who would do as much to help
+Squire Stately or any of his family, if it was not that I should
+think it my duty (and an honest man ought always to do that,
+whether he likes it or not); but I say, if it was not that it
+would be my duty to help my fellow-creature, I would scarcely be
+at the trouble of stepping over the threshold to serve them, they
+are such a set of cross, good-for-nothing gentry.  I declare, it
+was but as we came home to dinner now, that we saw Master Sam
+throwing sticks and stones at Dame Frugal's ducks, for the sake of
+seeing them waddle; and then, when they got to the pond, he sent
+his dog in after them to bark and frighten them out of their wits. 
+And as I came by, nothing would serve him but throwing a great dab
+of mud all over the sleeve of my coat.  So I said, "Why, Master
+Sam, you need not have done that; I did nothing to offend you; and
+however amusing you may think it to insult poor people, I assure
+you it is very wicked, and what no good person in the world would
+be guilty of."  He then set up a great rude laugh, and I walked on
+and said no more.  But if all gentlefolk were to behave like that
+family, I had rather be poor as I am, than have all their riches,
+if that would make me act like them.'  'Very true, Abraham,'
+replied his wife, 'that is what I say, and what I told Master
+George this morning; for to be poor, if people do not become so
+through their own extravagance, is no disgrace to any body:  but
+to be haughty, cruel, cross, and mischievous, is a disgrace to all
+who are so, let their rank be as exalted as it may.'
+
+Here the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of a man,
+who begged Mr. Flood to assist him in unloading his cart of flour,
+as his man was gone out, and he could not do it by himself. 
+'Well, I will come and help you, with all my heart,' said Flood;
+'and so shall Tom too:  will you, my lad?  I cannot live without
+help myself; and if I do not assist others, I am sure I shall not
+deserve any when I want it.'  So saying, he left his house; and
+his wife, after cleaning and putting in their proper places those
+things which had been used at dinner, again sat down to her
+sewing.
+
+Soon after the clock had struck six, the man and his son returned;
+and, sitting round the fire, they passed the evening in social
+conversation, till they went to bed, which was a little after
+eight; and they convinced me, by their talk and behaviour, that
+happiness in this world depends far more upon the temper and
+disposition of the heart, than upon any external possessions; and
+that virtue, and a desire to be useful to others, afford far
+greater satisfaction and peace of mind than any riches and
+grandeur can possibly supply without such necessary
+qualifications.  After they were all fallen asleep, we crept out;
+and, leaving the candle unmolested, which was again placed on the
+tinder-box by the bed-side, we hastened into the closet, where we
+regaled heartily, and devoured that part of the plum-cake which
+Tom had very generously left for his sister Polly, who we found
+was expected home the next day.
+
+We then retired to our safe retreat, and thought we might venture
+to stay for one more night's provisions without running any danger
+from our too frequent return to the same place.  But in the
+morning we found our scheme frustrated; for, on the woman's going
+to the closet to get her breakfast, she observed the robbery which
+we had committed, and exclaimed, 'Some teasing mice have found
+their way into the closet:  I will borrow neighbour Savewell's
+trap to-night, and catch some of the little toads; that I will!'
+After hearing this, it would have been madness to make any further
+attempts:  we therefore agreed to watch for an opportunity, and
+escape on the very first that offered.  Accordingly, about noon,
+when Mrs. Flood was busily employed in making some pancakes, we
+slipped by her unobserved, and crept out at the same hole by which
+we first entered.  But no sooner were we in the open road, than we
+repented our haste, and wished that we had continued where we were
+till the darkness of the night might better have concealed us from
+the observation of anyone.  We crept as close to the wall of the
+house (as far as it reached, which was but a few paces) as we
+possibly could, and then stepped into a little ditch, which we
+were soon obliged to leave again, as the water ran in some parts
+of it almost up to the edge.
+
+At length we reached a little cottage, which we were just
+entering, when a cat that was sleeping unnoticed by us upon a
+chair, jumped down, and would certainly have destroyed me (who
+happened to go first) had she not at the same moment tried to
+catch my brother, and by that means missed her aim, and so given
+us both an opportunity to escape, which we did by scrambling
+behind a brick that a child had been playing with by the side of
+the door.  Fortunately, the brick lay too close to the house for
+the cat to get her paw behind it, so as to be able to reach us;
+though to avoid it we were obliged to use the greatest precaution,
+as she could thrust it in a little way, so that if we had gone one
+inch too near either end, she would certainly have dragged us out
+by her talons.  In this dreadful situation did we spend some
+hours, incessantly moving from one end of the brick to the other;
+for the moment she had, by the entrance of her paw at one end,
+driven us to the other, she stepped over, and again made us
+retreat.  Think with what dreadful terror our little hearts must
+have been oppressed, to see our mortal enemy so closely watching
+us, expecting every moment when she shook the brick with her two
+forepaws in searching, and with her mouth endeavoured to lift it
+up, that she would be so far able to effect her purpose, as to
+make it impossible for us to escape her jaws.  But, happily for
+us, it had somehow or other got so wedged that she could not move
+it to any distance; though it kept momentarily increasing our
+terrors, by shaking as she strove to turn it.
+
+From this state of horror, however, we were at length delivered by
+a little boy of about two years old, who came out of the house,
+and taking the cat up round its body with both hands, tottered
+away with it, and shut the door.
+
+Finding ourselves thus unexpectedly once more at liberty, we
+determined to make use of it, by seeking some safer retreat, at
+least, till night should better hide us from public view. 
+Terrified almost out of our senses, we crept from behind the
+brick, and, after running a few yards, slipped under the folding
+doors of a barn, and soon concealed ourselves amidst a vast
+quantity of threshed corn.  This appeared to us the most desirable
+retreat that we had yet found; not only as it afforded such
+immense plenty of food, but also as we could so easily hide
+ourselves from the observation of any one:  beside, as it did not
+appear to be a dwelling-house, we could in security reside, free
+from any danger of traps, or the cruelty of man.  We therefore
+congratulated each other, not more on account of the wonderful
+escape which we had, than upon our good fortune in coming to a
+Spot so blessed with peace and plenty.
+
+After we were a little recovered from the fatigue of mind, as well
+as of body, which we had lately gone through, we regaled very
+heartily upon the corn that surrounded us, and then fell into a
+charming sleep, from which we were awakened the next morning by
+the sound of human voices.  We very distinctly heard that of a
+boy, saying, 'Let us mix all the threshed corn with the rest that
+is not threshed, and that will make a fine fuss, and set John and
+Simon a swearing like troopers when they come and find all their
+labour lost, and that they must do all their work over again.' 
+'And do you think there is anything so agreeable in giving people
+trouble, and hearing them swear,' replied another voice, 'that you
+can wish to do it?  For my part.  I think it is so wicked a thing,
+that I hate to hear anybody guilty of it, much less would I be the
+cause of making them commit so great a sin; and as for giving them
+all their trouble over again, so far would it be from affording me
+any pleasure, that on the contrary it would give me great pain;
+for however you may think of it, Will, I assure you, it always
+gives me much uneasiness to see people labouring and working hard. 
+I always think how much I should dislike to be obliged to do so
+myself, and therefore very sincerely pity those who must.  On no
+account therefore will I do anything to add to their labour, or
+that shall give them unnecessary work.'
+
+'Pooh!' answered Will, 'you are wonderfully wise; I, for my part,
+hate such super-abundant wisdom; I like to see folk fret, and
+stew, and scold, as our maids did last week when I cut the line,
+and let all the sheets, and gowns, and petticoats, and frocks, and
+shirts, and aprons, and caps, and what not, fall plump into the
+dirt.  O! how I did laugh! and how they did mutter and scold!  And
+do you know, that just as the wash ladies were wiping their
+coddled hands, and comforted themselves with the thought of their
+work being all over, and were going to sip their tea by the
+fireside, I put them all to the scout; and they were obliged to
+wash every rag over again.  I shall never forget how cross they
+looked, nay, I verily believe Susan cried about it; and how I did
+laugh!'
+
+'And pray,' rejoined the other boy, 'should you have laughed
+equally hearty if, after you had been at school all day, and had
+with much difficulty just got through all your writing, and
+different exercises, and were going to play, should you laugh, I
+say, if somebody was to run away with them all, and your master
+oblige you to do them all over again? Tell me, Will, should you
+laugh, or cry and look cross?  And even that would not be half so
+bad for you, as it was for the maids to be obliged to wash their
+clothes over again; washing is very hard labour, and tires people
+sadly, and so does threshing too.  It is very unkind, therefore,
+to give them such unnecessary trouble; and everything that is
+unkind, is wicked; and I would not do it upon any account, I
+assure you.'  'Then I assure you,' replied Will, 'you may let it
+alone; I can do it without your assistance.'  He then began mixing
+the grain and the chaff together, the other boy strongly
+remonstrating against it, to which he paid no attention; and
+whilst he was so employed, two men, Simon and John, entered the
+barn.
+
+'Why, how now, Master Billy,' said Simon; 'what are you about?
+What business have you to be here?  You are always doing some
+mischief or other!  I wish, with all my heart, that you were kept
+chained like a dog, and never suffered to be at liberty, for you
+do more harm in an hour, than a body can set right again in a
+month!'  Will then took up hats full of the corn and chaff, and
+threw it in the two men's faces; afterwards taking up a flail, he
+gave Simon a blow across his back, saying, at the same time, 'I
+will show you the way to thresh, and separate the flesh from the
+bones.'  'O! will you so, young squire?' said John; 'I will show
+you the way to make naughty boys good.'  He then left the barn,
+but presently returned accompanied by a gentleman, upon the sight
+of whom Will let fall the flail, which he was till then
+brandishing over Simon's head, and was going away, when the
+gentleman taking hold of his hand, said, 'You do not stir from
+this place, Master William, nor have one mouthful of breakfast,
+till you have asked the men pardon for your behaviour, and
+likewise sifted every grain of corn from the chaff which you have
+mixed with it.  When you have done that, you may have some food,
+but not before; and afterward you may spend the rest of the day in
+threshing, then you will be a better judge, my boy, of the fatigue
+and labour of it, and find how you should like, after working hard
+all day, to have it rendered useless by a mischievous boy. 
+Remember, William, what I have now said to you, for I do insist
+upon being minded; and I promise you, that if you offer to play,
+or do anything else today, you shall be punished very severely.' 
+The gentleman then went away.  Will muttered something, I could
+not exactly hear what, began to sift the corn, and so much had he
+mixed together, that he did not go in for his breakfast till after
+I had heard the church clock strike one, though it was before
+eight when he came into the barn.  In about an hour he returned,
+and the other boy with him, who addressed him, saying, 'Ah! Will,
+you had better have taken my advice, and not have done so:  I
+thought what you would get by your nice fun as you called it.  I
+never knew any good come of mischief; it generally brings those
+who do it into disgrace; or if they should happen to escape
+unpunished, still it is always attended with some inconvenience: 
+it is an ill-natured disposition which can take pleasure in giving
+trouble to any one.'  'Do hold your tongue, James,' replied Will;
+'I declare I have not patience to hear you preach, you are so
+prodigiously wise, and prudent, and sober; you had better go
+indoors and sew with your mamma, for you talk just as if you were
+a girl, and not in the least like a boy of spirit.'  'Like a
+girl!' resumed James.  'Are girls then the only folk who have any
+sense, or good nature?  Or what proof does it shew of spirit to be
+fond of mischief, and giving people trouble?  It is like a monkey
+of spirit indeed; but I cannot say, that I see either spirit or
+sense in making the clean clothes fall into the dirt, or mixing
+the corn and chaff, for the sake of making the poor servants do
+them all over again:  if these things are a sign of any spirit.  I
+am sure it is of an evil one, and not at all such as I wish to
+possess, though I no more want to sit still, or work with a
+needle, than you do; but I hope there are other ways of showing my
+spirit, as you call it, than by doing mischief, and being
+ill-natured.  I do not think my papa ever seems to be effeminate,
+or want sufficient spirit; but he would scorn to give unnecessary
+trouble to anybody:  and so will Tom Vaulter, though no boy in the
+world loves play better than he does; he plays at cricket the best
+of any boy in the school, and I am sure none can beat him at
+tennis; and as for skipping, I never saw a boy skip so well in all
+my life; and I am sure he would beat you, with all your spirit,
+out and out twenty times, either at running, or sliding, or
+swimming, or climbing a tree.  And yet he never gives trouble to
+anybody for the sake of fun; he is one of the best-tempered boys
+in the world; and whether it is like a girl or not, he always does
+what he knows to be right and kind; and if that is being like
+girls, why, with all my heart; I like girls well enough, and if
+they behave well I do not see why you should speak so
+contemptuously of them.  My papa always says that he loves girls
+just as well as boys, and none but foolish and naughty boys
+despise and tease them.'  Just as he said these words, Simon and
+John entered the barn, and seeing Will stand idle, 'Come, come,
+young gentleman,' said John, 'take up your flail and go to work,
+sir, to work! to work! night will be here presently, and you have
+done nothing yet.'  Presently after the gentleman returned, and
+enforced John's advice for him to mind his work.
+
+After Master Will had continued his employment some little time,
+he began to cry, saying, his arms ached ready to drop off, and his
+hand was so sore he could not bear it.  'Then doubtless,' replied
+his father, 'you would prodigiously like, after you have been
+labouring all day, to have your work to do over again, for the
+sake of diverting a foolish boy.  But go on, William, I am
+determined that you shall, for one day, know what it is to work
+hard, and thereby be taught to pity, and help, not add to the
+fatigue of those who do.'  The boy then went on with his business,
+though not without making great complaints, and shedding many
+tears.  At length, however, evening came; and the gentleman, his
+son, and the two men, all went away, leaving Longtail and myself
+to enjoy our abundance.  We passed another night in the sweetest
+undisturbed repose, and in the day had nothing to alarm our fears. 
+In short, our situation was every way so perfectly happy and
+desirable, that we thought, although our mother had charged us not
+to return frequently to the same place, yet she could not mean
+that we should not take up our abode in a spot so secure and
+comfortable.  We therefore determined to continue where we were,
+till we should find some cause for removing.  And happy had it
+been for us if we had kept to this resolution, and remained
+contented when we had everything requisite to make us so.  Instead
+of which, after we had thus, free from care, passed our time about
+seven months, like fools as we were, we began to grow weary of our
+retirement, and of eating nothing but the same food; and agreed
+that we would again venture forth and seek for some other lodging,
+at the same time resolving, in case we could find no habitation
+that suited us, to return to the barn where we had enjoyed so many
+days of plenty and repose.
+
+Accordingly, one fine moonlight Monday night, after securing our
+supper on the corn, we set forth, and travelled for some distance
+without any further molestation than our own natural fears
+created.  At length we came to a brick house, with about five or
+six windows in front, and made our way into it through a small
+latticed window which gave air into the pantry; but on our arrival
+here we had no opportunity of so much as observing what it
+contained, for on our slipping down a cat instantly flew at us,
+and by the greatest good luck in the world, there chanced to be a
+hole in one of the boards of the floor close to the spot where we
+stood, into which we both were happy enough to pop, before she
+could catch us.  Here we had time to reflect, and severely blame
+ourselves for not being satisfied with our state in the barn. 
+'When,' said I, addressing myself to my brother, 'when shall we
+grow wise, and learn to know that certain evil always attends
+every deviation from what is right.  When we disobeyed the advice
+of our mother, and, tempted by cakes and other dainties,
+frequently returned to the same dangerous place, how severely did
+we suffer for it?  And now, by our own discontent, and not being
+satisfied when so safely though more humbly lodged, into what
+trouble have we not plunged ourselves?  How securely have we lived
+in the barn for the last seven months, and how happily might we
+still have continued there, had it not been for our restless
+dispositions? Ah! my brother, we have acted foolishly.  We ought
+to have been contented when we were at peace, and should have
+considered that if we had not everything we could wish for, we had
+every thing that was necessary; and the life of a mouse was never
+designed for perfect happiness.  Such enjoyment was never intended
+for our lot; it is the portion only of beings whose capacities are
+far superior to ours.  We ought then to have been contented; and
+had we been so, we should have been as happy as our state of life
+would have admitted of.'  'What you say is certainly very true,'
+replied Longtail, 'and I sincerely wish that we had thought of
+these things before.  But what must we now do? we said we would
+return to the barn in case of difficulties, but that is now
+impossible, as, if we attempt to retreat, the cat that drove us in
+here, will certainly destroy us; and yet in proceeding, what
+difficulties must we encounter, what dangers may we not run!  Oh!
+my beloved Nimble,' continued he, 'what a life of hazard is ours!
+to what innumerable accidents are we hourly exposed! and how is
+every meal that we eat at the risk of our very existence!'
+
+'It undoubtedly is,' replied I; 'but with all its troubles we
+still are very desirous of preserving it:  let us not then, my
+brother, indulge our hearts with murmuring and finding fault with
+that life, which, notwithstanding all its evils, we value so
+highly.  Rather let us endeavour to learn experience, and, by
+conducting ourselves better, escape many of those troubles which
+we now suffer.'  So saving, I advised him to follow me:  'for,'
+added I, 'it is impossible for us to exist in the spot in which we
+are at present; we must therefore strive to work our way into some
+other house or apartment, where we can at least find some food.' 
+To this Longtail agreed; the rest of the night, and all the next
+day, we spent in nibbling and finding our way into a closet in the
+house, which richly repaid us for all our toil, as it contained
+sugar-plums, rice, millet, various kinds of sweetmeats, and what
+we liked better than all the rest, a paper of nice macaroons.  On
+these we feasted most deliciously till our hunger was fully
+satisfied, and then creeping into a little hole, just big enough
+to contain us both, behind one of the jars of sweetmeats, reposed
+ourselves with a nap, after our various and great fatigues which
+we had gone through.  I never was a remarkably sound sleeper, the
+least noise disturbs me, and I was awakened in the morning by the
+servant-maid's coming into the room to sweep it, and get it ready
+for the reception of her mistress and family, who soon after
+entered.  As I wanted to know from whom the voices I heard
+proceeded, I stepped softly from behind the jar and just peeped
+under the door into the room, where I discovered a gentleman, two
+ladies, and a little boy and girl.
+
+As I was totally unacquainted with all places of retreat, and did
+not know how soon any of them might have occasion to open the
+closet door, I instantly returned to my brother; and, awaking him,
+told him it was time for us to be upon our guard, as the family
+were all up and about.
+
+Whilst we were thus situated, the first words I heard distinctly
+were those of the gentleman, saying, 'No, Frank, I can never have
+a good opinion of him; the boy who could once deceive may, for
+aught I know, do so again; he has, by breaking his word, forfeited
+the only dependence one could possibly have in him.  A person who
+has once lost his honour has no means left of gaining credit to
+his assertions.  By honour, Frank, I would be understood to speak
+of veracity, of virtue, of scorning to commit a mean action, and
+not that brutish sense in which some understand it, as if it
+consisted in a readiness to fight and resent an injury; for so far
+am I from considering such behaviour as any proof of honour, that,
+on the contrary, I look upon it as a sure sign of want of proper
+spirit and true honour.  Fools, bullies, and even cowards, will
+fight; whereas none but men of sense and resolution and true
+magnanimity know how to pardon and despise an insult.'  'But,
+indeed, sir,' replied the boy, 'at school, if one did not fight,
+they would laugh at one so, there would be no such thing as
+bearing it.'  'And for that very reason it is, my dear, that I
+say, to pass by and pardon an insult requires more resolution and
+courage than mere fighting does.  When I wish you to avoid
+quarrelling and fighting, I by no means want you to become a
+coward, for I as much abhor a dastardly spirit as any boy in your
+school can possibly do; but I would wish you to convince them that
+you merited not that appellation, by showing through the whole of
+your behaviour, a resolution that despised accidental pain, and
+avoided revenging an affront for no other reason than because you
+were convinced it shewed a much nobler spirit to pardon than to
+resent.  And you may be assured, my dear, few are the days that
+pass without affording us some opportunity of exerting our
+patience, and showing that, although we disdain quarrelling, still
+we are far from being cowards.
+
+'I remember, when I was at school, there was one boy, who, from
+his first coming, declined upon all occasions engaging in any
+battle; he even gave up many of his just rights to avoid
+quarrelling, which conduct, instead of gaining (as it justly
+deserved) the approbation of his companions, drew upon him the
+insult and abuse of the whole school; and they were perpetually
+teasing him with the opprobrious title of coward.  For some time
+he bore it with great good-humour, and endeavoured to laugh it
+off; but, finding that had no effect, he one day thus addressed
+us:--"If you suppose that I like to be called a coward, you are
+all very much mistaken; or if you think me one, I assure you that
+you are not less so; for no boy in the school should, if put to
+the trial, show greater resolution than myself.  Indeed, I think
+it no small proof of patience that I have borne your repeated
+insults so long; when I could, by behaving more like a savage
+beast, and less like a reasonable creature, have established my
+character at once; but I abhor quarrelling, my soul detests to
+treat my fellow-creatures as if they were brutes, from whose fangs
+I must defend myself; but if nothing else but fighting will
+convince you that I possess not less courage than yourselves, I
+will now offer, in cold blood, to engage with the biggest boy in
+the school.  If I conquer him, it will be a sign that I know how
+to defend myself; and if he conquers me, I will, by my behaviour,
+give a proof that I am not wanting in resolution to suffer pain,
+although I never will so far demean the character of a reasonable
+creature and a Christian, as to fight upon every trifling
+disagreement or insult."  No sooner had he uttered these words,
+than every boy present was loud either in his commendation or
+condemnation.  One quarter of them, convinced of the justness of
+his arguments, highly extolled his forbearance; whilst the other
+three parts, with still greater noise, only called him a bully and
+a mean-spirited coward, who dared not fight, and for that reason
+made such a fine speech, hoping to intimidate them.  "Well then,"
+said he, "if such is your opinion, why will none of you accept my
+offer? you surely cannot be afraid, you who are such brave
+fellows, of such true courage, and such noble spirits, cannot be
+afraid of a coward and a bully!  Why, therefore, does not one of
+you step forward, and put my fine speech to the test?  Otherwise,
+after I have thus challenged you all, I hope none for the future
+will think they have any right to call me coward; though I again
+declare my fixed resolution against fighting."
+
+'Just as he said this, a voice calling for help, was heard from a
+lane adjoining to the play-yard.  Immediately we all flocked to
+the side nearest whence it proceeded; and, clambering upon
+benches, watering-pots, or whatever came first in our way, peeped
+over the wall, where we discovered two well-grown lads, about
+seventeen or eighteen, stripping a little boy of his clothes, and
+beating him for his outcries in a most cruel manner; and at a
+little distance farther down the lane, sat a company of gypsies,
+to whom the two lads evidently belonged.  At the sight of this we
+were all much distressed, and wished to relieve the boy; though,
+discovering so large a party, we were too much afraid to venture,
+till Tomkins (the boy I before spoke about) instantly jumped from
+the wall, and only saying, "Has nobody courage to follow me?" ran
+toward them as fast as possible, and with uncommon strength and
+agility placed himself between them and the boy, and began
+defending himself in the best manner he could; which he did for
+some time with great dexterity, none of his fighting schoolfellows
+having courage to go to his assistance.  At length, however,
+seeing it impossible for him to stand out any longer against two
+so much stronger than himself, the boys agreed to secure
+themselves by numbers, and to sally forth to his assistance
+altogether.  This scheme succeeded, and very shortly rescued
+Tomkins from his antagonists.  He thanked them for their
+assistance, saying, at the same time, "I hope you will no longer
+doubt my courage, or my abilities to fight, when it is necessary
+or in a good cause."  After so signal a proof of his viler, his
+greatest enemies could no longer doubt it; and, without ever
+engaging in foolish battles, he passed through school as much
+respected as any boy, and his magnanimity was never again called
+in question.'
+
+As the gentleman stopped speaking, the little girl called out, 'O,
+papa, the coach is at the door.'  'Is it, my dear?' returned the
+father.  'Well then, stop, my love,' said one of the ladies, 'I
+have got a few cakes for you:  stay, and take them before you go.' 
+She then unlocked the closet where we were, and took down the
+paper of macaroons, among which we had so comfortably regaled
+ourselves; when, observing the hole in the paper through which we
+entered, 'O dear!' she exclaimed, 'the mice have actually got into
+my cupboard.  I will move all the things out this very morning,
+and lock the cat up in it; for I shall be undone if the mice once
+get footing here; they will soon spoil all my stores, and that
+will never do.'  She then kissed both the children; and, giving
+them the cakes, they, the gentleman, and another lady, all
+departed; and she instantly began to move the boxes and jars from
+the closet; whilst we, terrified almost out of our wits, sat
+trembling behind one of them, not daring to stir, yet dreading the
+cat's approach every moment.
+
+We were soon, however, obliged to move our quarters, for the lady
+taking down the very jar which concealed us, we were forced
+(without knowing where we were) to jump down instantly.  In vain
+we sought all round the room for some avenue whereat we might
+escape; the apartment was too well fitted up to admit the smallest
+crack; and we must then certainly have been destroyed, had we not,
+with uncommon presence of mind, ran up the back of the lady's
+gown, by which means she lost sight of us, and gave us an
+opportunity to make our escape, as she opened the door to order
+the cat to be brought in.  We seized the lucky moment, and,
+dropping from her gown, fled with the utmost haste out at the
+house door, which happened to be wide open; and I, without once
+looking behind me, ran on till I discovered a little crack in the
+brick wall, which I entered, and which, after many turnings and
+windings, brought me to this house, where I have now continued
+skulking about in its different apartments for above a month;
+during which time I have not heard the least tidings of my beloved
+brother Longtail.  Whether, therefore, any mischief befell him as
+he followed me, or whether he entered the crack with me and then
+lost sight of me, I know not; but in vain have I sought him every
+day since my arrival within these walls, and so anxious am I to
+learn what is become of him, that I am now come forth, contrary to
+my nature, to engage your compassion, and to beseech you, in
+case--
+
+
+
+At this moment, the door of my room opened, and my servant coming
+hastily in, the mouse jumped from my table, and precipitately
+retreated to the same hole from whence it first addressed me; and
+though I have several times peeped into it, and even laid little
+bits of cake to entice it back again, yet have I never been able
+to see it any where since.  Should either that, or any other, ever
+again favour me so far with their confidence, as to instruct me
+with their history, I will certainly communicate it with all
+possible speed to my little readers; who I hope have been wise
+enough to attend to the advice given them in the preceding pages,
+although it was delivered to them by one as insignificant as a
+MOUSE.
+
+
+
+PART II.
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+It is now some months ago since I took leave of my little readers,
+promising, in case I should ever hear any further tidings of
+either Nimble or Longtail, I would certainly communicate it to
+them; and, as I think it extremely wrong not to fulfil any
+engagement we enter into, I look upon myself bound to give them
+all the information I have since gained, relating to those two
+little animals; and I doubt not but they will be glad to hear what
+happened to them, after Nimble was frightened from my writing
+table by the entrance of my servant.  If I recollect right, I have
+already told you, that I frequently peeped into the hole in the
+skirting-board, and laid bits of cake to try to entice my little
+companion back, but all to no purpose:  and I had quite given over
+all hopes of ever again seeing him, when one day, as I was putting
+my hand into a large jar, which had some Turkey figs in it, I felt
+something soft at the bottom, and taking it out, found it to be a
+poor little mouse, not quite dead, but so starved and weak, that
+upon my placing it upon the table, it had not strength sufficient
+to get from me.  A little boy happened to be standing by me, who,
+upon the sight of the mouse, began to beg me to give it to the
+cat, or kill it, 'for I don't like mice,' said he; 'pray, ma'am,
+put it away.'  'Not like mice,' replied I; 'what can be your
+objection to such a little soft creature as this?' and taking
+advantage of its weakness, I picked it up, and held it in the palm
+of one hand, whilst I stroked it with the fingers of my right. 
+'Poor little mouse,' said I, 'who can be afraid of such a little
+object as this?  Do you not feel ashamed of yourself, Joe, to fear
+such a little creature as this? Only look at it, observe how small
+it is, and then consider your own size, and surely, my dear, you
+will blush to think of being no more of a man than to fear a
+mouse!  Look at me, Joe,' continued I, 'see, I will kiss it, I am
+not at all afraid that it will hurt me.' When, lifting it up
+toward my face, I heard it say, in the faintest voice possible,
+'Do you not know me?'  I instantly recollected my little friend
+Nimble, and rejoiced at so unexpectedly finding him.  'What, is it
+you, little Nimble,' exclaimed I, 'that I again behold?  Believe
+me, I am heartily rejoiced once more to find you; but tell me,
+where have you been, what have you done, whom have you seen, and
+what have you learned since you last left me?'  'Oh!' replied he,
+in a voice so low I could scarcely hear him, 'I have seen many
+things; but I am so faint and weak for want of food and fresh air,
+that I doubt I shall never live to tell you; but, for pity's sake
+have compassion on me, either put me out of my present misery by
+instantly killing me, or else give me something to eat; for, if
+you knew my sufferings, I am sure it would grieve your heart.' 
+'Kill you!' returned I, 'no, that I will not:  on the contrary, I
+will try by every method to restore you to health, and all the
+happiness a mouse is capable of feeling.'  I then instantly sent
+for some bread, and had the satisfaction of seeing him eat very
+heartily of it, after which he seemed much refreshed, and began to
+move about a little more suitable to his name; for, in truth, when
+I first found him, no living creature in the world could appear
+less deserving of the appellation of Nimble.  I then fetched him a
+little milk, and gave him a lump of sugar to nibble; after eating
+of which he begged to retire into some safe little hole to take a
+nap, from whence he promised to return as soon as he should wake;
+and accordingly, in about an hour he again appeared on my table,
+and began as follows.
+
+
+
+I was frightened away from you just as I was going to implore your
+compassion for any unfortunate mouse that might happen to fall
+within your power; lest you should destroy my dear and only
+surviving brother, Longtail; but somebody entering the room,
+prevented me, and after I had regained my hiding place, I resolved
+to quit the house, and once more set out in search of my beloved
+brother.  Accordingly, with great difficulty I made my way out of
+the house; but my distress was much increased upon finding the
+snow so deep upon the ground, that it was impossible for me to
+attempt to stir, as upon stepping one foot out to try, I found it
+far too deep for me to fathom the bottom.  This greatly distressed
+me.  'Alas!' said I to myself, 'what shall I do now?  To proceed
+is impossible; and to return is very melancholy, without any
+tidings of my dear, dear Longtail.'  But I was interrupted in the
+midst of these reflections, by the appearance of two cats, who
+came running with such violence as to pass by without observing
+me:  however, it put me in such consternation, that regardless
+where I went, I sprung forward, and sunk so deep in the snow that
+I must inevitably soon have perished, had not a boy come to the
+very place where I was, to gather snow for making snowballs to
+throw at his companions.  Happily for me, he took me up in his
+hand, in the midst of the snow, which not less alarmed me, when I
+considered the sufferings I had before endured, and the cruel
+death of my brother Brighteyes, from the hands of boys.  Oh!
+thought I to myself, what new tortures shall I now experience? 
+Better had I perished in the cold snow, than be spared only to be
+tormented by the cruel hands of unthinking children.
+
+Scarcely had I made this reflection, when the boy called out, upon
+seeing me move, 'Lud! what have I got here?' at the same instant
+tossing the handful of snow from him in a violent hurry, without
+attempting to press it into a ball.  Over I turned head and heels,
+wondering what further would be my fate, when I was happy to find
+I fell unhurt upon some hay, which was laid in the yard to fodder
+the cows and horses.  Here I lay some time, so frightened by my
+adventure, as to be unable to move, and my little heart beat as if
+it would have burst its way through my breast; nor were my
+apprehensions at all diminished by the approach of a man, who
+gathered the hay up in his arms, and carried it (with me in the
+midst of it) into the stable; where, after littering down the
+horses, he left me once more to my own reflections.
+
+After he had been gone some time, and all things were quiet, I
+began to look about me, and soon found my way into a corn bin,
+where I made a most delicious supper, and slept free from any
+disturbance till the morning, when fearing I might be discovered,
+in case he should want any of the oats for his horses, I returned
+by the same place I had entered, and hid myself in one corner of
+the hayloft, where I passed the whole of the day more free from
+alarm than often falls to the lot of any of my species, and in the
+evening again returned to regale myself with corn, as I had done
+the night before.  The great abundance with which I was
+surrounded, strongly tempted me to continue where I was; but then
+the thoughts of my absent brother embittered all my peace, and the
+advice of my mother came so much across my mind, that I determined
+before the next morning I would again venture forth and seek my
+fortune and my brother.  Accordingly, after having eaten a very
+hearty meal, I left the bin, and was attempting to get out of the
+stable, when one of the horses being taken suddenly ill, made so
+much noise with his kicking and struggling, as to alarm the
+family, and the coachman entering with a lantern in his hand, put
+me into such consternation, that I ran for shelter into the pocket
+of a great coat, which hung up upon a peg next the harness of the
+horses.  Here I lay snug for some hours, not daring to stir, as I
+smelt the footsteps of a cat frequently pass by, and heard the
+coachman extol her good qualities to a man who accompanied him
+into the stable; saying she was the best mouser in the kingdom. 
+'I do not believe,' added he, 'I have a mouse in the stable or
+loft, she keeps so good a lookout.  For the last two days I lent
+her to the cook, to put into her pantry, but I have got her back
+again, and I would not part with her for a crown; no, not for the
+best silver crown that ever was coined in the Tower.'  Then,
+through a little moth hole in the lining of the coat, I saw him
+lift her up, stroke her, and put her upon the back of one of the
+horses, where she stretched herself out, and went to sleep.
+
+In this situation I did not dare to stir, I had too often seen how
+eager cats are to watch mice, to venture out of the pocket, whilst
+she was so near me, especially as I did not at all know the holes
+or cracks round the stable, and should, therefore, had she jumped
+down, been quite at a loss where to run.  So I determined to
+continue where I was till either hunger forced me, or the absence
+of the cat gave a better opportunity of escaping.  But scarce had
+I taken up this resolution when the coachman again entered, and
+suddenly taking the coat from the peg, put it on, and marched out
+with me in his pocket.
+
+It is utterly impossible to describe my fear and consternation at
+this event, to jump out whilst in the stable exposed me to the
+jaws of the cat, and to attempt it when out of doors was but again
+subjecting myself to be frozen to death, for the snow continued
+still on the ground; yet to stay in his pocket was running the
+chance of suffering a still more dreadful death by the barbarous
+hands of man; and nothing did I expect, in case he should find me,
+but either to be tortured like Softdown, or given to be the sport
+of his favorite cat--a fate almost as much dreaded as the other. 
+However it was soon put out of my power to determine, for whilst I
+was debating in my own mind what course I had better take, he
+mounted the coachbox, and drove away with me in his pocket, till
+he came to a large house, about a mile distant from this place;
+there he put down the company he had in the coach, and then drove
+into the yard.  But he had not been there many moments before the
+coachman of the family he was come to, invited him into the
+kitchen to warm himself, drink a mug of ale, and eat a mouthful of
+cold meat.  As soon as he entered, and had paid the proper
+compliments to the Mrs. Betties and Mollies at the place, he
+pulled off his great coat, and hung it across the back of his
+chair.  I instantly seized the first opportunity and whilst they
+were all busy assembling round the luncheon table, made my escape,
+and ran under a cupboard door close to the chimney, where I had an
+opportunity of seeing and hearing all that passed, part of which
+conversation I will relate to you.
+
+'Well, Mr. John,' said a footman, addressing himself to the man
+whose pocket I had just left, 'how fare you?  Are you pretty
+hearty?  You look well, I am sure.'  'Aye, and so I am, replied
+he.  'I never was better in all my life; I live comfortably, have
+a good master and mistress, eat and drink bravely, and what can a
+man wish for more?  For my part I am quite contented, and if I do
+but continue to enjoy my health, I am sure I shall be very
+ungrateful not to be so.'  'That's true,' said the other, 'but the
+misfortune of it is, people never know when they are well off, but
+are apt to fret and wish and wish and fret, for something or other
+all their lives, and so never have any enjoyment.  Now for my own
+part, I must needs confess, that I cannot help wishing I was a
+gentleman, and think I should be a deal happier if I was.' 
+'Pshaw!' replied John, 'I don't like now to hear a man say so; it
+looks as if you are discontented with the state in which you are
+placed, and depend upon it, you are in the one that is fittest for
+you, or you would not have been put into it.  And as for being
+happier if you were a gentleman, I don't know what to say to it. 
+To be sure, to have a little more money in one's pocket, nobody
+can deny that it would be very agreeable; and to be at liberty to
+come in and go out when one pleased, to be sure would be very
+comfortable.  But still, Bob, still you may assure yourself, that
+no state in this world is free from care, and if we were turned
+into lords, we should find many causes for uneasiness.  So here's
+your good health,' said he, lifting the mug to his mouth,
+'wishing, my lad, you may be contented, cheerful, and good
+humoured; for without these three requisites, content,
+cheerfulness, and good humour, no one person upon earth, rich or
+poor, old or young, can ever feel comfortable or happy; and so
+here's to you, I say.'  'And here's the same good wishes to you,'
+said a clean decent cook-woman servant, who took up the mug upon
+John's putting it down.  'Content, cheerfulness, and good humour,
+I think was the toast.'  Then wiping her mouth, as she began her
+speech, she added, 'and an excellent one it is:  I wish all folks
+would mind it, and endeavour to acquire three such good
+qualifications.'  'I am sure,' rejoined another female servant,
+whose name I heard was Sally, 'I wish so too:  at least I wish
+Miss Mary would try to gain a little more of the good humour; for
+I never came near such a cross crab in my life as it is.  I
+declare I hate the sight of the girl, she is such a proud little
+minx she would not vouchsafe to speak to a poor servant for the
+world; as if she thought because we are poorer, we were therefore
+not of the same nature:  her sisters, I think are worth ten of
+her, they always reply so civilly if a body speaks to them, and
+say, "Yes, if you please, Mrs. "Sally, or "No, thank you, Mr.
+Bob;" or "I should be obliged to you if you would do so and so,
+Mrs. Nelly," and not plain yes or no, as she does; and well too if
+you can get even that from her; for sometimes I declare she will
+not deign to give one any answer at all.'  'Aye, that is a sure
+thing she won't,' replied the maid servant who first drank, 'it is
+a sad thing she should behave so; I can't think, for my part,
+where she learns it; I am sure neither her papa nor mamma set her
+the example of it, for they always speak as pretty and as kind as
+it is possible to do; and I have heard, with my own ears, my
+mistress tell her of it twenty and twenty times, but she will do
+so.  I am sure it is a sad thing that she should, for she will
+always make people dislike her.  I am sure, if young gentlemen and
+ladies did not know how it makes people love them to speak civilly
+and kind, they would take great care not to behave like Miss Mary. 
+Do you know, the other day, when Mrs. Lime's maid brought little
+Miss Peggy to see my mistress, when she went away, she made a
+courtesy to Miss Mary, and said, "Good morning to you, Miss."  And
+would you think it, the child stood like a stake, and never
+returned it so much as by a nod of the head, nor did she open her
+lips.  I saw by her looks the maid took notice of it, and I am
+sure I have such a regard for the family, that I felt quite
+ashamed of her behaviour.'  'Oh! she served me worse than that,'
+resumed Sally, 'for, would you believe it, the other day I begged
+her to be so kind as to let her mamma know I wanted to speak with
+her; and I did not choose to go into the room myself, because I
+was dirty, and there was company there; but for all I desired her
+over and over only just to step in (and she was at play close to
+the door) yet, could you suppose it possible, she was ill-natured
+enough to refuse me, and would not do it at last.'  'Well, if ever
+I heard the like of that!' exclaimed John, whose pocket I had been
+in.  'I think that was being cross indeed, and if a child of mine
+was to behave in that surly manner, I would whip it to death
+almost.  I abominate such unkind doings, let everyone, I say, do
+as they like to be done by, and that is the only way to be happy,
+and the only way to deserve to be so; for if folks will not try to
+be kind, and oblige others, why should anybody try to please them? 
+And if Miss Mary was my girl, and chose to behave rude and cross
+to the servants, if I was her papa, I would order them to refuse
+doing anything for her.  I would soon humble her pride I warrant
+you, for nobody should make her puddings, or cut her bread, or do
+anything for her till she learned to be kind, and civil, and
+thankful too, for all that was done for her.  I have no notion,
+for my part, for a child to give herself such airs for nothing;
+and because her parents happen to have a little more money in
+their pockets, for that reason to think she may be rude to poor
+folks; but though servants are poor, still surely they are richer
+than she is; I should like to ask her how much she has got? and
+which way she came by it?  A child I am sure is no richer than a
+beggar, for they have not a farthing that is not given them
+through mere bounty; whereas a servant who works for his living,
+has a right and just claim to his wages, and may truly call them
+his own; but a child has not one farthing that is not its parents. 
+So here's my service to you, Miss,' said he, (again lifting the
+ale-mug to his mouth) 'and wishing her a speedy reformation of
+manners, I drink to her very good health.'
+
+John drank to the bottom of the mug, and then shaking the last
+drop into the ashes under the grate, he told the following story,
+as he sat swinging the mug by its handle across his two
+forefingers, which he had joined for that purpose.
+
+'When my father was a young man he lived at one Mr. Speedgo's, as
+upper footman:  they were vastly rich.  Mr. Speedgo was a
+merchant, and by good luck he gathered gold as fast as his
+neighbours would pick up stones (as a body may say).  So they kept
+two or three carriages, there was a coach, and a chariot, and a
+phaeton, and I can't tell what besides, and a power of servants
+you may well suppose to attend them all; and very well they lived,
+with plenty of victuals and drink.  But though they wanted for
+nothing still they never much loved either their master or
+mistress, they used to give their orders in so haughty and
+imperious a manner; and if asked a civil question, answer so
+shortly, as if they thought their servants not worthy of their
+notice:  so that, in short, no one loved them, nor their children
+either, for they brought them up just like themselves, to despise
+everyone poorer than they were; and to speak as cross to their
+servants as if they had been so many adders they were afraid would
+bite them.
+
+'I have heard my father say, that if Master Speedgo wanted his
+horse to be got ready, he would say, "Saddle my horse!" in such a
+displeasing manner as made it quite a burthen to do anything for
+him.  Or if the young ladies wanted a piece of bread and butter,
+or cake, they would say, "Give me a bit of cake;" or, if they
+added the word pray to it, they spoke in such a grumpy way, as
+plainly showed they thought themselves a deal better than their
+servants; forgetting that an honest servant is just as worthy a
+member of society as his master, and whilst he behaves well, as
+much deserving of civility as anybody.  But to go on with my
+story.  I have already told you Mr. Speedgo was very rich and very
+proud, nor would he on any account suffer anyone to visit at his
+house whom he thought below him, as he called it; or at least, if
+he did, he always took care to behave to them in such a manner, as
+plainly to let them know he thought he showed a mighty favour in
+conversing with them.
+
+'Among the rest of the servants there was one Molly Mount, as good
+a hearted girl, my father says, as ever lived:  she had never
+received much education, because her parents could not afford to
+give her any, and she learned to read after she was at Mr.
+Speedgo's from one of the housemaids, who was kind enough to teach
+her a little; but you may suppose, from such sort of teaching, she
+was no very good scholar.  However, she read well enough to be
+able to make out some chapters in the Bible; and an excellent use
+she made of them, carefully fulfilling every duty she there found
+recommended as necessary for a Christian to practice.  She used
+often to say she was perfectly contented in her station, and only
+wished for more money that she might have it in her power to do
+more good.  And sometimes, when she was dressing and attending the
+young ladies of the family, she would advise them to behave
+prettier than they did; telling them, "That by kindness and
+civility they would be so far from losing respect, that, on the
+contrary, they would much gain it.  For we cannot (she would very
+truly say) have any respect for those people who seem to forget
+their human nature, and behave as if they thought themselves
+superior to the rest of their fellow-creatures.  Young ladies and
+gentlemen have no occasion to make themselves very intimate or
+familiar with their servants; but everybody ought to speak civilly
+and good-humouredly, let it be to whom it may:  and if I was a
+lady I should make it a point never to look cross or speak gruffly
+to the poor, for fear they should think I forgot I was of the same
+human nature as they were."  By these kind of hints, which every
+now and then she would give to the misses, they were prodigiously
+offended, and complained of her insolence, as they called it, to
+their mamma, who very wrongly, instead of teaching them to behave
+better, joined with them in blaming Molly for her freedom, and, to
+show her displeasure at her conduct, put on a still haughtier air,
+whenever she spoke to her, than she did to any other of the
+servants.  Molly, however, continued to behave extremely well, and
+often very seriously lamented in the kitchen the wrong behaviour
+of the family.  "I don't mind it," she would say, "for my own
+part; I know that I do my duty, and their cross looks and proud
+behaviour can do me no real harm:  but I cannot help grieving for
+their sakes; it distresses me to think that people who ought to
+know better, should, by their ill conduct, make themselves so many
+enemies, when they could so easily gain friends--I am astonished
+how anybody can act so foolishly."
+
+'In this sensible manner she would frequently talk about the sin
+as well as the folly of pride.  And one day, as she was talking to
+her fellow-servants, rather louder than in prudence she ought to
+have done, her two young ladies overheard her; and the next time
+she went to dress them, they enquired what it was she had been
+saying to the other maids.  "Indeed, ladies," said she, "I hope
+you will excuse my telling you.  I think, if you give yourselves
+time to reflect a little, you will not insist upon knowing, as it
+is beneath such rich ladies as you are, to concern yourselves with
+what poor servants talk about."  This answer did not, however,
+satisfy them, and they positively commanded her to let them know. 
+Molly was by far too good a woman to attempt to deceive anyone;
+she therefore replied, "If, ladies, you insist upon knowing what I
+said, I hope you will not take anything amiss that I may tell you,
+thus compelled as I am by your commands.  You must know then, Miss
+Betsy and Miss Rachael, that I was saying how sad a thing it was
+for people to be proud because they are rich; or to fancy, because
+they happen to have a little more money, that for that reason they
+are better than their servants, when in reality the whole that
+makes one person better than another is, having superior virtues,
+being kinder and more good natured, and readier to assist and
+serve their fellow-creatures; these are the qualifications, I was
+saying, that make people beloved, and not being possessed of
+money.  Money may, indeed, procure servants to do their business
+for them, but it is not in the power of all the riches in the
+world to purchase the love and esteem of anyone.  What a sad thing
+then it is, when gentlefolks behave so as to make themselves
+despised; and that will ever be the case with all those who, like
+(excuse me, ladies, you insisted upon my telling you what I said)
+Miss Betsy, and Miss Rachael, and Master James, show such contempt
+to all their inferiors.  Nobody could wish children of their
+fortunes to make themselves too free, or play with their servants;
+but if they were little kings and queens, still they ought to
+speak kind and civil to everyone.  Indeed our king and queen would
+scorn to behave like the children of this family, and if--"  She
+was going on, but they stopped her, saying, "If you say another
+word, we will push you out of the room this moment, you rude,
+bold, insolent woman; you ought to be ashamed of speaking so
+disrespectfully of your betters; but we will tell our mamma, that
+we will, and she won't suffer you to allow your tongue such
+liberties."  "If," replied Molly, "I have offended you, I am sorry
+for it, and beg your pardon, ladies; I am sure I had no wish to do
+so; and you should remember that you both insisted upon my telling
+you what I had been saying."  "So we did," said they, "but you had
+no business to say it all; and I promise you my mamma shall know
+it."
+
+'In this manner they went on for some time; but, to make short of
+my story, they represented the matter in such a manner to their
+mother, that she dismissed Molly from her service, with a strict
+charge never to visit the house again.  "For," said Mrs. Speedgo,
+"no servant who behaves as you have done, shall ever enter my
+doors again, or eat another mouthful in my house." Molly had no
+desire so suddenly to quit her place; but as her conscience
+perfectly acquitted her of any wilful crime, after receiving her
+wages, respectfully wishing all the family their health, and
+taking a friendly leave of her fellow-servants, she left the
+house, and soon engaged herself as dairy-maid in a farmer's
+family, about three miles off; in which place she behaved so
+extremely well, and so much to the satisfaction of her master and
+mistress, that, after she had lived there a little more than two
+years, with their entire approbation, she was married to their
+eldest son, a sober, worthy young man, to whom his father gave a
+fortune not much less than three thousand pounds, with which he
+bought and stocked a very pretty farm in Somersetshire, where they
+lived as happy as virtue and affluence could make them.  By
+industry and care they prospered beyond their utmost expectations,
+and, by their prudence and good behaviour, gained the esteem and
+love of all who knew them.
+
+'To their servants (for they soon acquired riches enough to keep
+three or four, I mean household ones, besides the number that were
+employed in the farming business) they behaved with such kindness
+and civility, that had they even given less wages than their
+neighbours, they would never have been in want of any; everyone
+being desirous of getting into a family where they were treated
+with such kindness and condescension.
+
+'In this happy manner they continued to live for many years,
+bringing up a large family of children to imitate their virtues;
+but one great mortification they were obliged to submit to, which
+was that of putting their children very early to boarding school,
+a circumstance which the want of education in Mrs. and indeed I
+may add Mr. Flail, rendered absolutely necessary.
+
+'But I am afraid, Mrs. Sally and Mrs. Nelly, you will be tired, as
+I have but half told my story; but I will endeavour to make short
+work of it, though indeed it deserves to be noticed, for it will
+teach one a great deal, and convince one how little the world's
+riches are to be depended on.
+
+'I have said, you know, that Mr. Speedgo was a merchant, and a
+very rich one too.  It is unknown what vast sums of money he used
+to spend! when, would you think it, either through spending it too
+fast, or some losses he met with in trade, he broke all to
+nothing, and had not a farthing to pay his creditors.  I forgot
+how many thousand pounds it was he owed; but it was a vast great
+many.  Well! this you may be sure was a great mortification to
+them; they begged for mercy from their creditors; but as in their
+prosperity they had never shown much mercy themselves to those
+they thought beneath them, so now they met with very little from
+others:  the poor saying they deserved it for their pride; the
+rich condemning them for their presumption, in trying to vie with
+those of superior birth; and those who had been less successful in
+business, blaming them for their extravagance, which, they said,
+had justly brought on them their misfortunes.
+
+'In this distress, in vain it was they applied for assistance to
+those they had esteemed their friends; for as they never had been
+careful to form their connections with people of real merit, only
+seeking to be acquainted with those who were rich and prosperous,
+so now they could no longer return their civilities, they found
+none were ready to show them any, but everyone seemed anxious to
+keep from them as much as possible.  Thus distressed, and finding
+no one willing to help them, the young squire, Master James, was
+obliged to go to sea:  while Miss Betsy and Miss Rachael were even
+forced to try to get their living by service, a way of life they
+were both ill qualified to undertake, for they had always so
+accustomed themselves to be waited on and attended, that they
+scarcely knew how to help themselves, much less how to work for
+others.  The consequence of which was, they gave so little
+satisfaction to their employers, that they staid but a little time
+in a place, and from so frequently changing, no family, who wished
+to be well settled, would admit them, as they thought it
+impossible they could be good servants whom no one thought worthy
+of keeping.
+
+'It is impossible to describe the many and great mortifications
+those two young ladies met with.  They now frequently recollected
+the words of Molly Mount, and earnestly wished they had attended
+to them whilst it was in their power, as by so doing they would
+have secured to themselves friends.  And they very forcibly found,
+that, although they were poor and servants, yet they were as
+sensible of kind treatment and civility, as if they had been
+richer.
+
+'After they had been for some years changing from place to place,
+always obliged to put up with very low wages, upon account of
+their being so ill qualified for servants, it happened that Miss
+Betsy got into service at Watchet, a place about three miles
+distant from Mr. Flail's farm.  Here she had a violent fit of
+illness, and not having been long enough in the family to engage
+their generosity to keep her, she was dismissed upon account of
+her ill health rendering her wholly incapable of doing her
+business for which she was hired.  She then, with the very little
+money she had, procured a lodging in a miserable little dirty
+cottage; but through weakness being unable to work, she soon
+exhausted her whole stock, and was even obliged to quit this
+habitation, bad as it was, and for some days support herself
+wholly by begging from door to door, often meeting with very
+unkind language for so idle an employment; some people telling her
+to go to her parish, when, alas! her parish was many miles
+distant, and she, poor creature, had no means of getting there.
+
+'At last she wandered, in this distressful situation, to the house
+of Mr. Flail, and walked into the farm yard just at the time the
+cows were being milked.  She, who for a long time had tasted
+nothing but bits of broken bread, and had no drink besides water
+she had scooped up in her hands, looked at the quantity of fresh
+milk with a most wishful eye; and, going to the women who were
+milking, she besought them in a moving manner to give her a
+draught, as she was almost ready to perish.  "For pity's sake,"
+said she, "have compassion upon a poor wretch, dying with
+sickness, hunger, and thirst; it is a long time since I have
+tasted a mouthful of wholesome victuals, my lips are now almost
+parched with thirst, and I am so faint for want, that I can
+scarcely stand; my sufferings are very great indeed, it would melt
+a heart of stone to hear the story of my woes.  Oh! have pity upon
+a fellow-creature then, and give me one draught of that milk,
+which can never be missed out of so vast a quantity as you have
+there, and may you never, never, know what it is to suffer as I
+now do."  To this piteous request, she received for answer, the
+common one of "Go about your business, we have nothing for you, so
+don't come here."  "We should have enough to do indeed," said one
+of the milkers, "if we were to give every idle beggar who would
+like a draught of this delicious milk; but no, indeed, we shall
+not give you a drop; so go about your business, and don't come
+plaguing us here."  Mrs. Flail, who happened to be in the yard,
+with one of her children who was feeding the chickens, overheard
+enough of this to make her come forward, and enquire what was the
+matter.  "Nothing, ma"am," replied the milk-maid, "only I was
+sending away this nasty dirty creature, who was so bold as to come
+asking for milk indeed!  But beggars grow so impudent now-a-days
+there never was the like of it."  "Oh fie!" returned Mrs. Flail,
+shocked at her inhuman way of speaking, "fie upon you, to speak in
+so unkind a manner of a poor creature in distress."  Then turning
+to the beggar, she inquired what she wanted, in so mild a tone of
+voice, that it encouraged her to speak and tell her distress.
+
+'Mrs. Flail listened with the greatest attention, and could not
+help being struck with her speech and appearance; for though she
+was clothed in rags (having parted with all her better clothes to
+pay for lodging and food) still there was a something in her
+language and manner which discovered that she was no common
+beggar.  Betsy had stood all the time with her eyes fixed upon the
+ground, scarcely once lifting them to look at the face of Mrs.
+Flail; and she was so changed herself by her troubles and
+sickness, that it was impossible for any one who had ever seen
+Miss Speedgo, to recollect her in her present miserable state. 
+Mrs. Flail, however, wanted no farther inducement to relieve her
+than to hear she was in want.  "Every fellow-creature in
+distress," she used to say, "was a proper object of her bounty;
+and whilst she was blessed with plenty she thought it her duty to
+relieve, as far as she prudently could, all whom she knew to be in
+need." She therefore fetched a mug, and, filling it with milk
+herself, gave it to the poor woman to drink.  "Here," said she,
+"take this, good woman, and I hope it will refresh and be of
+service to you."  Betsy held out her hand for it, and, lifting her
+eyes up to look at Mrs. Flail, whilst she thanked her for her
+kindness, was greatly astonished to discover in her benefactress,
+the features of her old servant, Molly Mount.  "Bless me!" said
+she, with an air of confusion, "What do I see?  Who is it?  Where
+am I?  Madam, pardon my boldness, but pray forgive me, ma"am, but
+is not your name Mount?"  "It was," replied Mrs. Flail, "but I
+have been married for thirteen years to a Mr. Flail, and that is
+my name now.  But, pray, where did you ever see me before? or how
+came you to know anything of me?"  Poor Betsy could return no
+answer, her shame at being seen by her servant that was, in her
+present condition, and the consciousness of having so ill-treated
+that very servant, to whose kindness she was now indebted; all
+together were too much for her in her weak state, and she fell
+senseless at Mrs.  Flail's feet.
+
+'This still added to Mrs. Flail's surprise, and she had her
+carried into the house and laid upon a bed, where she used every
+means to bring her to herself again; which, after a considerable
+time, succeeded; and she then (covered with shame and remorse)
+told her who she was, and how she came into that miserable
+condition.  No words can describe the astonishment Mrs. Flail was
+in, at hearing the melancholy story of her sufferings; nor is it
+possible to tell with what generosity and kindness she strove to
+comfort her, telling her to compose herself, for she should no
+longer be in want of any thing.  "I have, thank Heaven," said she,
+"a most worthy good man for my husband, who will rejoice with me
+in having it in his power to relieve a suffering fellow-creature. 
+Do not, therefore, any longer distress yourself upon what passed
+between us formerly.  I had, for my part, forgotten it, if you had
+not now told it me; but, however I might then take the liberty to
+censure you for too much haughtiness.  I am sure I have no
+occasion to do so now.  Think no more, therefore, I beseech you,
+upon those times which are now past; but be comforted, and make
+yourself as happy as in my humble plain manner of living you can
+possibly do."
+
+'She then furnished her with some of her own clothes, till she
+could procure her new ones, and sent immediately for a physician
+from the next town; by following of whose prescription, together
+with good nursing, and plenty of all necessaries, she soon
+recovered her health; but she was too deeply affected with the
+thoughts of her former misconduct ever to feel happy in her
+situation, though Mrs. Flail used every method in her power to
+render her as comfortable as possible.  Nor did she confine her
+goodness only to this one daughter, but sent also for her sister
+and mother (her father being dead), and fitted up a neat little
+house for them near their own.  But as the Flails could not afford
+wholly to maintain them for nothing, they entrusted the poultry to
+their care; which enabled them to do with one servant less; and by
+that means they could, without any great expense, afford to give
+them sufficient to make their lives comfortable, that is, as far
+as their own reflections would let them; for the last words Mrs.
+Speedgo said to Molly, when she parted from her, dwelt continually
+upon her mind, and filled her with shame and remorse.
+
+'"I told her," said she, "that she should never again come into my
+doors, or eat another mouthful in my house; and now it is her
+bounty alone which keeps us all from perishing.  Oh! how unworthy
+are we of such goodness!  True, indeed, was what she told you,
+that kindness and virtue were far more valuable than riches. 
+Goodness and kindness no time or change can take from us; but
+riches soon fly as it were away, and then what are we the better
+for having been once possessed of them?"'
+
+Here Mr. John stopped, and jumping hastily up, and turning round
+to Mrs.  Sally, Mrs. Nelly, and Mr. Bob, exclaimed, rubbing his
+hands--'There ladies, I have finished my story; and, let me tell
+you, so long preaching has made my throat dry, so another mug of
+ale, if you please, Master Bobby (tapping him at the same time
+upon the shoulder), another mug of ale, my boy; for faith, talking
+at the rate I have done, is enough to wear a man's lungs out, and,
+in truth, I have need of something to hearten me after such
+fatigue.'
+
+'Well, I am sure,' replied Mrs. Sally and Mrs. Nelly, in the same
+breath, 'we are greatly obliged to you for your history; and I am
+sure it deserves to be framed and glazed, and it ought to be hung
+up in the hall of every family, that all people may see the sad
+effects of pride, and how little cause people have, because they
+are rich, to despise those who are poor; since it frequently
+happens, that those who this year are like little kings, may the
+next be beggars; and then they will repent, when it is too late,
+of all their pride and unkindness they showed to those beneath
+them.'
+
+Here the conversation was put a stop to by the bell ringing, and
+John being ordered to drive to the door.  I, who during the whole
+of the history had been feasting upon a mince-pie, now thought it
+safer to conceal myself in a little hole in the wainscot of the
+closet, where, finding myself very safe, I did not awake till
+midnight.  After the family were all retired to rest, I peeped out
+of the hole, and there saw just such another frightful trap as
+that which was the prelude to poor Softdown's sufferings. 
+Startled at the sight, I retreated back as expeditiously as
+possible, nor ever stopped till I found my way into a bed-chamber,
+where lay two little girls fast asleep.
+
+I looked about for some time, peeping into every hole and corner
+before I could find any thing to eat, there being not so much as a
+candle in the room with them.  At last I crept into a little
+leathern trunk, which stood on a table, not shut down quite close: 
+here I instantly smelt something good:  but was obliged to gnaw
+through a great deal of linen to get at it; it was wrapped up in a
+lap-bag, amongst a vast quantity of work.  However, I made my way
+through half a hundred folds, and at last was amply repaid, by
+finding out a nice piece of plum-cake, and the pips of an apple,
+which I could easily get at, one half of it having been eat away. 
+Whilst I was thus engaged I heard a cat mew, and not knowing how
+near she might be, I endeavoured to jump out; but in the hurry I
+somehow or other entangled myself in the muslin, and pulled that,
+trunk and all, down with me; for the trunk stood half off the
+table, so that the least touch in the world overset it, otherwise
+my weight could never have tumbled it down.
+
+The noise of the fall, however, waked the children, and I heard
+one say to the other,--'Bless me!  Mary, what is that noise?--What
+can it be?  I am almost frightened out of my wits; do, pray,
+sister, hug me close!'  'Pooh!' replied the other, 'never mind it! 
+What in the world need you be frightened at?  What do you suppose
+will hurt you?  It sounded as if something fell down; but as it
+has not fallen upon us, and I do not hear anybody stirring, or
+speaking as if they were hurt, what need we care about it?  So
+pray, Nancy, let us go to sleep again; for as yet I have not had
+half sufficient, I am sure; I hope morning is not coming yet, for
+I am not at all ready to get up.'  'I am sure,' answered the
+other, 'I wish it was morning, and daylight now, for I should like
+to get up vastly, I do not like to lay here in the dark any
+longer; I have a great mind to ring the bell, and then mamma or
+somebody will come to us with a candle.'  'And what in the world,'
+rejoined Mary, 'will be the use of that?  Do you want a candle to
+light you to look for the wounds the noise has given you; or what
+can you wish to disturb my mamma for?  Come, let me cuddle you,
+and do go to sleep, child, for I cannot think what occasion there
+is for us to keep awake because we heard a noise; I never knew
+that noise had teeth or claws to hurt one with; and I am sure this
+has not hurt me; and so, whether you choose to lie awake or not, I
+will go to sleep, and so good-bye to you, and pray do not disturb
+me any more, for I cannot talk any longer.'  'But, Mary,' again
+replied the other, 'pray do not go to sleep yet, I want to speak
+to you.'  'Well, what do you want to say?' inquired Mary.  'Why,
+pray have you not very often,' said Nancy, 'heard of thieves
+breaking into people's houses and robbing them; and I am sadly
+afraid that noise was some rogues coming in; so pray, Mary, do not
+go to sleep, I am in such a fright and tremble you cannot think. 
+Speak, Mary, have not you, I say, heard of thieves?'  'Yes,'
+replied Mary, in a very sleepy voice, 'a great many times.' 
+'Well, then, pray sister, do not go to sleep,' said Nancy, in a
+peevish accent, 'suppose, I say that noise I heard should be
+thieves, what should we do?  What will become of us?  O! what
+shall we do?'--'Why, go to sleep, I tell you,' said Mary, 'as fast
+as you can; at least, do pray let me, for I cannot say I am in the
+smallest fear about house-breakers or house-makers either; and of
+all the robberies I ever heard of in all my life, I never heard of
+thieves stealing little girls; so do, there's a dear girl, go to
+sleep again, and do not so foolishly frighten yourself out of your
+wits for nothing.'  'Well,' replied Nancy, 'I will not keep you
+awake any longer; but I am sure I shall not be able to get another
+wink of sleep all night.'
+
+Here the conversation ended, and I could not help thinking how
+foolish it was for people to permit themselves to be terrified for
+nothing.  Here is a little girl, now, thought I, in a nice clean
+room, and covered up warm in bed, with pretty green curtains drawn
+round her, to keep the wind from her head, and the light in the
+morning from her eyes; and yet she is distressing herself, and
+making herself really uncomfortable, and unhappy, only because I,
+a poor, little, harmless mouse, with scarcely strength sufficient
+to gnaw a nutshell, happened to jump from the table, and throw
+down, perhaps, her own box.--Oh! what a pity it is that people
+should so destroy their own comfort! How sweetly might this child
+have passed the night, if she had but, like her sister, wisely
+reflected that a noise could not possibly hurt them;  and that,
+had any of the family occasioned it, by falling down, or running
+against anything in the dark which hurt them, most likely they
+would have heard some more stirring about.
+
+And upon this subject the author cannot help, in human form (as
+well as in that of a mouse), observing how extremely ridiculous it
+is for people to suffer themselves to be terrified upon every
+trifling occasion that happens; as if they had no more resolution
+than a mouse itself, which is liable to be destroyed every meal it
+makes.  And, surely, nothing can be more absurd than for children
+to be afraid of thieves and house-breakers; since, as little Mary
+said, they never want to seek after children.  Money is all they
+want; and as children have very seldom much of that in their
+possession, they may assure themselves they are perfectly safe,
+and have therefore no occasion to alarm themselves if they hear a
+noise, without being able to make out what it is; unless, indeed,
+like the child I have just been writing about, they would be so
+silly as to be frightened at a little mouse; for most commonly the
+noises we hear, if we lay awake in the night, are caused by mice
+running about and playing behind the wainscot:  and what
+reasonable person would suffer themselves to be alarmed by such
+little creatures as those?  But it is time I should return to the
+history of my little make-believe companion, who went on, saying--
+
+The conversation I have been relating I overheard as I lay
+concealed in a shoe that stood close by the bedside, and into
+which I ran the moment I jumped off the table, and where I kept
+snug till the next morning; when, just as the clock was striking
+eight, the same Mrs. Nelly, whom I saw the day before in the
+kitchen, entered the apartment, and accosted the young ladies,
+saying, 'Good morning to you, ladies, do you know that it is time
+to get up?'  'Then, pray, Nelly, lace my stays, will you?' said
+Miss Nancy.  'But lace mine first, and give me my other shoes; for
+those I wore yesterday must be brushed, because I stepped in the
+dirt, and so when you go down you must remember, and take and
+brush them, and then let me have them again,' said Mary; 'but come
+and dress me now.'
+
+Well, thought I, this is a rude way of speaking, indeed, something
+like Miss Nancy Artless, at the house where my poor dear Softdown
+was so cruelly massacred; I am sure I hope I shall not meet with
+the like fate here, and I wish I was safe out of this shoe; for,
+perhaps, presently it will be wanted to be put on Mary's foot; and
+I am sure I must not expect to meet any mercy from a child who
+shows so bad a disposition as to speak to a servant in so uncivil
+a manner, for no good-natured person would do that.
+
+With these kind of reflections I was amusing myself for some
+little time, when, all on a sudden, they were put an end to, by my
+finding the shoe in which I was concealed, hastily taken up; and
+before I had time to recollect what I had best do, I was almost
+killed by some violent blows I received, which well nigh broke
+every bone in my skin.  I crept quite up to the toe of the shoe,
+so that I was not at all seen, and the maid, when she took up the
+shoes, held one in one hand, and the other in the other, by their
+heels, and then slapped them hard together, to beat out of some of
+the dust which was in them.  This she repeated three or four
+times, till I was quite stunned; and how or which way I tumbled or
+got out, I know not; but when I came to myself.  I was close up
+behind the foot of a table, in a large apartment, where were
+several children, and a gentleman and a lady, all conversing
+together with the greatest good humour and harmony.
+
+The first words I heard distinctly enough to remember, were those
+of a little boy, about five years old, who, with eagerness
+exclaimed--'I forget you! no that I never shall.  If I was to go a
+hundred thousand miles off, I am sure I shall never forget you. 
+What! do you think I should ever, as long as I live, if it is a
+million of years, forget my own dear papa and mamma? No; that I
+should not, I am very, very sure I never should.'  'Well, but
+Tom,' interrupted the gentleman, 'if in a million of years you
+should not forget us, I dare say, in less than two months you will
+forget our advice, and before you have been at school half that
+time, you will get to squabbling with and tricking the other boys,
+just as they do with one another; and instead of playing at all
+times with the strictest openness and honour, you will, I sadly
+fear, learn to cheat, and deceive, and pay no attention to what
+your mother and I have been telling you.'  'No', that I am sure I
+sha'n't!' replied the boy.  'What! do you think I shall be so
+wicked as to turn a thief, and cheat people?'  'I dare say, my
+dear,' resumed the father, 'you will not do what we call thieving;
+but as I know there are many naughty boys in all schools, I am
+afraid they will teach you to commit dishonourable actions, and to
+tell you there is no harm in them, and that they are signs of
+cleverness and spirit, and qualifications very necessary for every
+boy to possess.'  'Aye, that's sure enough,' said the boy, who
+appeared about ten years old, 'for they almost all declare, that
+if a boy is not sharp and cunning, he might almost as well be out
+of the world as in it.  But, as you say, papa, I hate such
+behaviour, I am sure there is one of our boys, who is so
+wonderfully clever and acute, as they call him, that I detest ever
+having any thing to do with him; for unless one watches him as a
+cat would watch a mouse, he is sure to cheat or play one some
+trick or other.'  'What sort of tricks do you mean?' inquired the
+little boy.  'Why, I will tell you,' replied the other.  'You know
+nothing of the games we have at school, so if I was to tell you
+how he plays at them, you would not understand what I meant.  But
+you know what walking about blindfold is, don't you?  Well! one
+day, about a dozen boys agreed to have a blind race, and the boy
+who got nearest the goal, which was a stick driven in the ground
+with a shilling upon the top of it, was to win the shilling,
+provided he did it fairly without seeing.'  'I suppose,'
+interrupted Tom, 'you mean the boy who got to the stick first.' 
+'No, I do not,' replied his brother, 'I mean what I say, the boy
+who got nearest it, no matter whether he came first or last; the
+fun was to see them try to keep in a straight path, with their
+eyes tied up, whilst they wander quite in the wrong, and not to
+try who could run fastest.  Well! when they, were all blinded, and
+twisted round three or four times before they were suffered to set
+off, they directed their steps the way they thought would directly
+conduct them to the goal; and some of them had almost reached it,
+when Sharply (the boy I mentioned) who had placed a shilling upon
+the stick, for they drew lots who should do that, and he who
+furnished the money was to stand by it, to observe who won it by
+coming nearest; well, Sharply, I say, just as they came close to
+it, moved away softly to another place, above three yards distant
+from any of them (for I should have told you, that if none of them
+got within three yards, the shilling was to remain his, and they
+were each to give him a penny.)  So then he untied their eyes, and
+insisted upon it they had all of them lost.  But two or three of
+us happened to be by, and so we said he had cheated them, and
+ought not to keep the money, as it had fairly been won by Smyth. 
+But he would not give it up, so it made a quarrel between him and
+Smyth, and at last they fought, and Mr. Chiron confined them both
+in the school all the rest of the afternoon, and when he heard
+what the quarrel was about, he took the shilling from Sharply, and
+called him a mean-spirited cheat; but he would not let Smyth have
+it, because he said he deserved to lose it for fighting about such
+a trifle, and so it was put into the forfeit-money.'
+
+'But pray do not you think Sharply behaved extremely wrong?' 
+'Shamefully so, indeed,' said the gentleman.  'I never could have
+any opinion of a boy 'who could act so dishonourably,' said the
+lady, 'let his cleverness be what it would.'  'Pray, Frank, tell
+me some more,' said the little boy.  'More!' replied Frank, 'I
+could tell you an hundred such kind of things.  One time, as Peter
+Light was walking up the yard, with some damsons in his hat,
+Sharply ran by, and as he passed, knocked his hat out of his hand,
+for the sake of scrambling for as many as he could get himself. 
+And sometimes, after the pie-woman has been there, he gets such
+heaps of tarts you cannot think, by his different tricks:  perhaps
+he will buy a currant tart himself; then he would go about,
+calling out, "Who'll change a cheesecake for a currant tart?" and
+now-and-then he will add, "and half a bun into the bargain!"  Then
+two or three of the boys call out, "I will, I will!" and when they
+go to hold out their cheesecakes to him, he snatches them out of
+their hands before they are aware, and runs away in an instant;
+and whilst they stand for a moment in astonishment, he gets so
+much ahead of them that he eats them up before they can again
+overtake him.  At other times, when he sees a boy beginning to eat
+his cake, he will come and talk carelessly to him for a few
+moments, and then all of a sudden call out, "Look! look!
+look!-there!" pointing his finger as if to show him something
+wonderful; and when the other, without suspecting any mischief,
+turns his head to see what has so surprised him, away he snatches
+the cake, and runs off with it, cramming it into his mouth in a
+moment.
+
+'And when he plays at Handy-dandy, Jack-a-dandy, which will you
+have, upper hand or lower? if you happen to guess right, he slips
+whatever you are playing with into his other hand; and that you
+know is not playing fair; and so many of the boys tell him; but he
+does not mind any of us.  And as he is clever at his learning, and
+always does his exercise quite right, Mr. Chiron (who indeed does
+not know of his tricks) is very fond of him, and is for ever
+saying what a clever fellow he is, and proposing him as an example
+to the rest of the boys; and I do believe many of them imitate his
+deceitful, cheating tricks, only for the sake of being thought
+like him.'
+
+'Aye! it is a sad thing,' interrupted the gentleman, 'that people
+who are blessed with sense and abilities to behave well, should so
+misuse them as to set a bad, instead of a good example to others,
+and by that means draw many into sin, who otherwise, perhaps,
+might never have acted wrong.  Was this Sharply, you have been
+speaking of, a dunce and blockhead at his book, he would never
+gain the commendations that Mr. Chiron now bestows upon him; and,
+consequently, no boy would wish to be thought like him; his bad
+example, therefore, would not be of half the importance it now is.
+
+'Only think, then, my dear children, how extremely wicked it is,
+for those who are blessed with understandings capable of acting as
+they should do, and making people admire them, at the same time to
+be guilty of such real and great sin.  For, however children at
+play may like to trick and deceive each other, and call it only
+play or fun, still, let me tell you, they are much mistaken if
+they flatter themselves there is no harm in it.  It is a very
+wrong way of behaviour; it is mean, it is dishonorable, and it is
+wicked; and the boy or girl who would ever permit themselves to
+act in so unjustifiable a manner, however they may excel in their
+learning, or exterior accomplishments, can never be deserving of
+esteem, confidence, or regard.  What esteem or respect could I
+ever entertain of a person's sense or learning, who made no better
+use of it than to practise wickedness with more dexterity and
+grace than he otherwise would be enabled to do?  Or, what
+confidence could I ever place in the person who, I knew, only
+wanted a convenient opportunity to defraud, trick, and deceive me? 
+Or, what regard and love could I possibly entertain for such a
+one, who, unless I kept a constant watch over, as I must over a
+wild beast, would, like a wild beast, be sure to do me some
+injury?  Would it be possible, I say, to love such a character,
+whatever shining abilities or depth of learning he might possess?
+Ask your own hearts, my dears, whether you think you could?'
+
+To this they all answered at once, 'No, that I could not,' and 'I
+am sure I could not.'  'Well, then,' resumed the father, 'only
+think how odious that conduct must be, which robs us of the
+esteem, confidence, and love of our fellow-creatures; and that
+too, notwithstanding we may at the same time be very clever, and
+have a great deal of sense and learning.  But, for my part, I
+confess I know not the least advantage of our understanding or our
+learning, unless we make a proper use of them.  Knowing a great
+deal, and having read a great many books, will be of no service to
+us, unless we are careful to make a proper use of that knowledge,
+and to improve by what we read, otherwise the time we so bestow is
+but lost, and we might as well spend the whole of our lives in
+idleness.
+
+'Always remember, therefore, my loves, that the whole end of our
+taking the trouble to instruct you, or putting ourselves to the
+expense of sending you to school, or your attending to what is
+taught you, is, that you may grow better men and women than you
+otherwise would be; and unless, therefore, you do improve, we
+might as well spare ourselves the pains and expense, and you need
+not take the trouble of learning; since, if you will act wickedly,
+all our labour is but thrown away to no manner of purpose.
+
+'Mr. and Mrs. Sharply, how I pity them!  What sorrow must they
+endure, to behold their son acting in the manner you have
+described; for nothing can give so much concern to a fond parent's
+heart, as to see their children, for whom they have taken so much
+pains, turn out naughty; and to deceive and cheat! What can be
+worse than that?  I hope, my dear children, you will never, any of
+you, give us that dreadful misery!  I hope, my dear Tom, I hope
+you will never learn any of those detestable ways your brother has
+been telling you of.  And if it was not that you will often be
+obliged to see such things when you mix with other children, I
+should be sorry you should even hear of such bad actions, as I
+could wish you to pass through life without so much as knowing
+such wickedness ever existed; hut that is impossible.  There are
+so many naughty people in the world, that you will often be
+obliged to see and hear of crimes which I hope you will shudder to
+think of committing yourselves; and being warned of them
+beforehand, I hope it will put you more upon your guard, not to be
+tempted, upon any consideration, to give the least encouragement
+to them, much less to practise them yourselves.
+
+'Perhaps, Tom, if your brother had not, by telling us of Sharply's
+tricks, given me an opportunity of warning you how extremely wrong
+and wicked they are, you might when you were at school, have
+thought them very clever, and marks of genius; and therefore, like
+others of the boys, have tried to imitate them, and by that means
+have become as wicked, mean, and dishonourable yourself.  And only
+think how it would have grieved your mamma and me, to find the
+next holidays, our dear little Tom, instead of being that honest,
+open, generous-hearted boy he now is, changed into a deceiver, a
+cheat, a liar, one whom we could place no trust or confidence in;
+for, depend upon it, the person who will, when at play, behave
+unfair, would not scruple to do so in even other action of his
+life.  And the boy who will deceive for the sake of a marble, or
+the girl who would act ungenerously, for the sake of a doll's cap
+or a pin, will, when grown up, be ready to cheat and over-reach in
+their trades, or any affairs they may have to transact.  And you
+may assure yourselves that numbers of people who are every year
+hanged, began at first to be wicked by practising those little
+dishonourable mean actions, which so many children are too apt to
+do at play, without thinking of their evil consequences.
+
+'I think, my dear,' said he, turning to his wife, 'I have heard
+you mention a person who you were acquainted with when a girl, who
+at last was hanged for stealing, I think, was not she?'  'No,'
+replied the lady, 'she was not hanged, she was transported for
+one-and-twenty years.'  'Pray, madam, how transported? what is
+that?' inquired one of the children.  'People, my dear,' resumed
+the lady, 'are transported when they have committed crimes, which,
+according to the laws of our land, are not thought quite wicked
+enough to be hanged for; but still too bad to suffer them to
+continue amongst other people.  So, instead of hanging them, the
+judge orders that they shall be sent on board a ship, built on
+purpose to hold naughty people, and carried away from all their
+friends, a great many miles distant, commonly to America, where
+they are sold as slaves, to work very hard for as many years as
+they are transported for.  And the person your papa mentioned was
+sold for twenty-one years; but she died before that time was out,
+as most of them do:  they are generally used very cruelly, and
+work very hard; and besides, the heat of the climate seldom agrees
+with anybody who has been used to live in England, and so they
+generally die before their time is expired, and never have an
+opportunity of seeing their friends any more, after they are once
+sent away.  How should any of you, my dears, like to be sent away
+from your papa and me, and your brothers and sisters, and uncles
+and aunts, and all your friends, and never) never see us any more;
+and only keep company with naughty, cross, wicked people, and
+labour very hard, and suffer a great deal of sickness, and such a
+number of different hardships, you cannot imagine?  Only think how
+shocking it must be! How should you like it?'  'Oh', not at all,
+not at all,' was echoed from everyone in the room.
+
+'But such,' rejoined their mother, 'is the punishment naughty
+people have; and such was the punishment the person your papa
+spoke of had; who, when she was young, no more expected to come to
+such an end than any of you do.  I was very well acquainted with
+her, and often used to play with her, and she (like the boy Frank
+has been talking of) used to think it a mark of cleverness to be
+able to deceive; and for the sake of winning the game she was
+engaged in, would not scruple committing any little unfair action,
+which would give her the advantage.
+
+'I remember one time, at such a trifling game as pushpin, she gave
+me a very bad opinion of her; for I observed, instead of pushing
+the pin as she ought to do, she would try to lift it up with her
+finger a little, to make it cross over the other.
+
+'And when we were all at cards, she would peep, to find out the
+pictured ones, that she might have them in her own hand.
+
+'And when we played at any game which had forfeits, she would try,
+by different little artifices, to steal back her own before the
+time of crying them came; or, if she was the person who was to cry
+them, as you call it, she would endeavour to see whose came next,
+that she might order the penalty accordingly.
+
+'Or if we were playing at hide and seek, she would put what we had
+to hide either in her own pocket, or throw it into the fire, so
+that it would be impossible to find it; and then, after making her
+companions hunt for it for an hour, till their patience was quite
+tired, and they gave out; she would burst out in a loud laugh! and
+say she only did it for fun.  But, for my part, I never could see
+any joke in such kind of things:  the meanness, the baseness, the
+dish on our, which attended it always, in my opinion, took off all
+degree of cleverness, or pleasure from such actions.
+
+'There was another of her sly tricks which I forgot to mention,
+and that was, if at tea, or any other time, she got first to the
+plate of cake or bread, she would place the piece she liked best
+where she thought it would come to her turn to have it:  or if at
+breakfast she saw her sisters' basin have the under crust in it,
+and they happened not to be by, or to see her, she would take it
+out, and put her own, which she happened not to like so well, in
+the stead.
+
+'Only think, my dears, what frightful, sly, naughty tricks to be
+guilty of!  And from practising these, which she said there was no
+harm in, and she only did them in play, and for a bit of fun, at
+last she came, by degrees, to be guilty of greater.  She two or
+three different times, when she was not seen, stole things out of
+shops; and one day, when she was upon a visit, and thought she
+could do it cleverly, without being discovered, put a couple of
+table spoons into her pocket.  The footman who was waiting
+happened to see her; but fearing to give offence, he took no
+notice of it till after she was gone home, when he told his
+master, who, justly provoked at being so ill-treated, by a person
+to whom he had shown every civility, went after her, called in her
+own two maids, and his footman, as witnesses, and then insisted
+upon examining her pockets, where he indeed found his own two
+spoons.  He then sent for proper officers to secure her, had her
+taken into custody, and for that offence it was that she was
+transported.
+
+'Thus, my dear children, you see the shocking consequence of ever
+suffering such vile habits to grow upon us; and I hope the example
+of this unhappy woman (which I assure you is a true story) will be
+sufficient to warn you for ever, for a single time, being guilty
+of so detestable a crime, lest you should, like her, by degrees
+come to experience her fatal punishment.'
+
+Just as the lady said these words a bell rang, and all getting up
+together, they went out of the room, the young one calling out,
+'To dinner! to dinner! to dinner! here we all go to dinner!'
+
+And I will seek for one too, said I to myself, (creeping out as
+soon as I found I was alone) for I feel very faint and hungry.  I
+looked and looked about a long while, for I could move but slow,
+on account of the bruises I had received in the shoe.  At last
+under the table, round which the family had been sitting, I found
+a pincushion, which, being stuffed with bran, afforded me enough
+to satisfy my hunger, but was excessively dry and unsavoury; yet,
+bad as it was, I was obliged to be content at that time with it;
+and had nearly done eating when the door opened, and in ran two or
+three of the children.  Frightened out of my senses almost, I had
+just time to escape down a little hole in the floor, made by one
+of the knots in the wood slipping out, and there I heard one of
+the girls exclaim--
+
+'O dear! who now has cut my pincushion? it was you did it, Tom.' 
+'No, indeed I did not,' replied he.  'Then it was you, Mary.' 
+'No, I know nothing of it,' answered she.  'Then it was you,
+Hetty.'  'That I am sure it was not,' said she; 'I am sure, I am
+certain it was not me; I am positive it was not.'  'Ah,' replied
+the other, 'I dare say it was.'  'Yes, I think it is most likely,'
+said Mary.  'And so do I too,' said Tom.  'And pray why do you all
+think so?' inquired Hetty, in an angry tone.  'Because,' said the
+owner of the pincushion, 'you are the only one who ever tells
+fibs; you told a story, you know, about the fruit; you told a
+story too about the currant jelly; and about putting your fingers
+in the butter, at breakfast; and therefore there is a very great
+reason why we should suspect you more than anybody else.'  'But I
+am sure,' said she, bursting into tears, 'I am very sure I have
+not meddled with it.'  'I do not at all know that,' replied the
+other, 'and I do think it was you; for I am certain if any one
+else had done it they would not deny it; and it could not come
+into this condition by itself, somebody must have done it; and I
+dare say it was you; so say no more about it.'
+
+Here the dispute was interrupted by somebody calling them out of
+the room; and I could not help making some reflections on what had
+passed.  How dreadful a crime, thought I, is lying and falsity; to
+what sad mortifications does it subject the person who is ever
+wicked enough to commit it; and how does it expose them to the
+contempt of everyone, and make them to be suspected of faults they
+are even perfectly free from.  Little Hetty now is innocent, with
+respect to the pincushion with which her sister charges her, as
+any of the others; yet, because she has before forfeited her
+honour, she can gain no credit:  no one believes what she says,
+she is thought to be guilty of the double fault of spoiling the
+pincushion, and what is still worse, of lying to conceal it;
+whilst the other children are at once believed, and their words
+depended upon.
+
+Surely, surely, thought I, if people would but reflect upon the
+contempt, the shame, and the difficulties which lies expose them
+to, they would never be guilty of so terrible a vice, which
+subjects them to the scorn of all they converse with, and renders
+them at all times suspected, even though they should, as in the
+case of Hetty, really speak the truth.  Such were my reflections
+upon falsehood, nor could I help altogether blaming the owner of
+the pincushion for her hasty judgment relating to it.  Somebody,
+she was certain, must have done it; it was impossible it could
+come so by itself.  That, to be sure, was very true; but then she
+never recollected that it was possible a little mouse might put it
+in that condition.  Ah! thought I to myself, what pity is it, that
+human creatures, who are blest with understanding and faculties so
+superior to any species, should not make better use of them; and
+learn, from daily experience, to grow wiser and better for the
+future.  This one instance of the pincushion, may teach (and
+surely people engaged in life must hourly find more) how dangerous
+it is to draw hasty conclusions, and to condemn people upon
+suspicion, as also the many, great, and bad consequences of lying.
+
+Scarcely had I finished these soliloquies when a great knock at
+the house door made me give such a start that I fell off the joist
+on which I was standing, and then ran straight forwards till I
+came out at a little hole I found in the bricks above the parlour
+window:  from that I descended into the road, and went on
+unmolested till I reached a malt-house, about whose various
+apartments, never staying long in the same, I continued to live;
+till one night, all on a sudden, I was alarmed by fire, which
+obliged me to retreat with the greatest expedition.
+
+I passed numberless rats and mice in my way, who, like myself,
+were driven forth by the flames; but, alas! among them I found not
+my brother.  Despairing, therefore, of ever seeing him again, I
+determined, if possible, to find my way back to you, who before
+had shown me such kindness.  Numberless were the fatigues and
+difficulties I had to encounter in my journey here; one while in
+danger from hungry cats, at another almost perished with cold and
+want of food.
+
+But it is needless to enumerate every particular; I should but
+tire your patience was I to attempt it; so I will hasten to a
+conclusion of my history, only telling you how you came to find me
+in that melancholy condition from which your mercy has now raised
+me.
+
+I came into your house one evening concealed in the middle of a
+floor-cloth, which the maid had rolled up and set at the outside
+of the back door, whilst she swept the passage, and neglected to
+take it in again till the evening, In that I hid myself, and upon
+her laying it down, ran with all speed down the cellar-stairs,
+where I continued till the family were all gone to bed.  Then I
+returned back, and came into your closet, where the scent of some
+figs tempted me to get into the jar in which you found me.  I
+concealed myself among them, and after feasting most deliciously,
+fell asleep, from which I was awakened by hearing a voice say,
+"Who has left the cover off the fig-jar?" and at the same time I
+was involved in darkness by having it put on.  In vain I
+endeavoured to remove it, the figs were so low, that when I stood
+on them I could but just touch it with my lips, and the jar being
+stone I could not possibly fasten my nails to hang by the side.
+
+In this dismal situation therefore I was constrained to stay, my
+apprehensions each day increasing as my food diminished, till at
+last, after feeding very sparingly for some days, it was quite
+exhausted; and I had endured the inexpressible tortures of hunger
+for three days and three nights, when you happily released me, and
+by your compassion restored me once more to life and liberty. 
+Condescend, therefore, to preserve that life you have so
+lengthened, and take me under your protection.
+
+'That most gladly,' interrupted I, 'I will do:  you will live in
+this large green-flowered tin canister, and run in and out when
+you please, and I will keep you constantly supplied with food. 
+But I must now shut you in, for the cat has this moment entered
+the room.'
+
+
+
+And now I cannot take leave of all my little readers, without once
+more begging them, for their own sakes, to endeavour to follow all
+the good advice the mouse has been giving them; and likewise
+warning them to shun all those vices and follies, the practice of
+which renders children so contemptible and wicked.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg Etext The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse
+
diff --git a/old/lpoam10.zip b/old/lpoam10.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e3c6ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/lpoam10.zip