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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse + +Author: Dorothy Kilner + +Release Date: October 15, 2008 [EBook #1904] +Last Updated: November 8, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF A MOUSE *** + + + + +Produced by Pat Pflieger, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS<br /> OF A<br /> MOUSE + </h1> + <h3> + (1783-1784) + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + by Dorothy Kilner + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Contents + </h3> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PART1"> PART I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PART2"> PART II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_INTR2"> INTRODUCTION </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 the + head 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART1" id="link2H_PART1"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART I. + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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?’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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:— + </p> + <p> + ‘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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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 you 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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! + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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, ‘you + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘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!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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.” + </p> + <p> + ‘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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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— + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART2" id="link2H_PART2"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART II. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_INTR2" id="link2H_INTR2"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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.” + </p> + <p> + ‘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.” + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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.” + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘“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?”’ + </p> + <p> + 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.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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— + </p> + <p> + 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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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?’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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; but 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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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 (sic), which attendedit always, in my + opinion, took off all degree of cleverness, or pleasure from such actions. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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!’ + </p> + <p> + 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— + </p> + <p> + ‘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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + ‘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.’ + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse, by +Dorothy Kilner + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF A MOUSE *** + +***** This file should be named 1904-h.htm or 1904-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/0/1904/ + +Produced by Pat Pflieger, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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