the life and perambulations of a mouse-第12章

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r　them　near　their　own。　　But　as　the　Flails　could　not　afford　wholly　to　maintain　them　for　nothing；　they　entrusted　the　poultry　to　their　care；　which　enabled　them　to　do　with　one　servant　less；　and　by　that　means　they　could；　without　any　great　expense；　afford　to　give　them　sufficient　to　make　their　lives　comfortable；　that　is；　as　far　as　their　own　reflections　would　let　them；　for　the　last　words　Mrs。　Speedgo　said　to　Molly；　when　she　parted　from　her；　dwelt　continually　upon　her　mind；　and　filled　her　with　shame　and　remorse。

'〃I　told　her；〃　said　she；　〃that　she　should　never　again　come　into　my　doors；　or　eat　another　mouthful　in　my　house；　and　now　it　is　her　bounty　alone　which　keeps　us　all　from　perishing。　　Oh！　how　unworthy　are　we　of　such　goodness！　　True；　indeed；　was　what　she　told　you；　that　kindness　and　virtue　were　far　more　valuable　than　riches。　　Goodness　and　kindness　no　time　or　change　can　take　from　us；　but　riches　soon　fly　as　it　were　away；　and　then　what　are　we　the　better　for　having　been　once　possessed　of　them？〃'

Here　Mr。　John　stopped；　and　jumping　hastily　up；　and　turning　round　to　Mrs。　　Sally；　Mrs。　Nelly；　and　Mr。　Bob；　exclaimed；　rubbing　his　hands'There　ladies；　I　have　finished　my　story；　and；　let　me　tell　you；　so　long　preaching　has　made　my　throat　dry；　so　another　mug　of　ale；　if　you　please；　Master　Bobby　（tapping　him　at　the　same　time　upon　the　shoulder）；　another　mug　of　ale；　my　boy；　for　faith；　talking　at　the　rate　I　have　done；　is　enough　to　wear　a　man's　lungs　out；　and；　in　truth；　I　have　need　of　something　to　hearten　me　after　such　fatigue。'

'Well；　I　am　sure；'　replied　Mrs。　Sally　and　Mrs。　Nelly；　in　the　same　breath；　'we　are　greatly　obliged　to　you　for　your　history；　and　I　am　sure　it　deserves　to　be　framed　and　glazed；　and　it　ought　to　be　hung　up　in　the　hall　of　every　family；　that　all　people　may　see　the　sad　effects　of　pride；　and　how　little　cause　people　have；　because　they　are　rich；　to　despise　those　who　are　poor；　since　it　frequently　happens；　that　those　who　this　year　are　like　little　kings；　may　the　next　be　beggars；　and　then　they　will　repent；　when　it　is　too　late；　of　all　their　pride　and　unkindness　they　showed　to　those　beneath　them。'

Here　the　conversation　was　put　a　stop　to　by　the　bell　ringing；　and　John　being　ordered　to　drive　to　the　door。　　I；　who　during　the　whole　of　the　history　had　been　feasting　upon　a　mince…pie；　now　thought　it　safer　to　conceal　myself　in　a　little　hole　in　the　wainscot　of　the　closet；　where；　finding　myself　very　safe；　I　did　not　awake　till　midnight。　　After　the　family　were　all　retired　to　rest；　I　peeped　out　of　the　hole；　and　there　saw　just　such　another　frightful　trap　as　that　which　was　the　prelude　to　poor　Softdown's　sufferings。　　Startled　at　the　sight；　I　retreated　back　as　expeditiously　as　possible；　nor　ever　stopped　till　I　found　my　way　into　a　bed…chamber；　where　lay　two　little　girls　fast　asleep。

I　looked　about　for　some　time；　peeping　into　every　hole　and　corner　before　I　could　find　any　thing　to　eat；　there　being　not　so　much　as　a　candle　in　the　room　with　them。　　At　last　I　crept　into　a　little　leathern　trunk；　which　stood　on　a　table；　not　shut　down　quite　close：　　here　I　instantly　smelt　something　good：　　but　was　obliged　to　gnaw　through　a　great　deal　of　linen　to　get　at　it；　it　was　wrapped　up　in　a　lap…bag；　amongst　a　vast　quantity　of　work。　　However；　I　made　my　way　through　half　a　hundred　folds；　and　at　last　was　amply　repaid；　by　finding　out　a　nice　piece　of　plum…cake；　and　the　pips　of　an　apple；　which　I　could　easily　get　at；　one　half　of　it　having　been　eat　away。　　Whilst　I　was　thus　engaged　I　heard　a　cat　mew；　and　not　knowing　how　near　she　might　be；　I　endeavoured　to　jump　out；　but　in　the　hurry　I　somehow　or　other　entangled　myself　in　the　muslin；　and　pulled　that；　trunk　and　all；　down　with　me；　for　the　trunk　stood　half　off　the　table；　so　that　the　least　touch　in　the　world　overset　it；　otherwise　my　weight　could　never　have　tumbled　it　down。

The　noise　of　the　fall；　however；　waked　the　children；　and　I　heard　one　say　to　the　other；'Bless　me！　　Mary；　what　is　that　noise？What　can　it　be？　　I　am　almost　frightened　out　of　my　wits；　do；　pray；　sister；　hug　me　close！'　　'Pooh！'　replied　the　other；　'never　mind　it！　　What　in　the　world　need　you　be　frightened　at？　　What　do　you　suppose　will　hurt　you？　　It　sounded　as　if　something　fell　down；　but　as　it　has　not　fallen　upon　us；　and　I　do　not　hear　anybody　stirring；　or　speaking　as　if　they　were　hurt；　what　need　we　care　about　it？　　So　pray；　Nancy；　let　us　go　to　sleep　again；　for　as　yet　I　have　not　had　half　sufficient；　I　am　sure；　I　hope　morning　is　not　coming　yet；　for　I　am　not　at　all　ready　to　get　up。'　　'I　am　sure；'　answered　the　other；　'I　wish　it　was　morning；　and　daylight　now；　for　I　should　like　to　get　up　vastly；　I　do　not　like　to　lay　here　in　the　dark　any　longer；　I　have　a　great　mind　to　ring　the　bell；　and　then　mamma　or　somebody　will　come　to　us　with　a　candle。'　　'And　what　in　the　world；'　rejoined　Mary；　'will　be　the　use　of　that？　　Do　you　want　a　candle　to　light　you　to　look　for　the　wounds　the　noise　has　given　you；　or　what　can　you　wish　to　disturb　my　mamma　for？　　Come；　let　me　cuddle　you；　and　do　go　to　sleep；　child；　for　I　cannot　think　what　occasion　there　is　for　us　to　keep　awake　because　we　heard　a　noise；　I　never　knew　that　noise　had　teeth　or　claws　to　hurt　one　with；　and　I　am　sure　this　has　not　hurt　me；　and　so；　whether　you　choose　to　lie　awake　or　not；　I　will　go　to　sleep；　and　so　good…bye　to　you；　and　pray　do　not　disturb　me　any　more；　for　I　cannot　talk　any　longer。'　　'But；　Mary；'　again　replied　the　other；　'pray　do　not　go　to　sleep　yet；　I　want　to　speak　to　you。'　　'Well；　what　do　you　want　to　say？'　inquired　Mary。　　'Why；　pray　have　you　not　very　often；'　said　Nancy；　'heard　of　thieves　breaking　into　people's　houses　and　robbing　them；　and　I　am　sadly　afraid　that　noise　was　some　rogues　coming　in；　so　pray；　Mary；　do　not　go　to　sleep；　I　am　in　such　a　fright　and　tremble　you　cannot　think。　　Speak；　Mary；　have　not　you；　I　say；　heard　of　thieves？'　　'Yes；'　replied　Mary；　in　a　very　sleepy　voice；　'a　great　many　times。'　　'Well；　then；　pray　sister；　do　not　go　to　sleep；'　said　Nancy；　in　a　peevish　accent；　'suppose；　I　say　that　noise　I　heard　should　be　thieves；　what　should　we　do？　　What　will　become　of　us？　　O！　what　shall　we　do？''Why；　go　to　sleep；　I　tell　you；'　said　Mary；　'as　fast　as　you　can；　at　least；　do　pray　let　me；　for　I　cannot　say　I　am　in　the　smallest　fear　about　house…breakers　or　house…makers　either；　and　of　all　the　robberies　I　ever　heard　of　in　all　my　life；　I　never　heard　of　thieves　stealing　little　girls；　so　do；　there's　a　dear　girl；　go　to　sleep　again；　and　do　not　so　foolishly　frighten　yourself　out　of　your　wits　for　nothing。'　　'Well；'　replied　Nancy；　'I　will　not　keep　you　awake　any　longer；　but　I　am　sure　I　shall　not　be　able　to　get　another　wink　of　sleep　all　night。'

Here　the　conversation　ended；　and　I　could　not　help　thinking　how　foolish　it　was　for　people　to　permit　themselves　to　be　terrified　for　nothing。　　Here　is　a　little　girl；　now；　thought　I；　in　a　nice　clean　room；　and　covered　up　warm　in　bed；　with　pretty　green　curtains　drawn　round　her；　to　keep　the　wind　from　her　head；　and　the　light　in　the　morning　from　her　eyes；　and　yet　she　is　distressing　herself；　and　making　herself　really　uncomfortable；　and　unhappy；　only　because　I；　a　poor；　little；　harmless　mouse；　with　scarcely　strength　sufficient　to　gnaw　a　nutshell；　happened　to　jump　from　the　table；　and　throw　down；　perhaps；　her　own　box。Oh！　what　a　pity　it　is　that　people　should　so　destroy　their　own　comfort！　How　sweetly　might　this　child　have　passed　the　night；　if　she　had　but；　like　her　sister；　wisely　reflected　that　a　noise　could　not　possibly　hurt　them；　　and　that；　had　any　of　the　family　occasioned　it；　by　falling　down；　or　running　against　anything　in　the　dark　which　hurt　them；　most　likely　they　would　have　heard　some　more　stirring　about。

And　upon　this　subject　the　author　cannot　help；　in　human　form　（as　well　as　in　that　of　a　mouse）；　observing　how　extremely　ridiculous　it　is　for　people　to　suffer　themselves　to　be　terrified　upon　every　trifling　occasion　that　happens；　as　if　they　had　no　more　resolution　than　a　mouse　itself；　which　is　liable　to　be　destroyed　every　meal　it　makes。　　And；　surely；　nothing　can　be　more　absurd　than　for　children　to　be　afraid　of　thieves　and　house…breakers；　since；　as　little　Mary　said；　they　never　want　to　seek　after　children。　　Money　is　all　they　want；　and　as　children　have　very　seldom　much　of　that　in　their　possession；　they　may　assure　themselves　they　are　perfectly　safe；　and　have　therefore　no　occasion　to　alarm　themselves　if　they　hear　a　noise；　without　being　able　to　make　out　what　it　is；　unless；　indeed；　like　the　child　I　have　just　been　writing　about；　they　would　be　so　silly　as　to　be　frightened　at　a　little　mouse；　for　most　commonly　the　noises　we　hear；　if　we　lay　awake　in　the　night；　are　caused　by　mice　running　about　and　playing　behind　the　wainscot：　　and　what　reasonable　person　would　suffer　themselves　to　be　alarmed　by　such　little　creatures　as　those？　　But　it　is　time　I　should　return　to　the　history　of　my　little　make…believe　companion；　who　went　on；　saying

The　conversation　I　have　been　relating　I　overheard　as　I　lay　concealed　in　a　shoe　that　stood　close　by　the　bedside；　and　into　which　I　ran　the　moment　I　jumped　off　the　table；　and　where　I　kept　snug　till　the　next　morning；　when；　just　as　the　clock　was　striking　eight；　the　same　Mrs。　Nelly；　whom　I　saw　the　day　before　in　the　kitchen；　entered　the　apartment；　and　accosted　the　young　ladies；　saying；　'Good　morning　to　you；　ladies；　do　you　know　that　it　is　time　to　get　up？'　　'Then；　pray；　Nelly；　lace　my　stays；　will　you？'　said　Miss　Nancy。　　'But　lace　mine　first；　and　give　me　my　other　shoes；　for　those　I　wore　yesterday　must　be　brushed；　because　I　stepped　in　the　dirt；　and　so　when　you　go　down　you　must　remember；　and　take　and　brush　them；　and　then　let　me　have　them　again；'　said　Mary；　'but　come　and　dress　me　now。'

Well；　thought　I；　this　is　a　rude　way　of　speaking；　indeed；　something　like　Miss　Nancy　Artless；　at　the　house　where　my　poor　dear　Softdown　was　so　cruelly　massacred；　I　am　sure　I　hope　I　shall　not　meet　with　the　like　fate　here；　and　I　wish　I　was　safe　out　of　this　shoe；　for；　perhaps；　presently　it　will　be　wanted　to　be　put　on　Mary's　foot；　and　I　am　sure　I　must　not　expect　to　meet　any　mercy　from　a　child　who　shows　so　bad　a　disposition　as　to　speak　to　a　servant　in　so　uncivil　a　manner；　for　no　good…natured　person　would　do　that。

With　these　kind　of　reflections　I　was　amusing　myself　for　some　little　time；　when；　all　on　a　sudden；　they　were　put　an　end　to；　by　my　finding　the　shoe　in　which　I　was　concealed；　hastily　taken　up；　and　before　I　had　time　to　recollect　what　I　had　best　do；　I　was　almost　killed　by　some　violent　blows　I　received；　which　well　nigh　broke　every　bone　in　my　skin。　　I　crept　quite　up　to　the　toe　of　the　shoe；　so　that　I　was　not　at　all　seen；　and　the　maid；　when　she　took　up　the　shoes；　held　one　in　one　hand；　and　the　other　in　the　other；　by　their　heels；　and　then　slapped　them　hard　together；　to　beat　out　of　some　of　the　dust　which　was　in　them。　　This　she　repeated　three　or　four　times；　till　I　was　quite　stunned；　and　how　or　which　way　I　tumbled　or　got　out；　I　know　not；　but　when　I　came　to　myself。　　I　was　close　up　behind　the　foot　of　a　table；　in　a　large　apartment；　where　were　several　children；　and　a　gentleman　and　a　lady；　all　conversing　together　with　the　greatest　good　humour　and　harmony。

The　first　words　I　heard　distinctly　enough　to　remember；　were　those　of　a　little　boy；　about　five　years　old；　who；　with　eagerness　exclaimed'I　forget　you！　no　that　I　never　shall。　　If　I　was　to　go　a　hundred　thousand　miles　off；　I　am　sure　I　shall