the life and perambulations of a mouse-第13章

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I　forget　you！　no　that　I　never　shall。　　If　I　was　to　go　a　hundred　thousand　miles　off；　I　am　sure　I　shall　never　forget　you。　　What！　do　you　think　I　should　ever；　as　long　as　I　live；　if　it　is　a　million　of　years；　forget　my　own　dear　papa　and　mamma？　No；　that　I　should　not；　I　am　very；　very　sure　I　never　should。'　　'Well；　but　Tom；'　interrupted　the　gentleman；　'if　in　a　million　of　years　you　should　not　forget　us；　I　dare　say；　in　less　than　two　months　you　will　forget　our　advice；　and　before　you　have　been　at　school　half　that　time；　you　will　get　to　squabbling　with　and　tricking　the　other　boys；　just　as　they　do　with　one　another；　and　instead　of　playing　at　all　times　with　the　strictest　openness　and　honour；　you　will；　I　sadly　fear；　learn　to　cheat；　and　deceive；　and　pay　no　attention　to　what　your　mother　and　I　have　been　telling　you。'　　'No'；　that　I　am　sure　I　sha'n't！'　replied　the　boy。　　'What！　do　you　think　I　shall　be　so　wicked　as　to　turn　a　thief；　and　cheat　people？'　　'I　dare　say；　my　dear；'　resumed　the　father；　'you　will　not　do　what　we　call　thieving；　but　as　I　know　there　are　many　naughty　boys　in　all　schools；　I　am　afraid　they　will　teach　you　to　commit　dishonourable　actions；　and　to　tell　you　there　is　no　harm　in　them；　and　that　they　are　signs　of　cleverness　and　spirit；　and　qualifications　very　necessary　for　every　boy　to　possess。'　　'Aye；　that's　sure　enough；'　said　the　boy；　who　appeared　about　ten　years　old；　'for　they　almost　all　declare；　that　if　a　boy　is　not　sharp　and　cunning；　he　might　almost　as　well　be　out　of　the　world　as　in　it。　　But；　as　you　say；　papa；　I　hate　such　behaviour；　I　am　sure　there　is　one　of　our　boys；　who　is　so　wonderfully　clever　and　acute；　as　they　call　him；　that　I　detest　ever　having　any　thing　to　do　with　him；　for　unless　one　watches　him　as　a　cat　would　watch　a　mouse；　he　is　sure　to　cheat　or　play　one　some　trick　or　other。'　　'What　sort　of　tricks　do　you　mean？'　inquired　the　little　boy。　　'Why；　I　will　tell　you；'　replied　the　other。　　'You　know　nothing　of　the　games　we　have　at　school；　so　if　I　was　to　tell　you　how　he　plays　at　them；　you　would　not　understand　what　I　meant。　　But　you　know　what　walking　about　blindfold　is；　don't　you？　　Well！　one　day；　about　a　dozen　boys　agreed　to　have　a　blind　race；　and　the　boy　who　got　nearest　the　goal；　which　was　a　stick　driven　in　the　ground　with　a　shilling　upon　the　top　of　it；　was　to　win　the　shilling；　provided　he　did　it　fairly　without　seeing。'　　'I　suppose；'　interrupted　Tom；　'you　mean　the　boy　who　got　to　the　stick　first。'　　'No；　I　do　not；'　replied　his　brother；　'I　mean　what　I　say；　the　boy　who　got　nearest　it；　no　matter　whether　he　came　first　or　last；　the　fun　was　to　see　them　try　to　keep　in　a　straight　path；　with　their　eyes　tied　up；　whilst　they　wander　quite　in　the　wrong；　and　not　to　try　who　could　run　fastest。　　Well！　when　they；　were　all　blinded；　and　twisted　round　three　or　four　times　before　they　were　suffered　to　set　off；　they　directed　their　steps　the　way　they　thought　would　directly　conduct　them　to　the　goal；　and　some　of　them　had　almost　reached　it；　when　Sharply　（the　boy　I　mentioned）　who　had　placed　a　shilling　upon　the　stick；　for　they　drew　lots　who　should　do　that；　and　he　who　furnished　the　money　was　to　stand　by　it；　to　observe　who　won　it　by　coming　nearest；　well；　Sharply；　I　say；　just　as　they　came　close　to　it；　moved　away　softly　to　another　place；　above　three　yards　distant　from　any　of　them　（for　I　should　have　told　you；　that　if　none　of　them　got　within　three　yards；　the　shilling　was　to　remain　his；　and　they　were　each　to　give　him　a　penny。）　　So　then　he　untied　their　eyes；　and　insisted　upon　it　they　had　all　of　them　lost。　　But　two　or　three　of　us　happened　to　be　by；　and　so　we　said　he　had　cheated　them；　and　ought　not　to　keep　the　money；　as　it　had　fairly　been　won　by　Smyth。　　But　he　would　not　give　it　up；　so　it　made　a　quarrel　between　him　and　Smyth；　and　at　last　they　fought；　and　Mr。　Chiron　confined　them　both　in　the　school　all　the　rest　of　the　afternoon；　and　when　he　heard　what　the　quarrel　was　about；　he　took　the　shilling　from　Sharply；　and　called　him　a　mean…spirited　cheat；　but　he　would　not　let　Smyth　have　it；　because　he　said　he　deserved　to　lose　it　for　fighting　about　such　a　trifle；　and　so　it　was　put　into　the　forfeit…money。'

'But　pray　do　not　you　think　Sharply　behaved　extremely　wrong？'　　'Shamefully　so；　indeed；'　said　the　gentleman。　　'I　never　could　have　any　opinion　of　a　boy　'who　could　act　so　dishonourably；'　said　the　lady；　'let　his　cleverness　be　what　it　would。'　　'Pray；　Frank；　tell　me　some　more；'　said　the　little　boy。　　'More！'　replied　Frank；　'I　could　tell　you　an　hundred　such　kind　of　things。　　One　time；　as　Peter　Light　was　walking　up　the　yard；　with　some　damsons　in　his　hat；　Sharply　ran　by；　and　as　he　passed；　knocked　his　hat　out　of　his　hand；　for　the　sake　of　scrambling　for　as　many　as　he　could　get　himself。　　And　sometimes；　after　the　pie…woman　has　been　there；　he　gets　such　heaps　of　tarts　you　cannot　think；　by　his　different　tricks：　　perhaps　he　will　buy　a　currant　tart　himself；　then　he　would　go　about；　calling　out；　〃Who'll　change　a　cheesecake　for　a　currant　tart？〃　and　now…and…then　he　will　add；　〃and　half　a　bun　into　the　bargain！〃　　Then　two　or　three　of　the　boys　call　out；　〃I　will；　I　will！〃　and　when　they　go　to　hold　out　their　cheesecakes　to　him；　he　snatches　them　out　of　their　hands　before　they　are　aware；　and　runs　away　in　an　instant；　and　whilst　they　stand　for　a　moment　in　astonishment；　he　gets　so　much　ahead　of　them　that　he　eats　them　up　before　they　can　again　overtake　him。　　At　other　times；　when　he　sees　a　boy　beginning　to　eat　his　cake；　he　will　come　and　talk　carelessly　to　him　for　a　few　moments；　and　then　all　of　a　sudden　call　out；　〃Look！　look！　look！…there！〃　pointing　his　finger　as　if　to　show　him　something　wonderful；　and　when　the　other；　without　suspecting　any　mischief；　turns　his　head　to　see　what　has　so　surprised　him；　away　he　snatches　the　cake；　and　runs　off　with　it；　cramming　it　into　his　mouth　in　a　moment。

'And　when　he　plays　at　Handy…dandy；　Jack…a…dandy；　which　will　you　have；　upper　hand　or　lower？　if　you　happen　to　guess　right；　he　slips　whatever　you　are　playing　with　into　his　other　hand；　and　that　you　know　is　not　playing　fair；　and　so　many　of　the　boys　tell　him；　but　he　does　not　mind　any　of　us。　　And　as　he　is　clever　at　his　learning；　and　always　does　his　exercise　quite　right；　Mr。　Chiron　（who　indeed　does　not　know　of　his　tricks）　is　very　fond　of　him；　and　is　for　ever　saying　what　a　clever　fellow　he　is；　and　proposing　him　as　an　example　to　the　rest　of　the　boys；　and　I　do　believe　many　of　them　imitate　his　deceitful；　cheating　tricks；　only　for　the　sake　of　being　thought　like　him。'

'Aye！　it　is　a　sad　thing；'　interrupted　the　gentleman；　'that　people　who　are　blessed　with　sense　and　abilities　to　behave　well；　should　so　misuse　them　as　to　set　a　bad；　instead　of　a　good　example　to　others；　and　by　that　means　draw　many　into　sin；　who　otherwise；　perhaps；　might　never　have　acted　wrong。　　Was　this　Sharply；　you　have　been　speaking　of；　a　dunce　and　blockhead　at　his　book；　he　would　never　gain　the　commendations　that　Mr。　Chiron　now　bestows　upon　him；　and；　consequently；　no　boy　would　wish　to　be　thought　like　him；　his　bad　example；　therefore；　would　not　be　of　half　the　importance　it　now　is。

'Only　think；　then；　my　dear　children；　how　extremely　wicked　it　is；　for　those　who　are　blessed　with　understandings　capable　of　acting　as　they　should　do；　and　making　people　admire　them；　at　the　same　time　to　be　guilty　of　such　real　and　great　sin。　　For；　however　children　at　play　may　like　to　trick　and　deceive　each　other；　and　call　it　only　play　or　fun；　still；　let　me　tell　you；　they　are　much　mistaken　if　they　flatter　themselves　there　is　no　harm　in　it。　　It　is　a　very　wrong　way　of　behaviour；　it　is　mean；　it　is　dishonorable；　and　it　is　wicked；　and　the　boy　or　girl　who　would　ever　permit　themselves　to　act　in　so　unjustifiable　a　manner；　however　they　may　excel　in　their　learning；　or　exterior　accomplishments；　can　never　be　deserving　of　esteem；　confidence；　or　regard。　　What　esteem　or　respect　could　I　ever　entertain　of　a　person's　sense　or　learning；　who　made　no　better　use　of　it　than　to　practise　wickedness　with　more　dexterity　and　grace　than　he　otherwise　would　be　enabled　to　do？　　Or；　what　confidence　could　I　ever　place　in　the　person　who；　I　knew；　only　wanted　a　convenient　opportunity　to　defraud；　trick；　and　deceive　me？　　Or；　what　regard　and　love　could　I　possibly　entertain　for　such　a　one；　who；　unless　I　kept　a　constant　watch　over；　as　I　must　over　a　wild　beast；　would；　like　a　wild　beast；　be　sure　to　do　me　some　injury？　　Would　it　be　possible；　I　say；　to　love　such　a　character；　whatever　shining　abilities　or　depth　of　learning　he　might　possess？　Ask　your　own　hearts；　my　dears；　whether　you　think　you　could？'

To　this　they　all　answered　at　once；　'No；　that　I　could　not；'　and　'I　am　sure　I　could　not。'　　'Well；　then；'　resumed　the　father；　'only　think　how　odious　that　conduct　must　be；　which　robs　us　of　the　esteem；　confidence；　and　love　of　our　fellow…creatures；　and　that　too；　notwithstanding　we　may　at　the　same　time　be　very　clever；　and　have　a　great　deal　of　sense　and　learning。　　But；　for　my　part；　I　confess　I　know　not　the　least　advantage　of　our　understanding　or　our　learning；　unless　we　make　a　proper　use　of　them。　　Knowing　a　great　deal；　and　having　read　a　great　many　books；　will　be　of　no　service　to　us；　unless　we　are　careful　to　make　a　proper　use　of　that　knowledge；　and　to　improve　by　what　we　read；　otherwise　the　time　we　so　bestow　is　but　lost；　and　we　might　as　well　spend　the　whole　of　our　lives　in　idleness。

'Always　remember；　therefore；　my　loves；　that　the　whole　end　of　our　taking　the　trouble　to　instruct　you；　or　putting　ourselves　to　the　expense　of　sending　you　to　school；　or　your　attending　to　what　is　taught　you；　is；　that　you　may　grow　better　men　and　women　than　you　otherwise　would　be；　and　unless；　therefore；　you　do　improve；　we　might　as　well　spare　ourselves　the　pains　and　expense；　and　you　need　not　take　the　trouble　of　learning；　since；　if　you　will　act　wickedly；　all　our　labour　is　but　thrown　away　to　no　manner　of　purpose。

'Mr。　and　Mrs。　Sharply；　how　I　pity　them！　　What　sorrow　must　they　endure；　to　behold　their　son　acting　in　the　manner　you　have　described；　for　nothing　can　give　so　much　concern　to　a　fond　parent's　heart；　as　to　see　their　children；　for　whom　they　have　taken　so　much　pains；　turn　out　naughty；　and　to　deceive　and　cheat！　What　can　be　worse　than　that？　　I　hope；　my　dear　children；　you　will　never；　any　of　you；　give　us　that　dreadful　misery！　　I　hope；　my　dear　Tom；　I　hope　you　will　never　learn　any　of　those　detestable　ways　your　brother　has　been　telling　you　of。　　And　if　it　was　not　that　you　will　often　be　obliged　to　see　such　things　when　you　mix　with　other　children；　I　should　be　sorry　you　should　even　hear　of　such　bad　actions；　as　I　could　wish　you　to　pass　through　life　without　so　much　as　knowing　such　wickedness　ever　existed；　hut　that　is　impossible。　　There　are　so　many　naughty　people　in　the　world；　that　you　will　often　be　obliged　to　see　and　hear　of　crimes　which　I　hope　you　will　shudder　to　think　of　committing　yourselves；　and　being　warned　of　them　beforehand；　I　hope　it　will　put　you　more　upon　your　guard；　not　to　be　tempted；　upon　any　consideration；　to　give　the　least　encouragement　to　them；　much　less　to　practise　them　yourselves。

'Perhaps；　Tom；　if　your　brother　had　not；　by　telling　us　of　Sharply's　tricks；　given　me　an　opportunity　of　warning　you　how　extremely　wrong　and　wicked　they　are；　you　might　when　you　were　at　school；　have　thought　them　very　clever；　and　marks　of　genius；　and　therefore；　like　others　of　the　boys；　have　tried　to　imitate　them；　and　by　that　means　have　become　as　wicked