the great big treasury of beatrix potter-第3章

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The　squirrels　filled　their　little　sacks　with　nuts。

But　Nutkin　sat　upon　a　big　flat　rock；　and　played　ninepins　with　a　crab　apple　and　green　fir…cones。


On　the　sixth　day；　which　was　Saturday；　the　squirrels　came　again　for　the　last　time；　they　brought　a　new…laid　EGG　in　a　little　rush　basket　as　a　last　parting　present　for　Old　Brown。

But　Nutkin　ran　in　front　laughing；　and　shouting

　　　　　〃Humpty　Dumpty　lies　in　the　beck；　　　　　　With　a　white　counterpane　round　his　neck；　　　　　　Forty　doctors　and　forty　wrights；　　　　　　Cannot　put　Humpty　Dumpty　to　rights！〃


Now　old　Mr。　Brown　took　an　interest　in　eggs；　he　opened　one　eye　and　shut　it　again。　But　still　he　did　not　speak。

Nutkin　became　more　and　more　impertinent

　　　　　〃Old　Mr。　B！　Old　Mr。　B！　　　　　　Hickamore；　Hackamore；　on　the　King's　　　　　　　　　　　kitchen　door；　　　　　　All　the　King's　horses；　and　all　the　King's　men；　　　　　　Couldn't　drive　Hickamore；　Hackamore；　　　　　　Off　the　King's　kitchen　door！〃


Nutkin　danced　up　and　down　like　a　SUNBEAM；　but　still　Old　Brown　said　nothing　at　all。

Nutkin　began　again

　　　　　〃Authur　O'Bower　has　broken　his　band；　　　　　　He　comes　roaring　up　the　land！　　　　　　The　King　of　Scots　with　all　his　power；　　　　　　Cannot　turn　Arthur　of　the　Bower！〃


Nutkin　made　a　whirring　noise　to　sound　like　the　WIND；　and　he　took　a　running　jump　right　onto　the　head　of　Old　Brown！　。　。　。

Then　all　at　once　there　was　a　flutterment　and　a　scufflement　and　a　loud　〃Squeak！〃

The　other　squirrels　scuttered　away　into　the　bushes。

When　they　came　back　very　cautiously；　peeping　round　the　tree　there　was　Old　Brown　sitting　on　his　door…step；　quite　still；　with　his　eyes　closed；　as　if　nothing　had　happened。

　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*

BUT　NUTKIN　WAS　IN　HIS　WAISTCOAT　POCKET！

This　looks　like　the　end　of　the　story；　but　it　isn't。


Old　Brown　carried　Nutkin　into　his　house；　and　held　him　up　by　the　tail；　intending　to　skin　him；　but　Nutkin　pulled　so　very　hard　that　his　tail　broke　in　two；　and　he　dashed　up　the　staircase；　and　escaped　out　of　the　attic　window。

And　to　this　day；　if　you　meet　Nutkin　up　a　tree　and　ask　him　a　riddle；　he　will　throw　sticks　at　you；　and　stamp　his　feet　and　scold；　and　shout

〃Cuck…cuck…cuck…cur…r…r…cuck…k！〃




THE　TALE　OF　BENJAMIN　BUNNY


＇For　the　Children　of　Sawrey　from　Old　Mr。　Bunny＇




One　morning　a　little　rabbit　sat　on　a　bank。

He　pricked　his　ears　and　listened　to　the　trit…trot；　trit…trot　of　a　pony。

A　gig　was　coming　along　the　road；　it　was　driven　by　Mr。　McGregor；　and　beside　him　sat　Mrs。　McGregor　in　her　best　bonnet。

As　soon　as　they　had　passed；　little　Benjamin　Bunny　slid　down　into　the　road；　and　set　offwith　a　hop；　skip；　and　a　jumpto　call　upon　his　relations；　who　lived　in　the　wood　at　the　back　of　Mr。　McGregor's　garden。

That　wood　was　full　of　rabbit　holes；　and　in　the　neatest；　sandiest　hole　of　all　lived　Benjamin's　aunt　and　his　cousinsFlopsy；　Mopsy；　Cotton…tail；　and　Peter。

Old　Mrs。　Rabbit　was　a　widow；　she　earned　her　living　by　knitting　rabbit…wool　mittens　and　muffatees　（I　once　bought　a　pair　at　a　bazaar）。　She　also　sold　herbs；　and　rosemary　tea；　and　rabbit…tobacco　（which　is　what　we　call　lavender）。


Little　Benjamin　did　not　very　much　want　to　see　his　Aunt。

He　came　round　the　back　of　the　fir…　tree；　and　nearly　tumbled　upon　the　top　of　his　Cousin　Peter。

Peter　was　sitting　by　himself。　He　looked　poorly；　and　was　dressed　in　a　red　cotton　pocket…handkerchief。

〃Peter；〃　said　little　Benjamin；　in　a　whisper；　〃who　has　got　your　clothes？〃

Peter　replied；　〃The　scarecrow　in　Mr。　McGregor's　garden；〃　and　described　how　he　had　been　chased　about　the　garden；　and　had　dropped　his　shoes　and　coat。

Little　Benjamin　sat　down　beside　his　cousin　and　assured　him　that　Mr。　McGregor　had　gone　out　in　a　gig；　and　Mrs。　McGregor　also；　and　certainly　for　the　day；　because　she　was　wearing　her　best　bonnet。


Peter　said　he　hoped　that　it　would　rain。

At　this　point　old　Mrs。　Rabbit's　voice　was　heard　inside　the　rabbit　hole；　calling：　〃Cotton…tail！　Cotton…tail！　fetch　some　more　camomile！〃

Peter　said　he　thought　he　might　feel　better　if　he　went　for　a　walk。

They　went　away　hand　in　hand；　and　got　upon　the　flat　top　of　the　wall　at　the　bottom　of　the　wood。　From　here　they　looked　down　into　Mr。　McGregor's　garden。　Peter's　coat　and　shoes　were　plainly　to　be　seen　upon　the　scarecrow；　topped　with　an　old　tam…o'…shanter　of　Mr。　McGregor's。

Little　Benjamin　said：　〃It　spoils　people's　clothes　to　squeeze　under　a　gate；　the　proper　way　to　get　in　is　to　climb　down　a　pear…tree。〃

Peter　fell　down　head　first；　but　it　was　of　no　consequence；　as　the　bed　below　was　newly　raked　and　quite　soft。

It　had　been　sown　with　lettuces。

They　left　a　great　many　odd　little　footmarks　all　over　the　bed；　especially　little　Benjamin；　who　was　wearing　clogs。

Little　Benjamin　said　that　the　first　thing　to　be　done　was　to　get　back　Peter's　clothes；　in　order　that　they　might　be　able　to　use　the　pocket…　handkerchief。

They　took　them　off　the　scarecrow。　There　had　been　rain　during　the　night；　there　was　water　in　the　shoes；　and　the　coat　was　somewhat　shrunk。

Benjamin　tried　on　the　tam…o'…　shanter；　but　it　was　too　big　for　him。

Then　he　suggested　that　they　should　fill　the　pocket…handkerchief　with　onions；　as　a　little　present　for　his　Aunt。

Peter　did　not　seem　to　be　enjoying　himself；　he　kept　hearing　noises。


Benjamin；　on　the　contrary；　was　perfectly　at　home；　and　ate　a　lettuce　leaf。　He　said　that　he　was　in　the　habit　of　coming　to　the　garden　with　his　father　to　get　lettuces　for　their　Sunday　dinner。

（The　name　of　little　Benjamin's　papa　was　old　Mr。　Benjamin　Bunny。）

The　lettuces　certainly　were　very　fine。

Peter　did　not　eat　anything；　he　said　he　should　like　to　go　home。　Presently　he　dropped　half　the　onions。

Little　Benjamin　said　that　it　was　not　possible　to　get　back　up　the　pear…tree　with　a　load　of　vegetables。　He　led　the　way　boldly　towards　the　other　end　of　the　garden。　They　went　along　a　little　walk　on　planks；　under　a　sunny；　red　brick　wall。


The　mice　sat　on　their　doorsteps　cracking　cherry…stones；　they　winked　at　Peter　Rabbit　and　little　Benjamin　Bunny。

Presently　Peter　let　the　pocket…　handkerchief　go　again。

They　got　amongst　flower…pots；　and　frames；　and　tubs。　Peter　heard　noises　worse　than　ever；　his　eyes　were　as　big　as　lolly…pops！

He　was　a　step　or　two　in　front　of　his　cousin　when　he　suddenly　stopped。

This　is　what　those　little　rabbits　saw　round　that　corner！

Little　Benjamin　took　one　look；　and　then；　in　half　a　minute　less　than　no　time；　he　hid　himself　and　Peter　and　the　onions　underneath　a　large　basket。　。　。　。


The　cat　got　up　and　stretched　herself；　and　came　and　sniffed　at　the　basket。

Perhaps　she　liked　the　smell　of　onions！

Anyway；　she　sat　down　upon　the　top　of　the　basket。

She　sat　there　for　FIVE　HOURS。

I　cannot　draw　you　a　picture　of　Peter　and　Benjamin　underneath　the　basket；　because　it　was　quite　dark；　and　because　the　smell　of　onions　was　fearful；　it　made　Peter　Rabbit　and　little　Benjamin　cry。

The　sun　got　round　behind　the　wood；　and　it　was　quite　late　in　the　afternoon；　but　still　the　cat　sat　upon　the　basket。

At　length　there　was　a　pitter…patter；　pitter…patter；　and　some　bits　of　mortar　fell　from　the　wall　above。

The　cat　looked　up　and　saw　old　Mr。　Benjamin　Bunny　prancing　along　the　top　of　the　wall　of　the　upper　terrace。

He　was　smoking　a　pipe　of　rabbit…　tobacco；　and　had　a　little　switch　in　his　hand。

He　was　looking　for　his　son。


Old　Mr。　Bunny　had　no　opinion　whatever　of　cats。　He　took　a　tremendous　jump　off　the　top　of　the　wall　on　to　the　top　of　the　cat；　and　cuffed　it　off　the　basket；　and　kicked　it　into　the　greenhouse；　scratching　off　a　handful　of　fur。

The　cat　was　too　much　surprised　to　scratch　back。

When　old　Mr。　Bunny　had　driven　the　cat　into　the　greenhouse；　he　locked　the　door。

Then　he　came　back　to　the　basket　and　took　out　his　son　Benjamin　by　the　ears；　and　whipped　him　with　the　little　switch。

Then　he　took　out　his　nephew　Peter。

Then　he　took　out　the　handkerchief　of　onions；　and　marched　out　of　the　garden。


When　Mr。　McGregor　returned　about　half　an　hour　later　he　observed　several　things　which　perplexed　him。

It　looked　as　though　some　person　had　been　walking　all　over　the　garden　in　a　pair　of　clogsonly　the　footmarks　were　too　ridiculously　little！

Also　he　could　not　understand　how　the　cat　could　have　managed　to　shut　herself　up　INSIDE　the　greenhouse；　locking　the　door　upon　the　OUTSIDE。

When　Peter　got　home　his　mother　forgave　him；　because　she　was　so　glad　to　see　that　he　had　found　his　shoes　and　coat。　Cotton…tail　and　Peter　folded　up　the　pocket…handkerchief；　and　old　Mrs。　Rabbit　strung　up　the　onions　and　hung　them　from　the　kitchen　ceiling；　with　the　benches　of　herbs　and　the　rabbit…　tobacco。




THE　TALE　OF　TWO　BAD　MICE

＇For　W。M。L。W。；　the　Little　Girl　Who　Had　the　Doll's　House＇




Once　upon　a　time　there　was　a　very　beautiful　doll's…house；　it　was　red　brick　with　white　windows；　and　it　had　real　muslin　curtains　and　a　front　door　and　a　chimney。

It　belonged　to　two　Dolls　called　Lucinda　and　Jane；　at　least　it　belonged　to　Lucinda；　but　she　never　ordered　meals。

Jane　was　the　Cook；　but　she　never　did　any　cooking；　because　the　dinner　had　been　bought　ready…made；　in　a　box　full　of　shavings。

There　were　two　red　lobsters　and　a　ham；　a　fish；　a　pudding；　and　some　pears　and　oranges。

They　would　not　come　off　the　plates；　but　they　were　extremely　beautiful。


One　morning　Lucinda　and　Jane　had　gone　out　for　a　drive　in　the　doll's　perambulator。　There　was　no　one　in　the　nursery；　and　it　was　very　quiet。　Presently　there　was　a　little　scuffling；　scratching　noise　in　a　corner　near　the　fireplace；　where　there　was　a　hole　under　the　skirting…board。

Tom　Thumb　put　out　his　head　for　a　moment；　and　then　popped　it　in　again。　Tom　Thumb　was　a　mouse。

A　minute　afterwards；　Hunca　Munca；　his　wife；　put　her　head　out；　too；　and　when　she　saw　that　there　was　no　one　in　the　nursery；　she　ventured　out　on　the　oilcloth　under　the　coal…box。

The　doll's…house　stood　at　the　other　side　of　the　fire…place。　Tom　Thumb　and　Hunca　Munca　went　cautiously　across　the　hearthrug。　They　pushed　the　front　doorit　was　not　fast。


Tom　Thumb　and　Hunca　Munca　went　upstairs　and　peeped　into　the　dining…room。　Then　they　squeaked　with　joy！

Such　a　lovely　dinner　was　laid　out　upon　the　table！　There　were　tin　spoons；　and　lead　knives　and　forks；　and　two　dolly…chairsall　SO　convenient！

Tom　Thumb　set　to　work　at　once　to　carve　the　ham。　It　was　a　beautiful　shiny　yellow；　streaked　with　red。

The　knife　crumpled　up　and　hurt　him；　he　put　his　finger　in　his　mouth。

〃It　is　not　boiled　enough；　it　is　hard。　You　have　a　try；　Hunca　Munca。〃

Hunca　Munca　stood　up　in　her　chair；　and　chopped　at　the　ham　with　another　lead　knife。

〃It's　as　hard　as　the　hams　at　the　cheesemonger's；〃　said　Hunca　Munca。

The　ham　broke　off　the　plate　with　a　jerk；　and　rolled　under　the　table。


〃Let　it　alone；〃　said　Tom　Thumb；　〃give　me　some　fish；　Hunca　Munca！〃

Hunca　Munca　tried　every　tin　spoon　in　turn；　the　fish　was　glued　to　the　dish。

Then　Tom　Thumb　lost　his　temper。　He　put　the　ham　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　and　hit　it　with　the　tongs　and　with　the　shovelbang；　bang；　smash；　smash！

The　ham　flew　all　into　pieces；　for　underneath　the　shiny　paint　it　was　made　of　nothing　but　plaster！

Then　there　was　no　end　to　the　rage　and　disappointment　of　Tom　Thumb　and　Hunca　Munca。　They　broke　up　the　pudding；　the　lobsters；　the　pears　and　the　oranges。

As　the　fish　would　not　come　off　the　plate；　they　put　it　into　the　red…hot　crinkly　paper　fire　in　the　kitche