the great big treasury of beatrix potter-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



It　was　built　of　faggots　and　turf；　and　there　were　two　broken　pails；　one　on　top　of　another；　by　way　of　a　chimney。

〃This　is　my　summer　residence；　you　would　not　find　my　earthmy　winter　houseso　convenient；〃　said　the　hospitable　gentleman。

There　was　a　tumbledown　shed　at　the　back　of　the　house；　made　of　old　soap　boxes。　The　gentleman　opened　the　door　and　showed　Jemima　in。


The　shed　was　almost　quite　full　of　feathersit　was　almost　suffocating；　but　it　was　comfortable　and　very　soft。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　was　rather　surprised　to　find　such　a　vast　quantity　of　feathers。　But　it　was　very　comfortable；　and　she　made　a　nest　without　any　trouble　at　all。

When　she　came　out；　the　sandy…　whiskered　gentleman　was　sitting　on　a　log　reading　the　newspaperat　least　he　had　it　spread　out；　but　he　was　looking　over　the　top　of　it。

He　was　so　polite　that　he　seemed　almost　sorry　to　let　Jemima　go　home　for　the　night。　He　promised　to　take　great　care　of　her　nest　until　she　came　back　again　the　next　day。

He　said　he　loved　eggs　and　ducklings；　he　should　be　proud　to　see　a　fine　nestful　in　his　woodshed。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　came　every　afternoon；　she　laid　nine　eggs　in　the　nest。　They　were　greeny　white　and　very　large。　The　foxy　gentleman　admired　them　immensely。　He　used　to　turn　them　over　and　count　them　when　Jemima　was　not　there。

At　last　Jemima　told　him　that　she　intended　to　begin　to　sit　next　day〃and　I　will　bring　a　bag　of　corn　with　me；　so　that　I　need　never　leave　my　nest　until　the　eggs　are　hatched。　They　might　catch　cold；〃　said　the　conscientious　Jemima。


〃Madam；　I　beg　you　not　to　trouble　yourself　with　a　bag；　I　will　provide　oats。　But　before　you　commence　your　tedious　sitting；　I　intend　to　give　you　a　treat。　Let　us　have　a　dinner　party　all　to　ourselves！

〃May　I　ask　you　to　bring　up　some　herbs　from　the　farm　garden　to　make　a　savory　omelet？　Sage　and　thyme；　and　mint　and　two　onions；　and　some　parsley。　I　will　provide　lard　for　the　stufflard　for　the　omelet；〃　said　the　hospitable　gentleman　with　sandy　whiskers。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　was　a　simpleton：　not　even　the　mention　of　sage　and　onions　made　her　suspicious。

She　went　round　the　farm　garden；　nibbling　off　snippets　of　all　the　different　sorts　of　herbs　that　are　used　for　stuffing　roast　duck。

And　she　waddled　into　the　kitchen　and　got　two　onions　out　of　a　basket。

The　collie　dog　Kep　met　her　coming　out；　〃What　are　you　doing　with　those　onions？　Where　do　you　go　every　afternoon　by　yourself；　Jemima　Puddle…duck？〃

Jemima　was　rather　in　awe　of　the　collie；　she　told　him　the　whole　story。

The　collie　listened；　with　his　wise　head　on　one　side；　he　grinned　when　she　described　the　polite　gentleman　with　sandy　whiskers。


He　asked　several　questions　about　the　wood　and　about　the　exact　position　of　the　house　and　shed。

Then　he　went　out；　and　trotted　down　the　village。　He　went　to　look　for　two　foxhound　puppies　who　were　out　at　walk　with　the　butcher。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　went　up　the　cart　road　for　the　last　time；　on　a　sunny　afternoon。　She　was　rather　burdened　with　bunches　of　herbs　and　two　onions　in　a　bag。

She　flew　over　the　wood；　and　alighted　opposite　the　house　of　the　bushy　long…tailed　gentleman。

He　was　sitting　on　a　log；　he　sniffed　the　air　and　kept　glancing　uneasily　round　the　wood。　When　Jemima　alighted　he　quite　jumped。

〃Come　into　the　house　as　soon　as　you　have　looked　at　your　eggs。　Give　me　the　herbs　for　the　omelet。　Be　sharp！〃

He　was　rather　abrupt。　Jemima　Puddle…duck　had　never　heard　him　speak　like　that。

She　felt　surprised　and　uncomfortable。

While　she　was　inside　she　heard　pattering　feet　round　the　back　of　the　shed。　Someone　with　a　black　nose　sniffed　at　the　bottom　of　the　door；　and　them　locked　it。

Jemima　became　much　alarmed。

A　moment　afterward　there　were　most　awful　noisesbarking；　baying；　growls　and　howls；　squealing　and　groans。

And　nothing　more　was　ever　seen　of　that　foxy…whiskered　gentleman。

Presently　Kep　opened　the　door　of　the　shed　and　let　out　Jemima　Puddle…　duck。

Unfortunately　the　puppies　rushed　in　and　gobbled　up　all　the　eggs　before　he　could　stop　them。

He　had　a　bite　on　his　ear；　and　both　the　puppies　were　limping。


Jemima　Puddle…duck　was　escorted　home　in　tears　on　account　of　those　eggs。

She　laid　some　more　in　June；　and　she　was　permitted　to　keep　them　herself：　but　only　four　of　them　hatched。

Jemima　Puddle…duck　said　that　it　was　because　of　her　nerves；　but　she　had　always　been　a　bad　sitter。




THE　ROLY…POLY　PUDDING

＇In　Remembrance　of　〃Sammy；〃　the　Intelligent　Pink…Eyed　Representative　of　a　Persecuted　（But　Irrepressible）　Race。　An　Affectionate　Little　Friend；　and　Most　Accomplished　Thief！＇




Once　upon　a　time　there　was　an　old　cat；　called　Mrs。　Tabitha　Twitchit；　who　was　an　anxious　parent。　She　used　to　lose　her　kittens　continually；　and　whenever　they　were　lost　they　were　always　in　mischief！

On　baking　day　she　determined　to　shut　them　up　in　a　cupboard。

She　caught　Moppet　and　Mittens；　but　she　could　not　find　Tom。

Mrs。　Tabitha　went　up　and　down　all　over　the　house；　mewing　for　Tom　Kitten。　She　looked　in　the　pantry　under　the　staircase；　and　she　searched　the　best　spare　bedroom　that　was　all　covered　up　with　dust　sheets。　She　went　right　upstairs　and　looked　into　the　attics；　but　she　could　not　find　him　anywhere。

It　was　an　old；　old　house；　full　of　cupboards　and　passages。　Some　of　the　walls　were　four　feet　thick；　and　there　used　to　be　queer　noises　inside　them；　as　if　there　might　be　a　little　secret　staircase。　Certainly　there　were　odd　little　jagged　doorways　in　the　wainscot；　and　things　disappeared　at　night　especially　cheese　and　bacon。

Mrs。　Tabitha　became　more　and　more　distracted　and　mewed　dreadfully。

While　their　mother　was　searching　the　house；　Moppet　and　Mittens　had　got　into　mischief。


The　cupboard　door　was　not　locked；　so　they　pushed　it　open　and　came　out。

They　went　straight　to　the　dough　which　was　set　to　rise　in　a　pan　before　the　fire。

They　patted　it　with　their　little　soft　paws〃Shall　we　make　dear　little　muffins？〃　said　Mittens　to　Moppet。

But　just　at　that　moment　somebody　knocked　at　the　front　door；　and　Moppet　jumped　into　the　flour　barrel　in　a　fright。

Mittens　ran　away　to　the　dairy　and　hid　in　an　empty　jar　on　the　stone　shelf　where　the　milk　pans　stand。


The　visitor　was　a　neighbor；　Mrs。　Ribby；　she　had　called　to　borrow　some　yeast。

Mr。　Tabitha　came　downstairs　mewing　dreadfully〃Come　in；　Cousin　Ribby；　come　in；　and　sit　ye　down！　I'm　in　sad　trouble；　Cousin　Ribby；〃　said　Tabitha；　shedding　tears。　〃I've　lost　my　dear　son　Thomas；　I'm　afraid　the　rats　have　got　him。〃　She　wiped　her　eyes　with　her　apron。

〃He's　a　bad　kitten；　Cousin　Tabitha；　he　made　a　cat's　cradle　of　my　best　bonnet　last　time　I　came　to　tea。　Where　have　you　looked　for　him？〃

〃All　over　the　house！　The　rats　are　too　many　for　me。　What　a　thing　it　is　to　have　an　unruly　family！〃　said　Mrs。　Tabitha　Twitchit。

〃I'm　not　afraid　of　rats；　I　will　help　you　to　find　him；　and　whip　him；　too！　What　is　all　that　soot　in　the　fender？〃

〃The　chimney　wants　sweeping　Oh；　dear　me；　Cousin　Ribbynow　Moppet　and　Mittens　are　gone！

〃They　have　both　got　out　of　the　cupboard！〃


Ribby　and　Tabitha　set　to　work　to　search　the　house　thoroughly　again。　They　poked　under　the　beds　with　Ribby's　umbrella　and　they　rummaged　in　cupboards。　They　even　fetched　a　candle　and　looked　inside　a　clothes　chest　in　one　of　the　attics。　They　could　not　find　anything；　but　once　they　heard　a　door　bang　and　somebody　scuttered　downstairs。

〃Yes；　it　is　infested　with　rats；〃　said　Tabitha　tearfully。　〃I　caught　seven　young　ones　out　of　one　hole　in　the　back　kitchen；　and　we　had　them　for　dinner　last　Saturday。　And　once　I　saw　the　old　father　ratan　enormous　old　rat　Cousin　Ribby。　I　was　just　going　to　jump　upon　him；　when　he　showed　his　yellow　teeth　at　me　and　whisked　down　the　hole。

〃The　rats　get　upon　my　nerves；　Cousin　Ribby；〃　said　Tabitha。

Ribby　and　Tabitha　searched　and　searched。　They　both　heard　a　curious　roly…poly　noise　under　the　attic　floor。　But　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen。

They　returned　to　the　kitchen。　〃Here's　one　of　your　kittens　at　least；〃　said　Ribby；　dragging　Moppet　out　of　the　flour　barrel。


They　shook　the　flour　off　her　and　set　her　down　on　the　kitchen　floor。　She　seemed　to　be　in　a　terrible　fright。

〃Oh！　Mother；　Mother；〃　said　Moppet；　〃there's　been　an　old　woman　rat　in　the　kitchen；　and　she's　stolen　some　of　the　dough！〃

The　two　cats　ran　to　look　at　the　dough　pan。　Sure　enough　there　were　marks　of　little　scratching　fingers；　and　a　lump　of　dough　was　gone！

〃Which　way　did　she　go；　Moppet？〃

But　Moppet　had　been　too　much　frightened　to　peep　out　of　the　barrel　again。

Ribby　and　Tabitha　took　her　with　them　to　keep　her　safely　in　sight；　while　they　went　on　with　their　search。

They　went　into　the　dairy。

The　first　thing　they　found　was　Mittens；　hiding　in　an　empty　jar。

They　tipped　over　the　jar；　and　she　scrambled　out。

〃Oh；　Mother；　Mother！〃　said　Mittens


〃Oh！　Mother；　Mother；　there　has　been　an　old　man　rat　in　the　dairya　dreadful　'normous　big　rat；　Mother；　and　he's　stolen　a　pat　of　butter　and　the　rolling　pin。〃

Ribby　and　Tabitha　looked　at　one　another。

〃A　rolling　pin　and　butter！　Oh；　my　poor　son　Thomas！〃　exclaimed　Tabitha；　wringing　her　paws。

〃A　rolling　pin？〃　said　Ribby。　〃Did　we　not　hear　a　roly…poly　noise　in　the　attic　when　we　were　looking　into　that　chest？〃

Ribby　and　Tabitha　rushed　upstairs　again。　Sure　enough　the　roly…poly　noise　was　still　going　on　quite　distinctly　under　the　attic　floor。

〃This　is　serious；　Cousin　Tabitha；〃　said　Ribby。　〃We　must　send　for　John　Joiner　at　once；　with　a　saw。〃

Now；　this　is　what　had　been　happening　to　Tom　Kitten；　and　it　shows　how　very　unwise　it　is　to　go　up　a　chimney　in　a　very　old　house；　where　a　person　does　not　know　his　way；　and　where　there　are　enormous　rats。


Tom　Kitten　did　not　want　to　be　shut　up　in　a　cupboard。　When　he　saw　that　his　mother　was　going　to　bake；　he　determined　to　hide。

He　looked　about　for　a　nice　convenient　place；　and　he　fixed　upon　the　chimney。

The　fire　had　only　just　been　lighted；　and　it　was　not　hot；　but　there　was　a　white　choky　smoke　from　the　green　sticks。　Tom　Kitten　got　upon　the　fender　and　looked　up。　It　was　a　big　old…　fashioned　fireplace。

The　chimney　itself　was　wide　enough　inside　for　a　man　to　stand　up　and　walk　about。　So　there　was　plenty　of　room　for　a　little　Tom　Cat。

He　jumped　right　up　into　the　fireplace；　balancing　himself　upon　the　iron　bar　where　the　kettle　hangs。

Tom　Kitten　took　another　big　jump　off　the　bar　and　landed　on　a　ledge　high　up　inside　the　chimney；　knocking　down　some　soot　into　the　fender。


Tom　Kitten　coughed　and　choked　with　the　smoke；　he　could　hear　the　sticks　beginning　to　crackle　and　burn　in　the　fireplace　down　below。　He　made　up　his　mind　to　climb　right　to　the　top；　and　get　out　on　the　slates；　and　try　to　catch　sparrows。

〃I　cannot　go　back。　If　I　slipped　I　might　fall　in　the　fire　and　singe　my　beautiful　tail　and　my　little　blue　jacket。〃

The　chimney　was　a　very　big　old…　fashioned　one。　It　was　built　in　the　days　when　people　burnt　logs　of　wood　upon　the　hearth。

The　chimney　stack　stood　up　above　the　roof　like　a　little　stone　tower；　and　the　daylight　shone　down　from　the　top；　under　the　slanting　slates　that　kept　out　the　rain。

Tom　Kitten　was　getting　very　frightened！　He　climbed　up；　and　up；　and　up。

Then　he　waded　sideways　through　inches　of　soot。　He　was　like　a　little　sweep　himself。


It　was　most　confusing　in　the　dark。　One　flue　seemed　to　lead　into　another。

There　was　less　smoke；　but　Tom　Kitten　felt　quite　lost。

He　scramble