the life and perambulations of a mouse(小耗子游记)-第12章
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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
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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
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
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。'
John drank to the bottom of the mug； and then shaking the last drop
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
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。
'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。
'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。
'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
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
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
