the life and perambulations of a mouse(小耗子游记)-第16章
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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
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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
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
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
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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；
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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？
