the life and perambulations of a mouse-第10章

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ood　morning　to　you；　Miss。〃　　And　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　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　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　have　no　occasion　to　make　themselves　very　intimate　or　familiar　with　their　servants；　but　everybody　ought　to　speak　civilly　and　good…humouredly；　let　it　be　to　whom　it　may：　　and　if　I　was　a　lady　I　should　make　it　a　point　never　to　look　cross　or　speak　gruffly　to　the　poor；　for　fear　they　should　think　I　forgot　I　was　of　the　same　human　nature　as　they　were。〃　　By　these　kind　of　hints；　which　every　now　and　then　she　would　give　to　the　misses；　they　were　prodigiously　offended；　and　complained　of　her　insolence；　as　they　called　it；　to　their　mamma；　who　very　wrongly；　instead　of　teaching　them　to　behave　better；　joined　with　them　in　blaming　Molly　for　her　freedom；　and；　to　show　her　displeasure　at　her　conduct；　put　on　a　still　haughtier　air；　whenever　she　spoke　to　her；　than　she　did　to　any　other　of　the　servants。　　Molly；　however；　continued　to　behave　extremely　well；　and　often　very　seriously　lamented　in　the　kitchen　the　wrong　behaviour　of　the　family。　　〃I　don't　mind　it；〃　she　would　say；　〃for　my　own　part；　I　know　that　I　do　my　duty；　and　their　cross　looks　and　proud　behaviour　can　do　me　no　real　harm：　　but　I　cannot　help　grieving　for　their　sakes；　it　distresses　me　to　think　that　people　who　ought　to　know　better；　should；　by　their　ill　conduct；　make　themselves　so　many　enemies；　when　they　could　so　easily　gain　friendsI　am　astonished　how　anybody　can　act　so　foolishly。〃

'In　this　sensible　manner　she　would　frequently　talk　about　the　sin　as　well　as　the　folly　of　pride。　　And　one　day；　as　she　was　talking　to　her　fellow…servants；　rather　louder　than　in　prudence　she　ought　to　have　done；　her　two　young　ladies　overheard　her；　and　the　next　time　she　went　to　dress　them；　they　enquired　what　it　was　she　had　been　saying　to　the　other　maids。　　〃Indeed；　ladies；〃　said　she；　〃I　hope　you　will　excuse　my　telling　you。　　I　think；　if　you　give　yourselves　time　to　reflect　a　little；　you　will　not　insist　upon　knowing；　as　it　is　beneath　such　rich　ladies　as　you　are；　to　concern　yourselves　with　what　poor　servants　talk　about。〃　　This　answer　did　not；　however；　satisfy　them；　and　they　positively　commanded　her　to　let　them　know。　　Molly　was　by　far　too　good　a　woman　to　attempt　to　deceive　anyone；　she　therefore　replied；　〃If；　ladies；　you　insist　upon　knowing　what　I　said；　I　hope　you　will　not　take　anything　amiss　that　I　may　tell　you；　thus　compelled　as　I　am　by　your　commands。　　You　must　know　then；　Miss　Betsy　and　Miss　Rachael；　that　I　was　saying　how　sad　a　thing　it　was　for　people　to　be　proud　because　they　are　rich；　or　to　fancy；　because　they　happen　to　have　a　little　more　money；　that　for　that　reason　they　are　better　than　their　servants；　when　in　reality　the　whole　that　makes　one　person　better　than　another　is；　having　superior　virtues；　being　kinder　and　more　good　natured；　and　readier　to　assist　and　serve　their　fellow…creatures；　these　are　the　qualifications；　I　was　saying；　that　make　people　beloved；　and　not　being　possessed　of　money。　　Money　may；　indeed；　procure　servants　to　do　their　business　for　them；　but　it　is　not　in　the　power　of　all　the　riches　in　the　world　to　purchase　the　love　and　esteem　of　anyone。　　What　a　sad　thing　then　it　is；　when　gentlefolks　behave　so　as　to　make　themselves　despised；　and　that　will　ever　be　the　case　with　all　those　who；　like　（excuse　me；　ladies；　you　insisted　upon　my　telling　you　what　I　said）　Miss　Betsy；　and　Miss　Rachael；　and　Master　James；　show　such　contempt　to　all　their　inferiors。　　Nobody　could　wish　children　of　their　fortunes　to　make　themselves　too　free；　or　play　with　their　servants；　but　if　they　were　little　kings　and　queens；　still　they　ought　to　speak　kind　and　civil　to　everyone。　　Indeed　our　king　and　queen　would　scorn　to　behave　like　the　children　of　this　family；　and　if〃　　She　was　going　on；　but　they　stopped　her；　saying；　〃If　you　say　another　word；　we　will　push　you　out　of　the　room　this　moment；　you　rude；　bold；　insolent　woman；　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　speaking　so　disrespectfully　of　your　betters；　but　we　will　tell　our　mamma；　that　we　will；　and　she　won't　suffer　you　to　allow　your　tongue　such　liberties。〃　　〃If；〃　replied　Molly；　〃I　have　offended　you；　I　am　sorry　for　it；　and　beg　your　pardon；　ladies；　I　am　sure　I　had　no　wish　to　do　so；　and　you　should　remember　that　you　both　insisted　upon　my　telling　you　what　I　had　been　saying。〃　　〃So　we　did；〃　said　they；　〃but　you　had　no　business　to　say　it　all；　and　I　promise　you　my　mamma　shall　know　it。〃

'In　this　manner　they　went　on　for　some　time；　but；　to　make　short　of　my　story；　they　represented　the　matter　in　such　a　manner　to　their　mother；　that　she　dismissed　Molly　from　her　service；　with　a　strict　charge　never　to　visit　the　house　again。　　〃For；〃　said　Mrs。　Speedgo；　〃no　servant　who　behaves　as　you　have　done；　shall　ever　enter　my　doors　again；　or　eat　another　mouthful　in　my　house。〃　Molly　had　no　desire　so　suddenly　to　quit　her　place；　but　as　her　conscience　perfectly　acquitted　her　of　any　wilful　crime；　after　receiving　her　wages；　respectfully　wishing　all　the　family　their　health；　and　taking　a　friendly　leave　of　her　fellow…servants；　she　left　the　house；　and　soon　engaged　herself　as　dairy…maid　in　a　farmer's　family；　about　three　miles　off；　in　which　place　she　behaved　so　extremely　well；　and　so　much　to　the　satisfaction　of　her　master　and　mistress；　that；　after　she　had　lived　there　a　little　more　than　two　years；　with　their　entire　approbation；　she　was　married　to　their　eldest　son；　a　sober；　worthy　young　man；　to　whom　his　father　gave　a　fortune　not　much　less　than　three　thousand　pounds；　with　which　he　bought　and