the life and perambulations of a mouse-第15章

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　about　whose　various　apartments；　never　staying　long　in　the　same；　I　continued　to　live；　till　one　night；　all　on　a　sudden；　I　was　alarmed　by　fire；　which　obliged　me　to　retreat　with　the　greatest　expedition。

I　passed　numberless　rats　and　mice　in　my　way；　who；　like　myself；　were　driven　forth　by　the　flames；　but；　alas！　among　them　I　found　not　my　brother。　　Despairing；　therefore；　of　ever　seeing　him　again；　I　determined；　if　possible；　to　find　my　way　back　to　you；　who　before　had　shown　me　such　kindness。　　Numberless　were　the　fatigues　and　difficulties　I　had　to　encounter　in　my　journey　here；　one　while　in　danger　from　hungry　cats；　at　another　almost　perished　with　cold　and　want　of　food。

But　it　is　needless　to　enumerate　every　particular；　I　should　but　tire　your　patience　was　I　to　attempt　it；　so　I　will　hasten　to　a　conclusion　of　my　history；　only　telling　you　how　you　came　to　find　me　in　that　melancholy　condition　from　which　your　mercy　has　now　raised　me。

I　came　into　your　house　one　evening　concealed　in　the　middle　of　a　floor…cloth；　which　the　maid　had　rolled　up　and　set　at　the　outside　of　the　back　door；　whilst　she　swept　the　passage；　and　neglected　to　take　it　in　again　till　the　evening；　In　that　I　hid　myself；　and　upon　her　laying　it　down；　ran　with　all　speed　down　the　cellar…stairs；　where　I　continued　till　the　family　were　all　gone　to　bed。　　Then　I　returned　back；　and　came　into　your　closet；　where　the　scent　of　some　figs　tempted　me　to　get　into　the　jar　in　which　you　found　me。　　I　concealed　myself　among　them；　and　after　feasting　most　deliciously；　fell　asleep；　from　which　I　was　awakened　by　hearing　a　voice　say；　〃Who　has　left　the　cover　off　the　fig…jar？〃　and　at　the　same　time　I　was　involved　in　darkness　by　having　it　put　on。　　In　vain　I　endeavoured　to　remove　it；　the　figs　were　so　low；　that　when　I　stood　on　them　I　could　but　just　touch　it　with　my　lips；　and　the　jar　being　stone　I　could　not　possibly　fasten　my　nails　to　hang　by　the　side。

In　this　dismal　situation　therefore　I　was　constrained　to　stay；　my　apprehensions　each　day　increasing　as　my　food　diminished；　till　at　last；　after　feeding　very　sparingly　for　some　days；　it　was　quite　exhausted；　and　I　had　endured　the　inexpressible　tortures　of　hunger　for　three　days　and　three　nights；　when　you　happily　released　me；　and　by　your　compassion　restored　me　once　more　to　life　and　liberty。　　Condescend；　therefore；　to　preserve　that　life　you　have　so　lengthened；　and　take　me　under　your　protection。

'That　most　gladly；'　interrupted　I；　'I　will　do：　　you　will　live　in　this　large　green…flowered　tin　canister；　and　run　in　and　out　when　you　please；　and　I　will　keep　you　constantly　supplied　with　food。　　But　I　must　now　shut　you　in；　for　the　cat　has　this　moment　entered　the　room。'



And　now　I　cannot　take　leave　of　all　my　little　readers；　without　once　more　begging　them；　for　their　own　sakes；　to　endeavour　to　follow　all　the　good　advice　the　mouse　has　been　giving　them；　and　likewise　warning　them　to　shun　all　those　vices　and　follies；　the　practice　of　which　renders　children　so　contemptible　and　wicked。





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