the life and perambulations of a mouse-第8章

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n　because　you　were　convinced　it　shewed　a　much　nobler　spirit　to　pardon　than　to　resent。　　And　you　may　be　assured；　my　dear；　few　are　the　days　that　pass　without　affording　us　some　opportunity　of　exerting　our　patience；　and　showing　that；　although　we　disdain　quarrelling；　still　we　are　far　from　being　cowards。

'I　remember；　when　I　was　at　school；　there　was　one　boy；　who；　from　his　first　coming；　declined　upon　all　occasions　engaging　in　any　battle；　he　even　gave　up　many　of　his　just　rights　to　avoid　quarrelling；　which　conduct；　instead　of　gaining　（as　it　justly　deserved）　the　approbation　of　his　companions；　drew　upon　him　the　insult　and　abuse　of　the　whole　school；　and　they　were　perpetually　teasing　him　with　the　opprobrious　title　of　coward。　　For　some　time　he　bore　it　with　great　good…humour；　and　endeavoured　to　laugh　it　off；　but；　finding　that　had　no　effect；　he　one　day　thus　addressed　us：〃If　you　suppose　that　I　like　to　be　called　a　coward；　you　are　all　very　much　mistaken；　or　if　you　think　me　one；　I　assure　you　that　you　are　not　less　so；　for　no　boy　in　the　school　should；　if　put　to　the　trial；　show　greater　resolution　than　myself。　　Indeed；　I　think　it　no　small　proof　of　patience　that　I　have　borne　your　repeated　insults　so　long；　when　I　could；　by　behaving　more　like　a　savage　beast；　and　less　like　a　reasonable　creature；　have　established　my　character　at　once；　but　I　abhor　quarrelling；　my　soul　detests　to　treat　my　fellow…creatures　as　if　they　were　brutes；　from　whose　fangs　I　must　defend　myself；　but　if　nothing　else　but　fighting　will　convince　you　that　I　possess　not　less　courage　than　yourselves；　I　will　now　offer；　in　cold　blood；　to　engage　with　the　biggest　boy　in　the　school。　　If　I　conquer　him；　it　will　be　a　sign　that　I　know　how　to　defend　myself；　and　if　he　conquers　me；　I　will；　by　my　behaviour；　give　a　proof　that　I　am　not　wanting　in　resolution　to　suffer　pain；　although　I　never　will　so　far　demean　the　character　of　a　reasonable　creature　and　a　Christian；　as　to　fight　upon　every　trifling　disagreement　or　insult。〃　　No　sooner　had　he　uttered　these　words；　than　every　boy　present　was　loud　either　in　his　commendation　or　condemnation。　　One　quarter　of　them；　convinced　of　the　justness　of　his　arguments；　highly　extolled　his　forbearance；　whilst　the　other　three　parts；　with　still　greater　noise；　only　called　him　a　bully　and　a　mean…spirited　coward；　who　dared　not　fight；　and　for　that　reason　made　such　a　fine　speech；　hoping　to　intimidate　them。　　〃Well　then；〃　said　he；　〃if　such　is　your　opinion；　why　will　none　of　you　accept　my　offer？　you　surely　cannot　be　afraid；　you　who　are　such　brave　fellows；　of　such　true　courage；　and　such　noble　spirits；　cannot　be　afraid　of　a　coward　and　a　bully！　　Why；　therefore；　does　not　one　of　you　step　forward；　and　put　my　fine　speech　to　the　test？　　Otherwise；　after　I　have　thus　challenged　you　all；　I　hope　none　for　the　future　will　think　they　have　any　right　to　call　me　coward；　though　I　again　declare　my　fixed　resolution　against　fighting。〃

'Just　as　he　said　this；　a　voice　calling　for　help；　was　heard　from　a　lane　adjoining　to　the　play…yard。　　Immediately　we　all　flocked　to　the　side　nearest　whence　it　proceeded；　and；　clambering　upon　benches；　watering…pots；　or　whatever　came　first　in　our　way；　peeped　over　the　wall；　where　we　discovered　two　well…grown　lads；　about　seventeen　or　eighteen；　stripping　a　little　boy　of　his　clothes；　and　beating　him　for　his　outcries　in　a　most　cruel　manner；　and　at　a　little　distance　farther　down　the　lane；　sat　a　company　of　gypsies；　to　whom　the　two　lads　evidently　belonged。　　At　the　sight　of　this　we　were　all　much　distressed；　and　wished　to　relieve　the　boy；　though；　discovering　so　large　a　party；　we　were　too　much　afraid　to　venture；　till　Tomkins　（the　boy　I　before　spoke　about）　instantly　jumped　from　the　wall；　and　only　saying；　〃Has　nobody　courage　to　follow　me？〃　ran　toward　them　as　fast　as　possible；　and　with　uncommon　strength　and　agility　placed　himself　between　them　and　the　boy；　and　began　defending　himself　in　the　best　manner　he　could；　which　he　did　for　some　time　with　great　dexterity；　none　of　his　fighting　schoolfellows　having　courage　to　go　to　his　assistance。　　At　length；　however；　seeing　it　impossible　for　him　to　stand　out　any　longer　against　two　so　much　stronger　than　himself；　the　boys　agreed　to　secure　themselves　by　numbers；　and　to　sally　forth　to　his　assistance　altogether。　　This　scheme　succeeded；　and　very　shortly　rescued　Tomkins　from　his　antagonists。　　He　thanked　them　for　their　assistance；　saying；　at　the　same　time；　〃I　hope　you　will　no　longer　doubt　my　courage；　or　my　abilities　to　fight；　when　it　is　necessary　or　in　a　good　cause。〃　　After　so　signal　a　proof　of　his　viler；　his　greatest　enemies　could　no　longer　doubt　it；　and；　without　ever　engaging　in　foolish　battles；　he　passed　through　school　as　much　respected　as　any　boy；　and　his　magnanimity　was　never　again　called　in　question。'

As　the　gentleman　stopped　speaking；　the　little　girl　called　out；　'O；　papa；　the　coach　is　at　the　door。'　　'Is　it；　my　dear？'　returned　the　father。　　'Well　then；　stop；　my　love；'　said　one　of　the　ladies；　'I　have　got　a　few　cakes　for　you：　　stay；　and　take　them　before　you　go。'　　She　then　unlocked　the　closet　where　we　were；　and　took　down　the　paper　of　macaroons；　among　which　we　had　so　comfortably　regaled　ourselves；　when；　observing　the　hole　in　the　paper　through　which　we　entered；　'O　dear！'　she　exclaimed；　'the　mice　have　actually　got　into　my　cupboard。　　I　will　move　all　the　things　out　this　very　morning；　and　lock　the　cat　up　in　it；　for　I　shall　be　undone　if　the　mice　once　get　footing　here；　they　will　soon　spoil　all　my　stores；　and　that　will　never　do。'　　She　then　kissed　both　the　children；　and；　giving　them　the　cakes；　they；　the　gentleman；　and　another　lady；　all　departed；　and　she　instantly　began　to　move　the　boxes　and　jars　from　the　closet；　whilst　we；　terrified　almost　out　of　our　wits；　sat　trembling　behind　one　of　them；　not　daring　to　stir；　yet　dreading　the　cat's　approach　every　moment。

We　were　soon；　however；　obliged　to　move　our　quarters；　for　the　lady　taking　down　the　very　jar　which　concealed　us；　we　were　forced　（without　knowing　where　we　were）　to　jump　down　instantly。　　In　vain　we　sought　all　round　the　room　for　some　avenue　whereat　we　might　escape；　the　apartment　was　too　well　fitted　up　to　admit　the　smallest　crack；　and　we　must　then　certainly　have　been　destroyed；　had　we　not；　with　uncommon　presence　of　mind；　ran　up　the　back　of　the　lady's　gown；　by　which　means　she　lost　sight　of　us；　and　gave　us　an　opportunity　to　make　our　escape；　as　she　opened　the　door　to　order　the　cat　to　be　brought　in。　　We　seized　the　lucky　moment；　and；　dropping　from　her　gown；　fled　with　the　utmost　haste　out　at　the　house　door；　which　happened　to　be　wide　open；　and　I；　without　once　looking　behind　me；　ran　on　till　I　discovered　a　little　crack　in　the　brick　wall；　which　I　entered；　and　which；　after　many　turnings　and　windings；　brought　me　to　this　house；　where　I　have　now　continued　skulking　about　in　its　different　apartments　for　above　a　month；　during　which　time　I　have　not　heard　the　least　tidings　of　my　beloved　brother　Longtail。　　Whether；　therefore；　any　mischief　befell　him　as　he　followed　me；　or　whether　he　entered　the　crack　with　me　and　then　lost　sight　of　me；　I　know　not；　but　in　vain　have　I　sought　him　every　day　since　my　arrival　within　these　walls；　and　so　anxious　am　I　to　learn　what　is　become　of　him；　that　I　am　now　come　forth；　contrary　to　my　nature；　to　engage　your　compassion；　and　to　beseech　you；　in　case



At　this　moment；　the　door　of　my　room　opened；　and　my　servant　coming　hastily　in；　the　mouse　jumped　from　my　table；　and　precipitately　retreated　to　the　same　hole　from　whence　it　first　addressed　me；　and　though　I　have　several　times　peeped　into　it；　and　even　laid　little　bits　of　cake　to　entice　it　back　again；　yet　have　I　never　been　able　to　see　it　any　where　since。　　Should　either　that；　or　any　other；　ever　again　favour　me　so　far　with　their　confidence；　as　to　instruct　me　with　their　history；　I　will　certainly　communicate　it　with　all　possible　speed　to　my　little　readers；　who　I　hope　have　been　wise　enough　to　attend　to　the　advice　given　them　in　the　preceding　pages；　although　it　was　delivered　to　them　by　one　as　insignificant　as　a　MOUSE。



PART　II。　INTRODUCTION


It　is　now　some　months　ago　since　I　took　leave　of　my　little　readers；　promising；　in　case　I　should　ever　hear　any　further　tidings　of　either　Nimble　or　Longtail；　I　would　certainly　communicate　it　to　them；　and；　as　I　think　it　extremely　wrong　not　to　fulfil　any　engagement　we　enter　into；　I　look　upon　myself　bound　to　give　them　all　the　information　I　have　since　gained；　relating　to　those　two　little　animals；　and　I　doubt　not　but　they　will　be　glad　to　hear　what　happened　to　them；　after　Nimble　was　frightened　from　my　writing　table　by　the　entrance　of　my　servant。　　If　I　recollect　right；　I　have　already　told　you；　that　I　frequently　peeped　into　the　hole　in　the　skirting…board；　and　laid　bits　of　cake　to　try　to　entice　my　little　companion　back；　but　all　to　no　purpose：　　and　I　had　quite　given　over　all　hopes　of　ever　again　seeing　him；　when　one　day；　as　I　was　putting　my　hand　into　a　large　jar；　which　had　some　Turkey　figs　in　it；　I　felt　something　soft　at　the　bottom；　and　taking　it　out；　found　it　to　be　a　poor　little　mouse；　not　quite　dead；　but　so　starved　and　weak；　that　upon　my　placing　it　upon　the　table；　it　had　not　strength　sufficient　to　get　from　me。　　A　little　boy　happened　to　be　standing　by　me；　who；　upon　the　sight　of　the　mouse；　began　to　beg　me　to　give　it　to　the　cat；　or　kill　it；　'for　I　don't　like　mice；'　said　he；　'pray；　ma'am；　put　it　away。'　　'Not　like　mice；'　replied　I；　'what　can　be　your　objection　to　such　a　little　soft　creature　as　this？'　and　taking　advantage　of　its　weakness；　I　picked　it　up；　and　held　it　in　the　palm　of　one　hand；　whilst　I　stroked　it　with　the　fingers　of　my　right。　　'Poor　little　mouse；'　said　I；　'who　can　be　afraid　of　such　a　little　object　as　this？　　Do　you　not　feel　ashamed　of　yourself；　Joe；　to　fear　such　a　little　creature　as　this？　Only　look　at　it；　observe　how　small　it　is；　and　then　consider　your　own　size；　and　surely；　my　dear；　you　will　blush　to　think　of　being　no　more　of　a　man　than　to　fear　a　mouse！　　Look　at　me；　Joe；'　continued　I；　'see；　I　will　kiss　it；　I　am　not　at　all　afraid　that　it　will　hurt　me。'　When；　lifting　it　up　toward　my　face；　I　heard　it　say；　in　the　faintest　voice　possible；　'Do　you　not　know　me？'　　I　instantly　recollected　my　little　friend　Nimble；　and　rejoiced　at　so　unexpectedly　finding　him。　　'What；　is　it　you；　little　Nimble；'　exclaimed　I；　'that　I　again　behold？　　Believe　me；　I　am　heartily　rejoiced　once　more　to　find　you；　but　tell　me；　where　have　you　been；　what　have　you　done；　whom　have　you　seen；　and　what　have　you　learned　since　you　last　left　me？'　　'Oh！'　replied　he；　in　a　voice　so　low　I　could　scarcely　hear　him；　'I　have　seen　many　things；　but　I　am　so　faint　and　weak　for　want　of　food　and　fresh　air；　that　I　doubt　I　shall　never　live　to　tell　you；　but；　for　pity's　sake　have　compassion　on　me；　either　put　me　out　of　my　present　misery　by　instantly　killing　me；　or　else　give　me　something　to　eat；　for；　if　you　knew　my　sufferings；　I　am　sure　it　would　grieve　your　heart。'　　'Kill　you！'　returned　I；　'no；　that　I　will　not：　　on　the　contrary；　I　will　try　by　every　method　to　restore　you　to　health；　and　all　the　happiness　a　mouse　is　capable　of　feeling。'　　I　then　instantly　sent　for　some　bread；　and　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　him　eat　very　heartily　of　it；　after　which　he　seemed　much　refreshed；　and　began　to　move　about　a　little　more　suitable　to　his　name；　for；　in　truth；　when　I　first　found　him；　no　living　creature　in　the　world　could　appear　less　deserving　o