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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
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
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 of the appellation of
Nimble。 I then fetched him a little milk； and gave him a lump of sugar to
nibble； after eating of which he begged to retire into some safe little hole
to take a nap； from whence he promised to return as soon as he should
wake； and accordingly； in about an hour he again appeared on my table；
and began as follows。
I was frightened away from you just as I was going to implore your
compassion for any unfortunate mouse that might happen to fall within
your power； lest you should destroy my dear and only surviving brother；
Longtail； but somebody entering the room； prevented me； and after I had
regained my hiding place； I resolved to quit the house； and once more set
out in search of my beloved brother。 Accordingly； with great difficulty I
made my way out of the house； but my distress was much increased upon
finding the snow so deep upon the ground； that it was impossible for me to
attempt to stir； as upon stepping one foot out to try； I found it far too deep
for me to fathom the bottom。 This greatly distressed me。 'Alas！' said I
to myself； 'what shall I do now？ To proceed is impossible； and to return
is very melancholy； without any tidings of my dear； dear Longtail。' But I
was interrupted in the midst of these reflections； by the appearance of two
cats； who came running with such violence as to pass by without
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
observing me： however； it put me in such consternation； that regardless
where I went； I sprung forward； and sunk so deep in the snow that I must
inevitably soon have perished； had not a boy come to the very place where
I was； to gather snow for making snowballs to throw at his companions。
Happily for me； he took me up in his hand； in the midst of the snow； which
not less alarmed me； when I considered the sufferings I had before
endured； and the cruel death of my brother Brighteyes； from the hands of
boys。 Oh！ thought I to myself； what new tortures shall I now experience？
Better had I perished in the cold snow； than be spared only to be tormented
by the cruel hands of unthinking children。
Scarcely had I made this reflection； when the boy called out； upon
seeing me move； 'Lud！ what have I got here？' at the same instant tossing
the handful of snow from him in a violent hurry； without attempting to
press it into a ball。 Over I turned head and heels； wondering what further
would be my fate； when I was happy to find I fell unhurt upon some hay；
which was laid in the yard to fodder the cows and horses。 Here I lay
some time； so frightened by my adventure； as to be unable to move； and
my little heart beat as if it would have burst its way through my breast； nor
were my apprehensions at all diminished by the approach of a man； who
gathered the hay up in his arms； and carried it （with me in the midst of it）
into the stable； where； after littering down the horses； he left me once
more to my own reflections。
After he had been gone some time； and all things were quiet； I began
to look about me； and soon found my way into a corn bin； where I made a
most delicious supper； and slept free from any disturbance till the morning；
when fearing I might be discovered； in case he should want any of the oats
for his horses； I returned by the same place I had entered； and hid myself
in one corner of the hayloft； where I passed the whole of the day more free
from alarm than often falls to the lot of any of my species； and in the
evening again returned to regale myself with corn； as I had done the night
before。 The great abundance with which I was surrounded； strongly
tempted me to continue where I was； but then the thoughts of my absent
brother embittered all my peace； and the advice of my mother came so
much across my mind； that I determined before the next morning I would
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again venture forth and seek my fortune and my brother。 Accordingly；
after having eaten a very hearty meal； I left the bin； and was attempting to
get out of the stable； when one of the horses being taken suddenly ill；
made so much noise with his kicking and struggling； as to alarm the
family； and the coachman entering with a lantern in his hand； put me into
such consternation； that I ran for shelter into the pocket of a great coat；
which hung up upon a peg next the harness of the horses。 Here I lay
snug for some hours； not daring to stir； as I smelt the footsteps of a cat
frequently pass by； and heard the coachman extol her good qualities to a
man who accompanied him into the stable； saying she was the best mouser
in the kingdom。 'I do not believe；' added he； 'I have a mouse in the stable
or loft； she keeps so good a lookout。 For the last two days I lent her to
the cook； to put into her pantry； but I have got her back again； and I would
not part with her for a crown； no； not for the best silver crown that ever
was coined in the Tower。' Then； through