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that is； as far as their own reflections would let them； for the last words
Mrs。 Speedgo said to Molly； when she parted from her； dwelt continually
upon her mind； and filled her with shame and remorse。
'〃I told her；〃 said she； 〃that she should never again come into my doors；
or eat another mouthful in my house； and now it is her bounty alone which
keeps us all from perishing。 Oh！ how unworthy are we of such goodness！
True； indeed； was what she told you； that kindness and virtue were far
more valuable than riches。 Goodness and kindness no time or change
can take from us； but riches soon fly as it were away； and then what are we
the better for having been once possessed of them？〃'
Here Mr。 John stopped； and jumping hastily up； and turning round to
Mrs。 Sally； Mrs。 Nelly； and Mr。 Bob； exclaimed； rubbing his hands
'There ladies； I have finished my story； and； let me tell you； so long
preaching has made my throat dry； so another mug of ale； if you please；
Master Bobby （tapping him at the same time upon the shoulder）； another
mug of ale； my boy； for faith； talking at the rate I have done； is enough to
wear a man's lungs out； and； in truth； I have need of something to hearten
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
me after such fatigue。'
'Well； I am sure；' replied Mrs。 Sally and Mrs。 Nelly； in the same breath；
'we are greatly obliged to you for your history； and I am sure it deserves to
be framed and glazed； and it ought to be hung up in the hall of every
family； that all people may see the sad effects of pride； and how little
cause people have； because they are rich； to despise those who are poor；
since it frequently happens； that those who this year are like little kings；
may the next be beggars； and then they will repent； when it is too late； of
all their pride and unkindness they showed to those beneath them。'
Here the conversation was put a stop to by the bell ringing； and John
being ordered to drive to the door。 I； who during the whole of the history
had been feasting upon a mince…pie； now thought it safer to conceal
myself in a little hole in the wainscot of the closet； where； finding myself
very safe； I did not awake till midnight。 After the family were all retired
to rest； I peeped out of the hole； and there saw just such another frightful
trap as that which was the prelude to poor Softdown's sufferings。
Startled at the sight； I retreated back as expeditiously as possible； nor ever
stopped till I found my way into a bed…chamber； where lay two little girls
fast asleep。
I looked about for some time； peeping into every hole and corner
before I could find any thing to eat； there being not so much as a candle in
the room with them。 At last I crept into a little leathern trunk； which
stood on a table； not shut down quite close： here I instantly smelt
something good： but was obliged to gnaw through a great deal of linen
to get at it； it was wrapped up in a lap…bag； amongst a vast quantity of
work。 However； I made my way through half a hundred folds； and at last
was amply repaid； by finding out a nice piece of plum…cake； and the pips
of an apple； which I could easily get at； one half of it having been eat away。
Whilst I was thus engaged I heard a cat mew； and not knowing how near
she might be； I endeavoured to jump out； but in the hurry I somehow or
other entangled myself in the muslin； and pulled that； trunk and all； down
with me； for the trunk stood half off the table； so that the least touch in the
world overset it； otherwise my weight could never have tumbled it down。
The noise of the fall； however； waked the children； and I heard one say
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to the other；'Bless me！ Mary； what is that noise？What can it be？ I
am almost frightened out of my wits； do； pray； sister； hug me close！'
'Pooh！' replied the other； 'never mind it！ What in the world need you be
frightened at？ What do you suppose will hurt you？ It sounded as if
something fell down； but as it has not fallen upon us； and I do not hear
anybody stirring； or speaking as if they were hurt； what need we care
about it？ So pray； Nancy； let us go to sleep again； for as yet I have not
had half sufficient； I am sure； I hope morning is not coming yet； for I am
not at all ready to get up。' 'I am sure；' answered the other； 'I wish it was
morning； and daylight now； for I should like to get up vastly； I do not like
to lay here in the dark any longer； I have a great mind to ring the bell； and
then mamma or somebody will come to us with a candle。' 'And what in
the world；' rejoined Mary； 'will be the use of that？ Do you want a candle
to light you to look for the wounds the noise has given you； or what can
you wish to disturb my mamma for？ Come； let me cuddle you； and do
go to sleep； child； for I cannot think what occasion there is for us to keep
awake because we heard a noise； I never knew that noise had teeth or
claws to hurt one with； and I am sure this has not hurt me； and so； whether
you choose to lie awake or not； I will go to sleep； and so good…bye to you；
and pray do not disturb me any more； for I cannot talk any longer。' 'But；
Mary；' again replied the other； 'pray do not go to sleep yet； I want to speak
to you。' 'Well； what do you want to say？' inquired Mary。 'Why； pray
have you not very often；' said Nancy； 'heard of thieves breaking into
people's houses and robbing them； and I am sadly afraid that noise was
some rogues coming in； so pray； Mary； do not go to sleep； I am in such a
fright and tremble you cannot think。 Speak； Mary； have not you； I say；
heard of thieves？' 'Yes；' replied Mary； in a very sleepy voice； 'a great
many times。' 'Well； then； pray sister； do not go to sleep；' said Nancy； in a
peevish accent； 'suppose； I say that noise I heard should be thieves； what
should we do？ What will become of us？ O！ what shall we do？''Why；
go to sleep； I tell you；' said Mary； 'as fast as you can； at least； do pray let
me； for I cannot say I am in the smallest fear about house…breakers or
house…makers either； and of all the robberies I ever heard of in all my life；
I never heard of thieves stealing little girls； so do； there's a dear girl； go to
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sleep again； and do not so foolishly frighten yourself out of your wits for
nothing。' 'Well；' replied Nancy； 'I will not keep you awake any longer；
but I am sure I shall not be able to get another wink of sleep all night。'
Here the conversation ended； and I could not help thinking how
foolish it was for people to permit themselves to be terrified for nothing。
Here is a little girl； now； thought I； in a nice clean room； and covered up
warm in bed； with pretty green curtains drawn round her； to keep the wind
from her head； and the light in the morning from her eyes； and yet she is
distressing herself； and making herself really uncomfortable； and unhappy；
only because I； a poor； little； harmless mouse； with scarcely strength
sufficient to gnaw a nutshell； happened to jump from the table； and throw
down； perhaps； her own box。Oh！ what a pity it is that people should so
destroy their own comfort！ How sweetly might this child have passed the
night； if she had but； like her sister； wisely reflected that a noise could not
possibly hurt them； and that； had any of the family occasioned it； by
falling down； or running against anything in the dark which hurt them；
most likely they would have heard some more stirring about。
And upon this subject the author cannot help； in human form （as well
as in that of a mouse）； observing how extremely ridiculous it is for people
to suffer themselves to be terrified upon every trifling occasion that
happens； as if they had no mo