按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in search of some food； or rather some adventure； as our mother had left us
victuals more than sufficient to supply the wants of that day。 With a great
deal of difficulty； we clambered up a high wall on the inside of a wainscot；
till we reached the story above that we were born in； where we found it
much easier to run round within the skirting…board； than to ascend any
higher。
While we were there； our noses were delightfully regaled with the
scent of the most delicate food that we had ever smelt； we were anxious to
procure a taste of it likewise； and after running round and round the room
a great many times； we at last discovered a little crack； through which we
made our entrance。 My brother Longtail led the way； I followed；
5
… Page 6…
THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
Softdown came next； but Brighteyes would not be prevailed upon to
venture。 The apartment which we entered was spacious and elegant； at
least； differed so greatly from anything we had seen； that we imagined it
the finest place upon earth。 It was covered all over with a carpet of
various colours； that not only concealed some bird…seeds which we came
to devour； but also for some time prevented our being discovered； as we
were of much the same hue with many of the flowers on the carpet。 At
last a little girl； who was at work in the room； by the side of her mamma；
shrieked out as if violently hurt。 Her mamma begged to know the cause
of her sudden alarm。 Upon which she called out； 'A mouse！ a mouse！ I
saw one under the chair！' 'And if you did； my dear；' replied her mother；
'is that any reason for your behaving so ridiculously？ If there were
twenty mice； what harm could they possibly do？ You may easily hurt and
destroy then；； but； poor little things！ they cannot； if they would； hurt you。'
'What； could they not bite me？' inquired the child。 'They may； indeed； be
able to do that； but you may be very sure that they have no such
inclination；' rejoined the mother。 'A mouse is one of the most timorous
things in the world； every noise alarms it： and though it chiefly lives by
plunder； it appears as if punished by its fears for the mischiefs which it
commits among our property。 It is therefore highly ridiculous to pretend
to be alarmed at the sight of a creature that would run from the sound of
your voice； and wishes never to come near you； lest； as you are far more
able； you should also be disposed to hurt it。' 'But I am sure； madam；'
replied the little girl； whose name I afterwards heard was Nancy； 'they do
not always run away； for one day； as Miss Betsy Kite was looking among
some things which she had in her box； a mouse jumped out and ran up her
frock sleeveshe felt it quite up on her arm。' 'And what became of it
then？' inquired the mother。 'It jumped down again；' replied Nancy； 'and
got into a little hole in the window…seat； and Betsy did not see it again。'
'Well； then； my dear；' resumed the lady； 'what harm did it do her？ Is not
that a convincing proof of what I say； that you have no cause to be afraid
of them； and that it is very silly to be so？ It is certainly foolish to be
afraid of any thing； unless it threatens us with immediate danger； but to
pretend to be so at a mouse； and such like inoffensive things； is a degree of
6
… Page 7…
THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
weakness that I can by no means suffer any of my children to indulge。'
'May I then； madam；' inquired the child； 'be afraid of cows and horses； and
such great beasts as those？' 'Certainly not；' answered her mother； 'unless
they are likely to hurt you。 If a cow or an horse runs after you； I would
have you fear them so much as to get out of the way； but if they are
quietly walking or grazing in a field； then to fly from them； as if you
thought they would eat you instead of the grass； is most absurd； and
discovers great want of sense。 I once knew a young lady； who； I believe；
thought it looked pretty to be terrified at everything； and scream if dog or
even a mouse looked at her： but most severely was she punished for her
folly； by several very disagreeable accidents she by those means brought
upon herself。
'One day when she was drinking tea in a large company； on the door
being opened； a small Italian greyhound walked into the drawing…room。
She happened to be seated near the mistress of the dog； who was making
tea： the dog； therefore； walked toward her； in order to be by his favourite；
but； upon his advancing near her； she suddenly jumped up； without
considering what she was about； overturned the water…urn； the hot iron of
which rolling out； set fire to her clothes； which instantly blazed up； being
only muslin； and burnt her arms； face； and neck； most dreadfully： she
was so much hurt as to be obliged to be put immediately to bed； nor did
she recover enough to go abroad for many months。 Now； though every
one was sorry for her sufferings； who could possibly help blaming her for
her ridiculous behaviour； as it was entirely owing to her own folly that she
was so hurt？ When she was talked to upon the subject； she pleaded for her
excuse； that she was so frightened she did not know what she did； nor
whither she was going； but as she thought that the dog was coming to her
she could not help jumping up； to get out of his way。 Now what
ridiculous arguing was this！ Why could not she help it？ And if the dog
had really been going to her； what harm would it have done？ Could she
suppose that the lady whose house she was at； would have suffered a beast
to walk about the house loose； and go into company； if he was apt to bite
and hurt people？ Or why should she think he would more injure her；
than those he had before passed by？ But the real case was； she did not
7
… Page 8…
THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
think at all； if she had given herself time for that； she could not have acted
so ridiculously。 Another time； when she was walking； from the same
want of reflection； she very nearly drowned herself。 She was passing
over a bridge； the outside rails of which were in some places broken down：
while she was there； some cows； which a man was driving； met her：
immediately； without minding whither she went； she shrieked out； and at
the same time jumped on one side just where the rail happened to be
broken； and down she fell into the river； nor was it without the greatest
difficulty that she was taken out time enough to save her life。 However；
she caught a violent cold and fever； and was again； by her own foolish
fears； confined to her bed for some weeks。 Another accident she once
met with； which though not quite so bad as the two former； yet might have
been attended with fatal consequences。 She was sitting in a window；
when a wasp happened to fly toward her； she hastily drew back her head；
and broke the pane of glass behind her； some of which stuck in her neck。
It bled prodigiously； but a surgeon happily being present； made some
application to it； which prevented its being followed by any other ill
effects than only a few days weakness； occasioned by the loss of blood。
Many other misfortunes of the like kind she frequently experienced； but
these which I have now related may serve to convince you how extremely
absurd it is for people to give way to and indulge themselves in such
groundless apprehensions； and； by being afraid when there is no danger；
subject themselves to real misfortunes and most fatal accidents。 And if
being afraid of cows； dogs； and wasps （all of which； if they please； can
certainly hurt us） is so ridiculous； what must b