the life and perambulations of a mouse-第12章

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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　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　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　a　little　moth　hole　in　the　lining　of　the　coat；　I　saw　him　lift　her　up；　stroke　her；　and　put　her　upon　the　back　of　one　of　the　horses；　where　she　stretched　herself　out；　and　went　to　sleep。

In　this　situation　I　did　not　dare　to　stir；　I　had　too　often　seen　how　eager　cats　are　to　watch　mice；　to　venture　out　of　the　pocket；　whilst　she　was　so　near　me；　especially　as　I　did　not　at　all　know　the　holes　or　cracks　round　the　stable；　and　should；　therefore；　had　she　jumped　down；　been　quite　at　a　loss　where　to　run。　　So　I　determined　to　continue　where　I　was　till　either　hunger　forced　me；　or　the　absence　of　the　cat　gave　a　better　opportunity　of　escaping。　　But　scarce　had　I　taken　up　this　resolution　when　the　coachman　again　entered；　and　suddenly　taking　the　coat　from　the　peg；　put　it　on；　and　marched　out　with　me　in　his　pocket。

It　is　utterly　impossible　to　describe　my　fear　and　consternation　at　this　event；　to　jump　out　whilst　in　the　stable　exposed　me　to　the　jaws　of　the　cat；　and　to　attempt　it　when　out　of　doors　was　but　again　subjecting　myself　to　be　frozen　to　death；　for　the　snow　continued　still　on　the　ground；　yet　to　stay　in　his　pocket　was　running　the　chance　of　suffering　a　still　more　dreadful　death　by　the　barbarous　hands　of　man；　and　nothing　did　I　expect；　in　case　he　should　find　me；　but　either　to　be　tortured　like　Softdown；　or　given　to　be　the　sport　of　his　favorite　cata　fate　almost　as　much　dreaded　as　the　other。　　However　it　was　soon　put　out　of　my　power　to　determine；　for　whilst　I　was　debating　in　my　own　mind　what　course　I　had　better　take；　he　mounted　the　coachbox；　and　drove　away　with　me　in　his　pocket；　till　he　came　to　a　large　house；　about　a　mile　distant　from　this　place；　there　he　put　down　the　company　he　had　in　the　coach；　and　then　drove　into　the　yard。　　But　he　had　not　been　there　many　moments　before　the　coachman　of　the　family　he　was　come　to；　invited　him　into　the　kitchen　to　warm　himself；　drink　a　mug　of　ale；　and　eat　a　mouthful　of　cold　meat。　　As　soon　as　he　entered；　and　had　paid　the　proper　compliments　to　the　Mrs。　Betties　and　Mollies　at　the　place；　he　pulled　off　his　great　coat；　and　hung　it　across　the　back　of　his　chair。　　I　instantly　seized　the　first　opportunity　and　whilst　they　were　all　busy　assembling　round　the　luncheon　table；　made　my　escape；　and　ran　under　a　cupboard　door　close　to　the　chimney；　where　I　had　an　opportunity　of　seeing　and　hearing　all　that　passed；　part　of　which　conversation　I　will　relate　to　you。

'Well；　Mr。　John；'　said　a　footman；　addressing　himself　to　the　man　whose　pocket　I　had　just　left；　'how　fare　you？　　Are　you　pretty　hearty？　　You　look　well；　I　am　sure。'　　'Aye；　and　so　I　am；　replied　he。　　'I　never　was　better　in　all　my　life；　I　live　comfortably；　have　a　good　master　and　mistress；　eat　and　drink　bravely；　and　what　can　a　man　wish　for　more？　　For　my　part　I　am　quite　contented；　and　if　I　do　but　continue　to　enjoy　my　health；　I　am　sure　I　shall　be　very　ungrateful　not　to　be　so。'　　'That's　true；'　said　the　other；　'but　the　misfortune　of　it　is；　people　never　know　when　they　are　well　off；　but　are　apt　to　fret　and　wish　and　wish　and　fret；　for　something　or　other　all　their　lives；　and　so　never　have　any　enjoyment。　　Now　for　my　own　part；　I　must　needs　confess；　that　I　cannot　help　wishing　I　was　a　gentleman；　and　think　I　should　be　a　deal　happier　if　I　was。'　　'Pshaw！'　replied　John；　'I　don't　like　now　to　hear　a　man　say　so；　it　looks　as　if　you　are　discontented　with　the　state　in　which　you　are　placed；