The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse
D >>
Dorothy Kilner >> The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 This Etext prepared by Pat Pflieger
feste@keystonenet.com
THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE (1783-1784)
by Dorothy Kilner
INTRODUCTION
During a remarkably severe winter, when a prodigious fall of snow
confined everybody to their habitations, who were happy enough to
have one to shelter them from the inclemency of the season, and
were hot obliged by business to expose themselves to its rigour, I
was on a visit to Meadow Hall; where had assembled likewise a
large party of young folk, who all seemed, by their harmony and
good humour, to strive who should the most contribute to render
pleasant that confinement which we were all equally obliged to
share. Nor were those further advanced in life less anxious to
contribute to the general satisfaction and entertainment.
After the more serious employment of reading each morning was
concluded, we danced, we sung, we played at blind-man's-buff,
battledore and shuttlecock, and many other games equally diverting
and innocent; and when tired of them, drew our seats round the
fire, while each one in turn told some merry story to divert the
company.
At last, after having related all that we could recollect worth
reciting, and being rather at a loss what to say next, a sprightly
girl in company proposed that every one should relate the history
of their own lives; 'and it must be strange indeed,' added she,
'if that will not help us out of this difficulty, and furnish
conversation for some days longer; and by that time, perhaps, the
frost will break, the snow will melt, and set us all at liberty.
But let it break when it will, I make a law, that no one shall go
from Meadow Hall till they have told their own history: so take
notice, ladies and gentlemen, take notice, everybody, what you
have to trust to. And because,' continued she, 'I will not be
unreasonable, and require more from you than you can perform, I
will give all you who may perhaps have forgotten what passed so
many years ago, at the beginning of your lives, two days to
recollect and digest your story; by which time if you do not
produce something pretty and entertaining, we will never again
admit you to dance or play among us.' All this she spoke with so
good-humoured a smile, that every one was delighted with her, and
promised to do their best to acquit themselves to her
satisfaction; whilst some (the length of whose lives had not
rendered them forgetful of the transactions which had passed)
instantly began their memoirs, as they called them: and really
some related their narratives with such spirit and ingenuity, that
it quite distressed us older ones, lest we should disgrace
ourselves when it should fall to our turns to hold forth.
However, we were all determined to produce something, as our fair
directress ordered. Accordingly, the next morning I took up my
pen, to endeavour to draw up some kind of a history, which might
satisfy my companions in confinement. I took up my pen, it is
true, and laid the paper before me; but not one word toward my
appointed task could I proceed. The various occurrences of my life
were such as, far from affording entertainment, would, I was
certain, rather afflict; or, perhaps, not interesting enough for
that, only stupefy, and render them more weary of the continuation
of the frost than they were before I began my narration. Thus
circumstanced, therefore, although by myself, I broke silence by
exclaiming, 'What a task his this sweet girl imposed upon me! One
which I shall never be able to execute to my own satisfaction or
her amusement. The adventures of my life (though deeply
interesting to myself) will be insipid and unentertaining to
others, especially to my young hearers: I cannot, therefore,
attempt it.'--'Then write mine, which may be more diverting,' said
a little squeaking voice, which sounded as if close to me. I
started with surprise, not knowing any one to be near me; and
looking round, could discover no object from whom it could
possibly proceed, when casting my eyes upon the ground, in a
little hole under the skirting-board, close by the fire, I
discovered thehead of a mouse peeping out. I arose with a design
to stop the hole with a cork, which happened to lie on the table
by me; and I was surprised to find that it did not run away, but
suffered me to advance quite close, and then only retreated a
little into the hole, saying in the same voice as before, 'Will
you write my history?' You may be sure that I was much surprised
to be so addressed by such an animal; but, ashamed of discovering
any appearance of astonishment, lest the mouse should suppose it
had frightened me, I answered with the utmost composure, that I
would write it willingly if it would dictate to me. 'Oh, that I
will do,' replied the mouse, 'if you will not hurt me.'--'Not for
the world,' returned I; 'come, therefore, and sit upon my table,
that I may hear more distinctly what you have to relate.' It
instantly accepted my invitation, and with all the nimbleness of
its species, ran up the side of my chair, and jumped upon my
table; when, getting into a box of wafers, it began as follows.
But, before I proceed to relate my new little companion's history,
I must beg leave to assure my readers that, in earnest, I never
heard a mouse speak in all my life; and only wrote the following
narrative as being far more entertaining, and not less
instructive, than my own life would have been: and as it met with
the high approbation of those for whom it was written, I have sent
it to Mr. Marshall, for him to publish it, if he pleases, for the
equal amusement of his little customers.
PART I.
Like all other newborn animals, whether of the human, or any other
species, I can not pretend to remember what passed during my
infant days. The first circumstance I can recollect was my
mother's addressing me and my three brothers, who all lay in the
same nest, in the following words:-'I have, my children, with the
greatest difficulty, and at the utmost hazard of my life, provided
for you all to the present moment; but the period is arrived, when
I can no longer pursue that method: snares and traps are
everywhere set for me, nor shall I, without infinite danger, be
able to procure sustenance to support my own existence, much less
can I find sufficient for you all; and, indeed, with pleasure I
behold it as no longer necessary, since you are of age now to
provide and shift for yourselves; and I doubt not but your agility
will enable you to procure a very comfortable livelihood. Only
let me give you this one caution--never (whatever the temptation
may be) appear often in the same place; if you do, however you may
flatter yourselves to the contrary, you will certainly at last be
destroyed.' So saying, she stroked us all with her fore paw as a
token of her affection, and then hurried away, to conceal from us
the emotions of her sorrow, at thus sending us into the wide
world.
She was no sooner gone, than the thought of being our own
directors so charmed our little hearts, that we presently forgot
our grief at parting from our kind parent; and, impatient to use
our liberty, we all set forward 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; 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 sleeve--she 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 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 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 be
the folly of those people who are terrified at a little silly
mouse, which never was known to hurt anybody?'
Here the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of some
gentlemen and ladies; and we having enjoyed a very fine repast
under one of the chairs during the time that the mother and
daughter had held the above discourse, on the chairs being removed
for some of the visitors to sit upon, we thought it best to
retire: highly pleased with our meal, and not less with the kind
goodwill which the lady had, we thought, expressed towards us. We
related to our brother Brighteyes all that had passed, and assured
him he had no reason to apprehend any danger from venturing
himself with us. Accordingly he promised, if such was the case,
that the next time we went and found it safe, if we would return
back and call him, he would certainly accompany us. 'In the mean
time, do pray, Nimble,' said he, addressing himself to me, 'come
with me to some other place, for I long to taste some more
delicate food than our mother has provided for us: besides, as
perhaps it may be a long while before we shall be strong enough to
bring anything away with us, we had better leave that, in case we
should ever be prevented from going abroad to seek for fresh
supplies.' 'Very true,' replied I; 'what you say is quite just
and wise, therefore I will with all my heart attend you now, and
see what we can find.' So saying, we began to climb; but not
without difficulty, for very frequently the bits of mortar which
we stepped upon gave way beneath our feet, and tumbled us down
together with them lower than when we first set off. However, as
we were very light, we were not much hurt by our falls; only
indeed poor Brighteyes, by endeavouring to save himself, caught by
his nails on a rafter, and tore one of them from off his right
fore-foot, which was very sore and inconvenient. At length we
surmounted all difficulties, and, invited by a strong scent of
plum-cake, entered a closet, where we found a fine large one,
quite whole and entire. We immediately set about making our way
into it, which we easily effected, as it was most deliciously
nice, and not at all hard to our teeth.
Brighteyes, who had not before partaken of the bird-seed, was
overjoyed at the sight. He almost forgot the pain of his foot,
and soon buried himself withinside the cake; whilst I, who had
pretty well satisfied my hunger before, only ate a few of the
crumbs, and then went to take a survey of the adjoining apartment.
I crept softly under the door of the closet into a room, as large
as that which I had before been in, though not so elegantly
furnished; for, instead of being covered with a carpet, there was
only a small one round the bed; and near the fire was a cradle,
with a cleanly-looking woman sitting by it, rocking it with her
foot, whilst at the same time she was combing the head of a little
boy about four years old. In the middle of the room stood a
table, covered with a great deal of litter; and in one corner was
the little girl whom I had before seen with her mamma, crying and
sobbing as if her heart would break. As I made not the least
noise at my entrance, no one observed me for some time; so
creeping under one of the beds, I heard the following discourse:--
'It does not signify, miss,' said the woman, who I found was the
children's nurse, 'I never will put up with such behaviour: you
know that I always do everything for you when you speak prettily;
but to be ordered to dress you in such a manner, is what I never
will submit to: and you shall go undressed all day before I will
dress you, unless you ask me as you ought to do.' Nancy made no
reply, but only continued crying. 'Aye! you may cry and sob as
much as you please,' said the nurse; 'I do not care for that: I
shall not dress you for crying and roaring, but for being good and
speaking with civility.' Just as she said these words, the door
opened, and in came the lady whom I before saw, and whose name I
afterwards found was Artless. As soon as she entered, the nurse
addressed her, saying, 'Pray, madam, is it by your desire that
Miss Nancy behaves so rudely, and bids me dress her directly, and
change the buckles in her shoes, or else she will slap my face?
Indeed she did give me a slap upon my hand; so I told her, that I
would not dress her at all; for really, madam, I thought you would
not wish me to do it, whilst she behaved so; and I took the
liberty of putting her to stand in the corner.' 'I do not think,'
replied Mrs. Artless, 'that she deserves to stand in the room at
all, or in the house either, if she behaves in that manner: if
she does not speak civilly when she wants to be assisted, let her
go without help, and see what will become of her then. I am quite
ashamed of you, Nancy! I could not have thought you would behave
so; but since you have, I promise that you shall not be dressed
today, or have any assistance given you, unless you speak in a
very different manner.'
Whilst Mrs. Artless was talking, nurse went out of the room. Mrs.
Artless then took her seat by the cradle, and looking into it,
found the child awake, and I saw her take out a fine little girl,
about five months old: she then continued her discourse, saying,
'Look here, Nancy, look at this little baby, see how unable it is
to help itself; were we to neglect attending to it, what do yon
think would become of it? Suppose I were now to put your sister
upon the floor, and there leave her, tell me what do you think she
could do, or what would become of her?' Nancy sobbed out, that
she would die. 'And pray, my dear,' continued Mrs. Artless, 'if
we were to leave you to yourself, what would become of you? It is
true, you talk and run about better than Polly: but not a bit
better could you provide for, or take care of yourself. Could you
buy or dress your own victuals? could you light your own fire?
could you clean your own house, or open and shut the doors and
windows? could you make your own clothes, or even put them on
without some assistance, when made? And who do you think will do
anything for you, if you are not good, and do not speak civilly?
Not I, I promise you, neither shall nurse, nor any of the
servants; for though I pay them wages to help to do my business
for me, I never want them to do anything unless they are desired
in a pretty manner. Should you like, if when I want you to pick
up my scissors, or do any little job, I were to say, "Pick up my
scissors this moment, or I will slap your face?" Should not you
think that it sounded very cross and disagreeable?' 'Yes, madam,'
replied Nancy. 'Then why,' rejoined Mrs. Artless, 'should you
speak cross to anybody, particularly to servants and poor people?
for to behave so to them, is not only cross, but insolent and
proud: it is as if you thought that because they are rather
poorer, they are not so good as yourself, whereas, I assure you,
poverty makes no difference in the merit of people; for those only
are deserving of respect who are truly good; and a beggar who is
virtuous, is far better than a prince who is wicked.' I was
prevented from hearing any more of this very just discourse, by
the little boy's opening the door and letting in a cat; which,
though it was the first that I had ever seen in my life, I was
certain was the same destructive animal to our race, which I had
frequently heard my mother describe. I therefore made all
possible haste back to the closet, and warning Brighteyes of our
danger, we instantly returned by the same way which we came, to
our two brothers, whom we found waiting for us, and wondering at
our long absence. We related to them the dainty cheer which we
had met with, and agreed to conduct them thither in the evening.
Accordingly, as soon as it grew towards dusk, we climbed up the
wall, and all four together attacked the plum-cake, which no one
had touched since we left it; but scarcely had we all seated
ourselves round it, than on a sudden the closet-door opened, and a
woman entered. Away we all scampered as fast as possible, but
poor Brighteyes, who could not move quite so fast on account of
his sore toe, and who likewise having advanced farther into the
cake, was discovered before he could reach the crack by which we
entered. The woman, who had a knife in her hand, struck at him
with it, at the same time exclaiming, 'Bless me, nurse, here is a
mouse in the closet!' Happily, she missed her aim, and he only
received a small wound on the tip of his tail. This interruption
sadly alarmed us, and it was above an hour before we could have
courage to venture back, when finding everything quiet, except
Mrs. Nurse's singing to her child, we again crept out, and once
more surrounded the cake. We continued without any further alarm
till we were perfectly satisfied, and then retired to a little
distance behind the wainscot, determined there to sleep, and to
breakfast on the cake the next day.
Early in the morning I waked, and calling my brothers, we all
marched forward, and soon arrived at the delightful cake, where we
highly enjoyed ourselves without the least disturbance, till our
appetites were fully satisfied. We then retired, took a little
run round some other parts of the house, but met with nothing
worth relating. At noon we again made our way into the closet,
intending to dine on the dish on which we breakfasted; but, to our
no small mortification, the delicious dainty was removed. This
you may be sure was a sad disappointment; yet as we were not
extremely hungry, we had time to look about for more. We were not
long in finding it; for upon the same shelf from which the cake
was removed, there was a round tin box, the lid of which was not
quite close shut down; into this we all crept, and were highly
regaled with some nice lumps of sugar. But it would be endless to
enumerate all the various repasts which we met with in this
closet, sometimes terrified by the entrance of people, and
sometimes comfortably enjoying ourselves without alarm: it is
sufficient to inform you, that, unmindful of our mother's advice,
we continued to live upon the contents of the same cupboard for
above a week; when, one evening, as we were as usual hastening to
find our suppers, Softdown, who happened to be first, ran eagerly
to a piece of cheese, which he saw hanging before him. 'Come
along,' said he, 'here is some nice cheese, it smells most
delightfully good!' Just as he spoke these words, before any of
us came up to him, a little wooden door on a sudden dropped down,
and hid him and the cheese from our sight.
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7