The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse
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Dorothy Kilner >> The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse
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As I was totally unacquainted with all places of retreat, and did
not know how soon any of them might have occasion to open the
closet door, I instantly returned to my brother; and, awaking him,
told him it was time for us to be upon our guard, as the family
were all up and about.
Whilst we were thus situated, the first words I heard distinctly
were those of the gentleman, saying, 'No, Frank, I can never have
a good opinion of him; the boy who could once deceive may, for
aught I know, do so again; he has, by breaking his word, forfeited
the only dependence one could possibly have in him. A person who
has once lost his honour has no means left of gaining credit to
his assertions. By honour, Frank, I would be understood to speak
of veracity, of virtue, of scorning to commit a mean action, and
not that brutish sense in which some understand it, as if it
consisted in a readiness to fight and resent an injury; for so far
am I from considering such behaviour as any proof of honour, that,
on the contrary, I look upon it as a sure sign of want of proper
spirit and true honour. Fools, bullies, and even cowards, will
fight; whereas none but men of sense and resolution and true
magnanimity know how to pardon and despise an insult.' 'But,
indeed, sir,' replied the boy, 'at school, if one did not fight,
they would laugh at one so, there would be no such thing as
bearing it.' 'And for that very reason it is, my dear, that I
say, to pass by and pardon an insult requires more resolution and
courage than mere fighting does. When I wish you to avoid
quarrelling and fighting, I by no means want you to become a
coward, for I as much abhor a dastardly spirit as any boy in your
school can possibly do; but I would wish you to convince them that
you merited not that appellation, by showing through the whole of
your behaviour, a resolution that despised accidental pain, and
avoided revenging an affront for no other reason than because you
were convinced it shewed a much nobler spirit to pardon than to
resent. And you may be assured, my dear, few are the days that
pass without affording us some opportunity of exerting our
patience, and showing that, although we disdain quarrelling, still
we are far from being cowards.
'I remember, when I was at school, there was one boy, who, from
his first coming, declined upon all occasions engaging in any
battle; he even gave up many of his just rights to avoid
quarrelling, which conduct, instead of gaining (as it justly
deserved) the approbation of his companions, drew upon him the
insult and abuse of the whole school; and they were perpetually
teasing him with the opprobrious title of coward. For some time
he bore it with great good-humour, and endeavoured to laugh it
off; but, finding that had no effect, he one day thus addressed
us:--"If you suppose that I like to be called a coward, you are
all very much mistaken; or if you think me one, I assure you that
you are not less so; for no boy in the school should, if put to
the trial, show greater resolution than myself. Indeed, I think
it no small proof of patience that I have borne your repeated
insults so long; when I could, by behaving more like a savage
beast, and less like a reasonable creature, have established my
character at once; but I abhor quarrelling, my soul detests to
treat my fellow-creatures as if they were brutes, from whose fangs
I must defend myself; but if nothing else but fighting will
convince you that I possess not less courage than yourselves, I
will now offer, in cold blood, to engage with the biggest boy in
the school. If I conquer him, it will be a sign that I know how
to defend myself; and if he conquers me, I will, by my behaviour,
give a proof that I am not wanting in resolution to suffer pain,
although I never will so far demean the character of a reasonable
creature and a Christian, as to fight upon every trifling
disagreement or insult." No sooner had he uttered these words,
than every boy present was loud either in his commendation or
condemnation. One quarter of them, convinced of the justness of
his arguments, highly extolled his forbearance; whilst the other
three parts, with still greater noise, only called him a bully and
a mean-spirited coward, who dared not fight, and for that reason
made such a fine speech, hoping to intimidate them. "Well then,"
said he, "if such is your opinion, why will none of you accept my
offer? you surely cannot be afraid, you who are such brave
fellows, of such true courage, and such noble spirits, cannot be
afraid of a coward and a bully! Why, therefore, does not one of
you step forward, and put my fine speech to the test? Otherwise,
after I have thus challenged you all, I hope none for the future
will think they have any right to call me coward; though I again
declare my fixed resolution against fighting."
'Just as he said this, a voice calling for help, was heard from a
lane adjoining to the play-yard. Immediately we all flocked to
the side nearest whence it proceeded; and, clambering upon
benches, watering-pots, or whatever came first in our way, peeped
over the wall, where we discovered two well-grown lads, about
seventeen or eighteen, stripping a little boy of his clothes, and
beating him for his outcries in a most cruel manner; and at a
little distance farther down the lane, sat a company of gypsies,
to whom the two lads evidently belonged. At the sight of this we
were all much distressed, and wished to relieve the boy; though,
discovering so large a party, we were too much afraid to venture,
till Tomkins (the boy I before spoke about) instantly jumped from
the wall, and only saying, "Has nobody courage to follow me?" ran
toward them as fast as possible, and with uncommon strength and
agility placed himself between them and the boy, and began
defending himself in the best manner he could; which he did for
some time with great dexterity, none of his fighting schoolfellows
having courage to go to his assistance. At length, however,
seeing it impossible for him to stand out any longer against two
so much stronger than himself, the boys agreed to secure
themselves by numbers, and to sally forth to his assistance
altogether. This scheme succeeded, and very shortly rescued
Tomkins from his antagonists. He thanked them for their
assistance, saying, at the same time, "I hope you will no longer
doubt my courage, or my abilities to fight, when it is necessary
or in a good cause." After so signal a proof of his viler, his
greatest enemies could no longer doubt it; and, without ever
engaging in foolish battles, he passed through school as much
respected as any boy, and his magnanimity was never again called
in question.'
As the gentleman stopped speaking, the little girl called out, 'O,
papa, the coach is at the door.' 'Is it, my dear?' returned the
father. 'Well then, stop, my love,' said one of the ladies, 'I
have got a few cakes for you: stay, and take them before you go.'
She then unlocked the closet where we were, and took down the
paper of macaroons, among which we had so comfortably regaled
ourselves; when, observing the hole in the paper through which we
entered, 'O dear!' she exclaimed, 'the mice have actually got into
my cupboard. I will move all the things out this very morning,
and lock the cat up in it; for I shall be undone if the mice once
get footing here; they will soon spoil all my stores, and that
will never do.' She then kissed both the children; and, giving
them the cakes, they, the gentleman, and another lady, all
departed; and she instantly began to move the boxes and jars from
the closet; whilst we, terrified almost out of our wits, sat
trembling behind one of them, not daring to stir, yet dreading the
cat's approach every moment.
We were soon, however, obliged to move our quarters, for the lady
taking down the very jar which concealed us, we were forced
(without knowing where we were) to jump down instantly. In vain
we sought all round the room for some avenue whereat we might
escape; the apartment was too well fitted up to admit the smallest
crack; and we must then certainly have been destroyed, had we not,
with uncommon presence of mind, ran up the back of the lady's
gown, by which means she lost sight of us, and gave us an
opportunity to make our escape, as she opened the door to order
the cat to be brought in. We seized the lucky moment, and,
dropping from her gown, fled with the utmost haste out at the
house door, which happened to be wide open; and I, without once
looking behind me, ran on till I discovered a little crack in the
brick wall, which I entered, and which, after many turnings and
windings, brought me to this house, where I have now continued
skulking about in its different apartments for above a month;
during which time I have not heard the least tidings of my beloved
brother Longtail. Whether, therefore, any mischief befell him as
he followed me, or whether he entered the crack with me and then
lost sight of me, I know not; but in vain have I sought him every
day since my arrival within these walls, and so anxious am I to
learn what is become of him, that I am now come forth, contrary to
my nature, to engage your compassion, and to beseech you, in
case--
At this moment, the door of my room opened, and my servant coming
hastily in, the mouse jumped from my table, and precipitately
retreated to the same hole from whence it first addressed me; and
though I have several times peeped into it, and even laid little
bits of cake to entice it back again, yet have I never been able
to see it any where since. Should either that, or any other, ever
again favour me so far with their confidence, as to instruct me
with their history, I will certainly communicate it with all
possible speed to my little readers; who I hope have been wise
enough to attend to the advice given them in the preceding pages,
although it was delivered to them by one as insignificant as a
MOUSE.
PART II.
INTRODUCTION
It is now some months ago since I took leave of my little readers,
promising, in case I should ever hear any further tidings of
either Nimble or Longtail, I would certainly communicate it to
them; and, as I think it extremely wrong not to fulfil any
engagement we enter into, I look upon myself bound to give them
all the information I have since gained, relating to those two
little animals; and I doubt not but they will be glad to hear what
happened to them, after Nimble was frightened from my writing
table by the entrance of my servant. If I recollect right, I have
already 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 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 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 cat--a 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, and depend upon it, you are in the one that is fittest for
you, or you would not have been put into it. And as for being
happier if you were a gentleman, I don't know what to say to it.
To be sure, to have a little more money in one's pocket, nobody
can deny that it would be very agreeable; and to be at liberty to
come in and go out when one pleased, to be sure would be very
comfortable. But still, Bob, still you may assure yourself, that
no state in this world is free from care, and if we were turned
into lords, we should find many causes for uneasiness. So here's
your good health,' said he, lifting the mug to his mouth,
'wishing, my lad, you may be contented, cheerful, and good
humoured; for without these three requisites, content,
cheerfulness, and good humour, no one person upon earth, rich or
poor, old or young, can ever feel comfortable or happy; and so
here's to you, I say.' 'And here's the same good wishes to you,'
said a clean decent cook-woman servant, who took up the mug upon
John's putting it down. 'Content, cheerfulness, and good humour,
I think was the toast.' Then wiping her mouth, as she began her
speech, she added, 'and an excellent one it is: I wish all folks
would mind it, and endeavour to acquire three such good
qualifications.' 'I am sure,' rejoined another female servant,
whose name I heard was Sally, 'I wish so too: at least I wish
Miss Mary would try to gain a little more of the good humour; for
I never came near such a cross crab in my life as it is. I
declare I hate the sight of the girl, she is such a proud little
minx she would not vouchsafe to speak to a poor servant for the
world; as if she thought because we are poorer, we were therefore
not of the same nature: her sisters, I think are worth ten of
her, they always reply so civilly if a body speaks to them, and
say, "Yes, if you please, Mrs. "Sally, or "No, thank you, Mr.
Bob;" or "I should be obliged to you if you would do so and so,
Mrs. Nelly," and not plain yes or no, as she does; and well too if
you can get even that from her; for sometimes I declare she will
not deign to give one any answer at all.' 'Aye, that is a sure
thing she won't,' replied the maid servant who first drank, 'it is
a sad thing she should behave so; I can't think, for my part,
where she learns it; I am sure neither her papa nor mamma set her
the example of it, for they always speak as pretty and as kind as
it is possible to do; and I have heard, with my own ears, my
mistress tell her of it twenty and twenty times, but she will do
so. I am sure it is a sad thing that she should, for she will
always make people dislike her. I am sure, if young gentlemen and
ladies did not know how it makes people love them to speak civilly
and kind, they would take great care not to behave like Miss Mary.
Do you know, the other day, when Mrs. Lime's maid brought little
Miss Peggy to see my mistress, when she went away, she made a
courtesy to Miss Mary, and said, "Good morning to you, Miss." And
would you think it, the child stood like a stake, and never
returned it so much as by a nod of the head, nor did she open her
lips. I saw by her looks the maid took notice of it, and I am
sure I have such a regard for the family, that I felt quite
ashamed of her behaviour.' 'Oh! she served me worse than that,'
resumed Sally, 'for, would you believe it, the other day I begged
her to be so kind as to let her mamma know I wanted to speak with
her; and I did not choose to go into the room myself, because I
was dirty, and there was company there; but for all I desired her
over and over only just to step in (and she was at play close to
the door) yet, could you suppose it possible, she was ill-natured
enough to refuse me, and would not do it at last.' 'Well, if ever
I heard the like of that!' exclaimed John, whose pocket I had been
in. 'I think that was being cross indeed, and if a child of mine
was to behave in that surly manner, I would whip it to death
almost. I abominate such unkind doings, let everyone, I say, do
as they like to be done by, and that is the only way to be happy,
and the only way to deserve to be so; for if folks will not try to
be kind, and oblige others, why should anybody try to please them?
And if Miss Mary was my girl, and chose to behave rude and cross
to the servants, if I was her papa, I would order them to refuse
doing anything for her. I would soon humble her pride I warrant
you, for nobody should make her puddings, or cut her bread, or do
anything for her till she learned to be kind, and civil, and
thankful too, for all that was done for her. I have no notion,
for my part, for a child to give herself such airs for nothing;
and because her parents happen to have a little more money in
their pockets, for that reason to think she may be rude to poor
folks; but though servants are poor, still surely they are richer
than she is; I should like to ask her how much she has got? and
which way she came by it? A child I am sure is no richer than a
beggar, for they have not a farthing that is not given them
through mere bounty; whereas a servant who works for his living,
has a right and just claim to his wages, and may truly call them
his own; but a child has not one farthing that is not its parents.
So here's my service to you, Miss,' said he, (again lifting the
ale-mug to his mouth) 'and wishing her a speedy reformation of
manners, I drink to her very good health.'
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