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to suffer themselves to be terrified upon every trifling occasion that
happens； as if they had no more resolution than a mouse itself； which is
liable to be destroyed every meal it makes。 And； surely； nothing can be
more absurd than for children to be afraid of thieves and house…breakers；
since； as little Mary said； they never want to seek after children。 Money
is all they want； and as children have very seldom much of that in their
possession； they may assure themselves they are perfectly safe； and have
therefore no occasion to alarm themselves if they hear a noise； without
being able to make out what it is； unless； indeed； like the child I have just
been writing about； they would be so silly as to be frightened at a little
mouse； for most commonly the noises we hear； if we lay awake in the
night； are caused by mice running about and playing behind the wainscot：
and what reasonable person would suffer themselves to be alarmed by
such little creatures as those？ But it is time I should return to the history
of my little make…believe companion； who went on； saying
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
The conversation I have been relating I overheard as I lay concealed in
a shoe that stood close by the bedside； and into which I ran the moment I
jumped off the table； and where I kept snug till the next morning； when；
just as the clock was striking eight； the same Mrs。 Nelly； whom I saw the
day before in the kitchen； entered the apartment； and accosted the young
ladies； saying； 'Good morning to you； ladies； do you know that it is time to
get up？' 'Then； pray； Nelly； lace my stays； will you？' said Miss Nancy。
'But lace mine first； and give me my other shoes； for those I wore
yesterday must be brushed； because I stepped in the dirt； and so when you
go down you must remember； and take and brush them； and then let me
have them again；' said Mary； 'but come and dress me now。'
Well； thought I； this is a rude way of speaking； indeed； something like
Miss Nancy Artless； at the house where my poor dear Softdown was so
cruelly massacred； I am sure I hope I shall not meet with the like fate here；
and I wish I was safe out of this shoe； for； perhaps； presently it will be
wanted to be put on Mary's foot； and I am sure I must not expect to meet
any mercy from a child who shows so bad a disposition as to speak to a
servant in so uncivil a manner； for no good…natured person would do that。
With these kind of reflections I was amusing myself for some little
time； when； all on a sudden； they were put an end to； by my finding the
shoe in which I was concealed； hastily taken up； and before I had time to
recollect what I had best do； I was almost killed by some violent blows I
received； which well nigh broke every bone in my skin。 I crept quite up
to the toe of the shoe； so that I was not at all seen； and the maid； when she
took up the shoes； held one in one hand； and the other in the other； by their
heels； and then slapped them hard together； to beat out of some of the dust
which was in them。 This she repeated three or four times； till I was quite
stunned； and how or which way I tumbled or got out； I know not； but
when I came to myself。 I was close up behind the foot of a table； in a
large apartment； where were several children； and a gentleman and a lady；
all conversing together with the greatest good humour and harmony。
The first words I heard distinctly enough to remember； were those of a
little boy； about five years old； who； with eagerness exclaimed'I forget
you！ no that I never shall。 If I was to go a hundred thousand miles off； I
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
am sure I shall never forget you。 What！ do you think I should ever； as
long as I live； if it is a million of years； forget my own dear papa and
mamma？ No； that I should not； I am very； very sure I never should。'
'Well； but Tom；' interrupted the gentleman； 'if in a million of years you
should not forget us； I dare say； in less than two months you will forget our
advice； and before you have been at school half that time； you will get to
squabbling with and tricking the other boys； just as they do with one
another； and instead of playing at all times with the strictest openness and
honour； you will； I sadly fear； learn to cheat； and deceive； and pay no
attention to what your mother and I have been telling you。' 'No'； that I
am sure I sha'n't！' replied the boy。 'What！ do you think I shall be so
wicked as to turn a thief； and cheat people？' 'I dare say； my dear；'
resumed the father； 'you will not do what we call thieving； but as I know
there are many naughty boys in all schools； I am afraid they will teach you
to commit dishonourable actions； and to tell you there is no harm in them；
and that they are signs of cleverness and spirit； and qualifications very
necessary for every boy to possess。' 'Aye； that's sure enough；' said the
boy； who appeared about ten years old； 'for they almost all declare； that if
a boy is not sharp and cunning； he might almost as well be out of the
world as in it。 But； as you say； papa； I hate such behaviour； I am sure
there is one of our boys； who is so wonderfully clever and acute； as they
call him； that I detest ever having any thing to do with him； for unless one
watches him as a cat would watch a mouse； he is sure to cheat or play one
some trick or other。' 'What sort of tricks do you mean？' inquired the little
boy。 'Why； I will tell you；' replied the other。 'You know nothing of the
games we have at school； so if I was to tell you how he plays at them； you
would not understand what I meant。 But you know what walking about
blindfold is； don't you？ Well！ one day； about a dozen boys agreed to
have a blind race； and the boy who got nearest the goal； which was a stick
driven in the ground with a shilling upon the top of it； was to win the
shilling； provided he did it fairly without seeing。' 'I suppose；' interrupted
Tom； 'you mean the boy who got to the stick first。' 'No； I do not；' replied
his brother； 'I mean what I say； the boy who got nearest it； no matter
whether he came first or last； the fun was to see them try to keep in a
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straight path； with their eyes tied up； whilst they wander quite in the
wrong； and not to try who could run fastest。 Well！ when they； were all
blinded； and twisted round three or four times before they were suffered to
set off； they directed their steps the way they thought would directly
conduct them to the goal； and some of them had almost reached it； when
Sharply （the boy I mentioned） who had placed a shilling upon the stick；
for they drew lots who should do that； and he who furnished the money
was to stand by it； to observe who won it by coming nearest； well； Sharply；
I say； just as they came close to it； moved away softly to another place；
above three yards distant from any of them （for I should have told you；
that if none of them got within three yards； the shilling was to remain his；
and they were each to give him a penny。） So then he untied their eyes；
and insisted upon it they had all of them lost。 But two or three of us
happened to be by； and so we said he had cheated them； and ought not to
keep the money； as it had fairly been won by Smyth。 But he would not
give it up； so it made a quarrel between him and Smyth； and at last they
fought； and Mr。 Chiron confined them both in the school all the rest of the
afternoon； and when he heard what the quarrel was about； he took the
shilling from Sharply； and called him a mean…spirited cheat； but he would
not let