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answered Nurse； 'I think you behave like a great fool； for what harm could
a mouse do to you？' 'O la！ I hate them；' returned she； and then ran away
without the trap。 Greatly was I rejoiced at her departure； as I hoped that；
by some means； Softdown might still be able to make his escape。 But；
alas！ no such good fortune attended him。 Some person again passing the
door； Nurse once more called out； 'Who is there？ John is it you？' 'Yes；'
replied a man's voice。 'Then do you step in； will you； for a moment？'
rejoined Mrs。 Nurse： and instantly entered a man whom I had never
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
before seen。 'What do you want； Nurse？' said he。 'I only want to get rid
of a mouse；' returned she； 'and； do you know； Betty is such a fool that she
is afraid of taking it； and I want the trap to set it again； for they swarm
here like bees in a hive； one can have no peace for them： they devour
and spoil every thing； I say sometimes that I believe they will eat me up at
last。' While she was saying this； John took the trap in his hand； held it up
once more to the candle； then taking a piece of thread out of a paper； that
lay bound round with a dirty blue ribbon upon the table； he shook the trap
about till he got my brother's tail through the wires； when catching hold of
it； he tied the thread tight round it and dragged him by it to the door of the
trap； which he opened； and took him out； suspending the weight of his
body upon his tail。
Softdown； who till the thread was tied had patiently continued
perfectly quiet； could no longer support the pain without dismal cries and
anguish： he squeaked as loud as his little throat would let him； exerting
at the same time the utmost of his strength to disengage himself。 But in
such a position； with his head downward； in vain were all his efforts to
procure relief； and the barbarous monster who held him discovered not the
smallest emotions of pity for his sufferings。 Oh！ how at that moment did
I abhor my own existence； and wish that I could be endowed with size and
strength sufficient； at once both to rescue him； and severely punish his
tormentors。 But my wish was ineffectual； and I had the inexpressible
affliction of seeing the inhuman wretch hold him down upon the hearth；
whilst； without remorse； he crushed him beneath his foot； and then
carelessly kicked him into the ashes； saying； 'There！ The cat will smell it
out when she comes up。' My very blood runs cold within me at the
recollection of seeing Softdown's as it spurted from beneath the monster's
foot； whilst the crunch of his bones almost petrified me with horror。 At
length； however； recollecting the impossibility of restoring my beloved
brother to life； and the danger of my own situation； I； with trembling feet
and palpitating heart； crept softly back to my remaining two brothers； who
were impatiently expecting me behind the closet。 There I related to them
the horrid scene which had passed before my eyes； whilst the anguish it
caused in their gentle bosoms far exceeds my power to describe。
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
After having mingled our lamentations for some time； I thus addressed
them： 'We have this night； my brothers； tasted the severest affliction in
the cruel death of our dear brother； companion； and friend； let us not；
however； only mourn his loss； but also gather wisdom from our misfortune；
and return to that duty which we have hitherto neglected。 Recollect； my
dear friends； what were the last words which our good mother spoke to us
at parting。 She charged us； upon no account； for no temptation whatever；
to return frequently to the same place： if we did； she forewarned us that
death and ruin would certainly await us。 But in what manner have we
obeyed this her kind advice？ We have not even so much as once
recollected it since she left us； or； if we thought of it for a moment； we
foolishly despised it as unnecessary。 Now； therefore； we sincerely feel
the consequence of our disobedience； and； though our sufferings are most
distressing； yet we must confess that we amply deserve them。 Let us
therefore； my brothers； instantly fly from a place which has already cost us
the life of our beloved Softdown； lest we should all likewise fall a sacrifice
to our disobedience。'And here the writer cannot help observing how just
were the reflections of the mouse on the crime which they had been guilty
of； and begs every reader will be careful to remember the fatal
consequences that attended their disobedience of their mother's advice；
since they may be assured that equal if not the same misfortune will
always attend those who refuse to pay attention to the advice of their
parents。 But； to return to the history。
To this proposal （continued the mouse） my brothers readily agreed；
and we directly descended to the place we were in when we discovered the
crack that led us to the room in which we feasted on bird…seed。 Here we
determined to wait； and when the family were all quiet in bed； to go forth
in search of provision； as we began to be rather hungry； not having eaten
anything a long while。 Accordingly we stayed till after the clock struck
twelve； when peeping out； we saw that the room was empty： we then
ventured forth； and found several seeds； though not enough to afford a
very ample meal for three of us。
After we had cleared the room； we again returned to our hiding…place；
where we continued till after the family had finished their breakfast。
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
They all then went to take a walk in the garden； and we stepped out to pick
up the crumbs which had fallen from the table。 Whilst we were thus
employed； at a distance from our place of retreat； we were alarmed by the
entrance of two boys； who appeared to be about twelve or thirteen years of
age。 We directly ran towards the crack； but alas！ we were not quick
enough to escape their observation； for； seeing us； they both at once
exclaimed； 'Some mice！ some mice！' and at the same time took off their
hats； and threw at us。 Longtail happily eluded the blow； and safely got
home； but poor Brighteyes and myself were less fortunate； and though we
for a considerable time； by our quickness； prevented their catching us； at
length； being much disabled by a blow that one of them gave me with a
book which he threw at me； I was unable any longer to run； and hobbling
very slowly across the room； he picked me up。 At the same moment
Brighteyes was so entangled in a handkerchief which the other boy tossed
over him； that he likewise was taken prisoner。 Our little hearts now beat
quick with fear of those tortures we expected to receive； nor were our
apprehensions lessened by hearing the boys consult what they should do
with us； 'I；' said one； 'will throw mine into the pond； and see how he will
swim out again。' 'And I；' said the other； 'will keep mine and tame it。'
'But where will you keep it？' inquired his companion。 'Oh；' replied he； 'I
will keep it under a little pan till I can get a house made for it。' He then；
holding me by the skin at the back of my neck； ran with me into the
kitchen to fetch a pan。 Here I was not only threatened with death by
three or four of the servants； who all blamed Master Peter for keeping me；
but likewise two or three cats came round him； rubbing themselves
backward and forward against his legs； and then standing upon their hind
feet to endeavour to make themselves high enough to reach me。