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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 sleeveshe 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