按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
er call； and desired to know what she wanted。 'I want you to take down the mouse…trap；' she replied； 'for I cannot leave the child。 I am glad that I have got it； I am sure； for the closet swarms so； there is no such thing as bearing it。 They devour everything： I declare they have eaten up a whole pound of sugar； which cost me elevenpence； sugar is now so monstrously dear！ indeed the man made a favour to let me have it for that； only； he said； as our family were good customers； and I was but a servant； he would take no more。 And enough too I thought it was； to have only a penny back in change out of a whole shilling for one pound of sugar： and then to think of the poison mice to have it all； but I will break their filthy necks。 Do； Betty； pray take the trap down； and return with it as soon as you can； and I will set it again： for I dare say I shall catch another before I go to bed； for I heard some more rustling among the things。' 'O lauk！' replied Betty； 'yon do not think that I will take down the trap； do you？ I would not touch it for twenty pounds。 I am always frightened； and ready to die at the sight of a mouse。 Once； when I was a girl； I had one thrown in my face； and ever since I have always been scared out of my wits at them； and if ever I see one running loose； as I did one night in the closet below stairs； where the candles are kept； I scream as if I was being killed。' 'Why then；' 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 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。
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。 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。 At last； taking a pan in his hand； he returned to his brother with one of the cats following him。 Immediately upon our entrance； the boy exclaimed； 'Oh； now I know what I will do： I will tie a piece of string to its tail； and teach the cat to jump for it。' No sooner did this thought present itself than it was put into practice； and I again was obliged to sustain the shocking sight of a brother put to the torture。 I； in the mean time； was placed upon the table； with a pan put over me； in which there was a crack； so that I could see as we