Life and Perambulations of a Mouse | Page 8

sister upon the floor, and there leave her, tell me what
do you think she could do, or what would become of her?' Nancy
sobbed out, that she would die. 'And pray, my dear,' continued Mrs.
Artless, 'if we were to leave you to yourself, what would become of
you? It is true, you talk and run about better than Polly: but not a bit
better could you provide for, or take care of yourself. Could you buy or
dress your own victuals? could you light your own fire? could you
clean your own house, or open and shut the doors and windows? could
you make your own clothes, or even put them on without some
assistance, when made? And who do you think will do anything for you,
if you are not good, and do not speak civilly? Not I, I promise you,

neither shall nurse, nor any of the servants; for though I pay them
wages to help to do my business for me, I never want them to do
anything unless they are desired in a pretty manner. Should you like, if
when I want you to pick up my scissors, or do any little job, I were to
say, "Pick up my scissors this moment, or I will slap your face?"
Should not you think that it sounded very cross and disagreeable?' 'Yes,
madam,' replied Nancy. 'Then why,' rejoined Mrs. Artless, 'should you
speak cross to anybody, particularly to servants and poor people? for to
behave so to them, is not only cross, but insolent and proud: it is as if
you thought that because they are rather poorer, they are not so good as
yourself, whereas, I assure you, poverty makes no difference in the
merit of people; for those only are deserving of respect who are truly
good; and a beggar who is virtuous, is far better than a prince who is
wicked.' I was prevented from hearing any more of this very just
discourse, by the little boy's opening the door and letting in a cat; which,
though it was the first that I had ever seen in my life, I was certain was
the same destructive animal to our race, which I had frequently heard
my mother describe. I therefore made all possible haste back to the
closet, and warning Brighteyes of our danger, we instantly returned by
the same way which we came, to our two brothers, whom we found
waiting for us, and wondering at our long absence. We related to them
the dainty cheer which we had met with, and agreed to conduct them
thither in the evening. Accordingly, as soon as it grew towards dusk,
we climbed up the wall, and all four together attacked the plum-cake,
which no one had touched since we left it; but scarcely had we all
seated ourselves round it, than on a sudden the closet-door opened, and
a woman entered. Away we all scampered as fast as possible, but poor
Brighteyes, who could not move quite so fast on account of his sore toe,
and who likewise having advanced farther into the cake, was
discovered before he could reach the crack by which we entered. The
woman, who had a knife in her hand, struck at him with it, at the same
time exclaiming, 'Bless me, nurse, here is a mouse in the closet!'
Happily, she missed her aim, and he only received a small wound on
the tip of his tail. This interruption sadly alarmed us, and it was above
an hour before we could have courage to venture back, when finding
everything quiet, except Mrs. Nurse's singing to her child, we again
crept out, and once more surrounded the cake. We continued without

any further alarm till we were perfectly satisfied, and then retired to a
little distance behind the wainscot, determined there to sleep, and to
breakfast on the cake the next day.
Early in the morning I waked, and calling my brothers, we all marched
forward, and soon arrived at the delightful cake, where we highly
enjoyed ourselves without the least disturbance, till our appetites were
fully satisfied. We then retired, took a little run round some other parts
of the house, but met with nothing worth relating. At noon we again
made our way into the closet, intending to dine on the dish on which
we breakfasted; but, to our no small mortification, the delicious dainty
was removed. This you may be sure was a sad disappointment; yet as
we were not extremely hungry, we had time to look about for more. We
were not long in finding it; for upon the same shelf from which the
cake was removed, there was a round tin box, the lid of which was not
quite close shut down; into this we