INTRODUCTION
It is now some months ago since I took leave of my little readers,promising, in case I should ever hear any further tidings of eitherNimble or Longtail, I would certainly communicate it to them; and, as Ithink it extremely wrong not to fulfil any engagement we enter into,I look upon myself bound to give them all the information I have sincegained, relating to those two little animals; and I doubt not but theywill be glad to hear what happened to them, after Nimble was frightenedfrom my writing table by the entrance of my servant. If I recollectright, I have already told you, that I frequently peeped into the holein the skirting-board, and laid bits of cake to try to entice my littlecompanion back, but all to no purpose: and I had quite given over allhopes of ever again seeing him, when one day, as I was putting my handinto a large jar, which had some Turkey figs in it, I felt somethingsoft at the bottom, and taking it out, found it to be a poor littlemouse, not quite dead, but so starved and weak, that upon my placing itupon the table, it had not strength sufficient to get from me. A littleboy happened to be standing by me, who, upon the sight of the mouse,began to beg me to give it to the cat, or kill it, 'for I don't likemice,' said he; 'pray, ma'am, put it away.' 'Not like mice,' replied I;'what can be your objection to such a little soft creature as this?'and taking advantage of its weakness, I picked it up, and held it inthe palm of one hand, whilst I stroked it with the fingers of my right.'Poor little mouse,' said I, 'who can be afraid of such a little objectas this? Do you not feel ashamed of yourself, Joe, to fear such a littlecreature as this? Only look at it, observe how small it is, and thenconsider your own size, and surely, my dear, you will blush to think ofbeing no more of a man than to fear a mouse! Look at me, Joe,' continuedI, 'see, I will kiss it, I am not at all afraid that it will hurt me.'When, lifting it up toward my face, I heard it say, in the faintestvoice possible, 'Do you not know me?' I instantly recollected my littlefriend Nimble, and rejoiced at so unexpectedly finding him. 'What, is ityou, little Nimble,' exclaimed I, 'that I again behold? Believe me, Iam heartily rejoiced once more to find you; but tell me, where have youbeen, what have you done, whom have you seen, and what have you learnedsince you last left me?' 'Oh!' replied he, in a voice so low I couldscarcely hear him, 'I have seen many things; but I am so faint and weakfor want of food and fresh air, that I doubt I shall never live to tellyou; but, for pity's sake have compassion on me, either put me out ofmy present misery by instantly killing me, or else give me somethingto eat; for, if you knew my sufferings, I am sure it would grieve yourheart.' 'Kill you!' returned I, 'no, that I will not: on the contrary, Iwill try by every method to restore you to health, and all the happinessa mouse is capable of feeling.' I then instantly sent for some bread,and had the satisfaction of seeing him eat very heartily of it, afterwhich he seemed much refreshed, and began to move about a little moresuitable to his name; for, in truth, when I first found him, no livingcreature in the world could appear less deserving of the appellation ofNimble. I then fetched him a little milk, and gave him a lump of sugarto nibble; after eating of which he begged to retire into some safelittle hole to take a nap, from whence he promised to return as soon ashe should wake; and accordingly, in about an hour he again appeared onmy table, and began as follows.
The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse Page 5
