a collection of beatrix potter stories-第16节
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〃To marketI have two pig
papers。 I might take you to the
bridge； if you have no objection；〃
said Pigling much confused and
sitting on the edge of his coppy stool。
Pig…wig's gratitude was such and she
asked so many questions that it
became embarrassing to Pigling Bland。
He was obliged to shut his eyes
and pretend to sleep。 She became
quiet； and there was a smell of
peppermint。
〃I thought you had eaten them；〃
said Pigling； waking suddenly。
〃Only the corners；〃 replied Pig…
wig； studying the sentiments with
much interest by the firelight。
〃I wish you wouldn't； he might
smell them through the ceiling；〃
said the alarmed Pigling。
Pig…wig put back the sticky
peppermints into her pocket； 〃Sing
something；〃 she demanded。
〃I am sorry 。 。 。 I have tooth…
ache；〃 said Pigling much dismayed。
〃Then I will sing；〃 replied Pig…wig。
〃You will not mind if I say iddy
tidditty？ I have forgotten some of
the words。〃
Pigling Bland made no objection；
he sat with his eyes half shut； and
watched her。
She wagged her head and rocked
about； clapping time and singing
in a sweet little grunty voice
〃A funny old mother pig lived in a
stye； and three little piggies had she；
〃（Ti idditty idditty） umph； umph；
umph！ and the little pigs said； wee； wee！〃
She sang successfully through
three or four verses； only at every
verse her head nodded a little lower；
and her little twinkly eyes closed
up。
〃Those three little piggies grew peaky
and lean； and lean they might very
well be；
〃For somehow they couldn't say umph；
umph； umph！ and they wouldn't
say wee； wee； wee！
〃For somehow they couldn't say
Pig…wig's head bobbed lower and
lower； until she rolled over； a little
round ball； fast asleep on the hearth…rug。
Pigling Bland； on tip…toe； covered
her up with an antimacassar
He was afraid to go to sleep
himself； for the rest of the night he
sat listening to the chirping of the
crickets and to the snores of Mr。
Piperson overhead。
Early in the morning； between
dark and daylight； Pigling tied up
his little bundle and woke up Pig…
wig。 She was excited and half…
frightened。 But it's dark！ How
can we find our way？〃
〃The cock has crowed； we must
start before the hens come out； they
might shout to Mr。 Piperson。〃
Pig…wig sat down again； and
commenced to cry。
〃Come away Pig…wig； we can see
when we get used to it。 Come！
I can hear them clucking！〃
Pigling had never said shuh！ to
a hen in his life； being peaceable；
also he remembered the hamper。
He opened the house door quietly
and shut it after them。 There was
no garden； the neighbourhood of
Mr。 Piperson's was all scratched
up by fowls。 They slipped away
hand in hand across an untidy field
to the road。
The sun rose while they were
crossing the moor； a dazzle of light
over the tops of the hills。 The
sunshine crept down the slopes
into the peaceful green valleys；
where little white cottages nestled
in gardens and orchards。
〃That's Westmorland；〃 said
Pig…wig。 She dropped Pigling's
hand and commenced to dance；
singing
〃Tom； Tom； the piper's son； stole a pig
and away he ran！
〃But all the tune that he could play；
was 'Over the hills and far away！' 〃
〃Come； Pig…wig； we must get to
the bridge before folks are stirring。〃
〃Why do you want to go to market；
Pigling？〃 inquired Pig…wig presently。
〃I don't want； I want to
grow potatoes。〃 〃Have a peppermint？〃
said Pig…wig。 Pigling
Bland refused quite crossly。 〃Does
your poor toothy hurt？〃 inquired
Pig…wig。 Pigling Bland grunted。
Pig…wig ate the peppermint
herself and followed the opposite side
of the road。 〃Pig…wig！ keep under
the wall； there's a man ploughing。〃
Pig…wig crossed over； they hurried
down hill towards the county boundary。
Suddenly Pigling stopped； he
heard wheels。
Slowly jogging up the road below
them came a tradesman's cart。 The
reins flapped on the horse's back；
the grocer was reading a newspaper。
〃Take that peppermint out of
your mouth； Pig…wig； we may have
to run。 Don't say one word。 Leave
it to me。 And in sight of the bridge！〃
said poor Pigling； nearly crying。
He began to walk frightfully lame；
holding Pig…wig's arm。
The grocer； intent upon his news…
paper； might have passed them； if
his horse had not shied and snorted。
He pulled the cart crossways； and
held down his whip。 〃Hallo！
Where are YOU going to？〃Pigling
Bland stared at him vacantly。
〃Are you deaf？ Are you going
to market？〃 Pigling nodded slowly。
〃I thought as much。 It was
yesterday。 Show me your licence？〃
Pigling stared at the off hind
shoe of the grocer's horse which
had picked up a stone。
The grocer flicked his whip
〃Papers？ Pig licence？〃 Pigling
fumbled in all his pockets； and
handed up the papers。 The grocer
read them； but still seemed dissatisfied。
〃This here pig is a young
lady； is her name Alexander？〃
Pig…wig opened her mouth and shut
it again； Pigling coughed asthmatically。
The grocer ran his finger down
the advertisement column of his
newspaper〃Lost； stolen or
strayed； 10s。 reward。〃 He looked
suspiciously at Pig…wig。 Then he
stood up in the trap； and whistled
for the ploughman。
〃You wait here while I drive on
and speak to him；〃 said the grocer；
gathering up the reins。 He knew
that pigs are slippery； but surely；
such a VERY lame pig could never
run！
〃Not yet； Pig…wig； he will look
back。〃 The grocer did so； he saw
the two pigs stock…still in the
middle of the road。 Then he looked
over at his horse's heels； it was
lame also； the stone took some
time to knock out； after he got to
the ploughman。
〃Now； Pig…wig； NOW！〃 said
Pigling Bland。
Never did any pigs run as these
pigs ran！ They raced and squealed
and pelted down the long white hill
towards the bridge。 Little fat Pig…
wig's petticoats fluttered； and her
feet went pitter； patter； pitter； as she
bounded and jumped。
They ran； and they ran； and they
ran down the hill； and across a short
cut on level green turf at the bottom；
between pebble beds and rushes。
They came to the river； they
came to the bridgethey crossed
it hand in hand…
then over the hills and far away
she danced with Pigling Bland！
THE END
THE TALE OF
TWO BAD MICE
FOR
W。 M。 L。 W。
THE LITTLE GIRL
WHO HAD THE DOLL HOUSE
ONCE upon a time there
was a very beautiful
doll's house； it was red brick
with white windows； and it had
real muslin curtains and a
front door and a chimney。
IT belonged to two Dolls
called Lucinda and Jane；
at least it belonged to Lucinda；
but she never ordered meals。
Jane was the Cook； but she
never did any cooking； because
the dinner had been bought
ready…made； in a box full of
shavings。
THERE were two red lobsters；
and a ham； a fish；
a pudding； and some pears and
oranges。
They would not come off the
plates； but they were extremely
beautiful。
ONE morning Lucinda and
Jane had gone out for
a drive in the doll's perambulator。
There was no one in the
nursery； and it was very quiet。
Presently there was a little
scuffling； scratching noise in a
corner near the fireplace； where
there was a hole under the
skirting…board。
Tom Thumb put out his
head for a moment； and then
popped it in again。
Tom Thumb was a mouse。
A MINUTE afterwards
Hunca Munca； his wife；
put her head out； too； and
when she saw that there was
no one in the nursery； she
ventured out on the oilcloth
under the coal…box
THE doll's house stood at
the other side of the
fireplace。 Tom Thumb and
Hunca Munca went cautiously
across the hearth…rug。 They
pushed the front doorit was
not fast。
TOM THUMB and Hunca
Munca went up…stairs
and peeped into the dining…
room。 Then they squeaked
with joy！
Such a lovely dinner was laid
out upon the table！ There were
tin spoons； and lead knives
and forks； and two dolly…chairs
all SO convenient！
TOM THUMB set to work
at once to carve the ham。
It was a beautiful shiny yellow；
streaked with red。
The knife crumpled up and
hurt him； he put his finger in
his mouth。
〃It is not boiled enough； it
is hard。 You have a try；
Hunca Munca。〃
HUNCA MUNCA
up in her chair； and
chopped at the ham with
another lead knife。
〃It's as hard as the hams
at the cheesemonger's；〃 said
Hunca Munca。
THE h
