a collection of beatrix potter stories-第2节
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〃It spoils people's clothes
to squeeze under a gate； the
proper way to get in； is to
climb down a pear tree。〃
Peter fell down head first；
but it was of no consequence；
as the bed below was newly
raked and quite soft。
IT had been sown with lettuces。
They left a great many odd
little foot…marks all over the
bed； especially little Benjamin；
who was wearing clogs。
LITTLE Benjamin said that
the first thing to be done
was to get back Peter's clothes；
in order that they might be
able to use the pocket handkerchief。
They took them off the scarecrow。
There had been rain
during the night； there was
water in the shoes； and the
coat was somewhat shrunk。
Benjamin tried on the tam…
o…shanter； but it was too big
for him。
THEN he suggested that
they should fill the pocket…
handkerchief with onions； as
a little present for his Aunt。
Peter did not seem to be
enjoying himself； he kept
hearing noises。
BENJAMIN； on the contrary；
was perfectly at
home； and ate a lettuce leaf。
He said that he was in the
habit of coming to the garden
with his father to get lettuces
for their Sunday dinner。
（The name of little Benjamin's
papa was old Mr。 Benjamin
Bunny。）
The lettuces certainly were
very fine。
PETER did not eat anything；
he said he should
like to go home。 Presently he
dropped half the onions。
LITTLE Benjamin said that
it was not possible to get
back up the pear…tree； with a
load of vegetables。 He led
the way boldly towards the
other end of the garden。 They
went along a little walk on
planks； under a sunny red…
brick wall。
The mice sat on their door…
steps cracking cherry…stones；
they winked at Peter Rabbit
and little Benjamin Bunny。
PRESENTLY Peter let the
pocket…handkerchief go
again。
THEY got amongst flower…
pots； and frames and
tubs； Peter heard noises worse
than ever； his eyes were as big
as lolly…pops！
He was a step or two in
front of his cousin； when he
suddenly stopped。
THIS is what those little
rabbits saw round that
corner！
Little Benjamin took one
look； and then； in half a minute
less than no time； he hid himself
and Peter and the onions
underneath a large basket。 。 。 。
THE cat got up and stretched
herself； and came and
sniffed at the basket。
Perhaps she liked the smell
of onions！
Anyway； she sat down upon
the top of the basket。
SHE sat there for FIVE HOURS。
* * * * *
I cannot draw you a picture
of Peter and Benjamin underneath
the basket； because it
was quite dark； and because
the smell of onions was fearful；
it made Peter Rabbit and little
Benjamin cry。
The sun got round behind
the wood； and it was quite late
in the afternoon； but still the
cat sat upon the basket。
AT length there was a pitter…
patter； pitter…patter； and
some bits of mortar fell from
the wall above。
The cat looked up and saw
old Mr。 Benjamin Bunny
prancing along the top of the
wall of the upper terrace。
He was smoking a pipe of
rabbit…tobacco； and had a little
switch in his hand。
He was looking for his son。
OLD Mr。 Bunny had no
opinion whatever of cats。
He took a tremendous jump
off the top of the wall on to
the top of the cat； and cuffed
it off the basket； and kicked it
into the garden…house； scratching
off a handful of fur。
The cat was too much surprised
to scratch back。
WHEN old Mr。 Bunny had
driven the cat into the
green…house； he locked the
door。
Then he came back to the
basket and took out his son
Benjamin by the ears； and
whipped him with the little
switch。
Then he took out his nephew
Peter。
THEN he took out the handkerchief
of onions； and
marched out of the garden。
When Mr。 McGregor
returned about half an
hour later； he observed several
things which perplexed him。
It looked as though some
person had been walking all
over the garden in a pair of
clogsonly the foot…marks
were too ridiculously little！
Also he could not understand
how the cat could have
managed to shut herself up
INSIDE the green…house； locking
the door upon the OUTSIDE。
WHEN Peter got home；
his mother forgave him；
because she was so glad to see
that he had found his shoes
and coat。 Cotton…tail and
Peter folded up the pocket…
handkerchief； and old Mrs。
rabbit strung up the onions
and hung them from the
kitchen ceiling； with the
rabbit…tobacco。
THE END
THE TALE OF
THE FLOPSY BUNNIES
FOR ALL LITTLE FRIENDS
OF
MR。 McGREGOR & PETER & BENJAMIN
IT is said that the effect of
eating too much lettuce
is 〃soporific。〃
_I_ have never felt sleepy after
eating lettuces； but then _I_ am
not a rabbit。
They certainly had a very
soporific effect upon the Flopsy
Bunnies！
WHEN Benjamin Bunny
grew up； he married
his Cousin Flopsy。 They had
a large family； and they were
very improvident and cheerful。
I do not remember the separate
names of their children；
they were generally called the
〃Flopsy Bunnies。〃
AS there was not always
quite enough to eat；
Benjamin used to borrow
cabbages from Flopsy's
brother； Peter Rabbit； who
kept a nursery garden。
SOMETIMES Peter Rabbit
had no cabbages to spare。
WHEN this happened； the
Flopsy Bunnies went
across the field to a rubbish
heap； in the ditch outside
Mr。 McGregor's garden。
MR。 McGREGOR'S rubbish
heap was a mixture。
There were jam pots and paper
bags； and mountains of chopped
grass from the mowing machine
（which always tasted oily）； and
some rotten vegetable marrows
and an old boot or two。 One
dayoh joy！there were a
quantity of overgrown lettuces；
which had 〃shot〃 into flower。
THE Flopsy Bunnies simply
stuffed lettuces。 By
degrees； one after another；
they were overcome with
slumber； and lay down in the
mown grass。
Benjamin was not so much
overcome as his children。
Before going to sleep he was
sufficiently wide awake to put
a paper bag over his head to
keep off the flies。
THE little Flopsy Bunnies
slept delightfully in the
warm sun。 From the lawn
beyond the garden came the
distant clacketty sound of the
mowing machine。 The blue…
bottles buzzed about the wall；
and a little old mouse picked
over the rubbish among the
jam pots。
（I can tell you her name； she
was called Thomasina Tittlemouse；
a woodmouse with a
long tail。）
SHE rustled across the paper
bag； and awakened Benjamin
Bunny。
The mouse apologized
profusely； and said that she knew
Peter Rabbit。
WHILE she and Benjamin
were talking； close under
the wall； they heard a heavy
tread above their heads； and
suddenly Mr。 McGregor
emptied out a sackful of lawn
mowings right upon the top
of the sleeping Flopsy Bunnies！
Benjamin shrank down
under his paper bag。 The
mouse hid in a jam pot。
THE little rabbits smiled
sweetly in their sleep
under the shower of grass；
they did not awake because
the lettuces had been so
soporific。
They dreamt that their
mother Flopsy was tucking
them up in a hay bed。
Mr。 McGregor looked down
after emptying his sack。 He
saw some funny little brown
tips of ears sticking up through
the lawn mowings。 He stared
at them for some time。
PRESENTLY a fly settled
on one of them and it
moved。
Mr。 McGregor climbed
down on to the rubbish heap
〃One； two； three； four！ five！
six leetle rabbits！〃 said he as
he dropped them into his sack。
The Flopsy Bunnies dreamt
that their mother was turning
them over in bed。 They stirred
a little in their sleep； but still
they did not wake up。
MR。 McGREGOR tied up
the sack and left it on
the wall。
He went to put away the
mowing machine。
WHILE he was gone； Mrs。
Flopsy Bunny （who
had remained at home） came
across the field。
She looked suspiciously at
the sack and wondered where
everybody was？
THEN the mouse came out
of her jam pot； and Benjamin
took the paper bag off
his head； and they told the
doleful tale。
Benjamin and Flopsy were
in despair； they could not
undo the string。
But Mrs。 Tittlemouse was
a resourceful person。 She
nibbled a hole in the bottom
corner of the sack。
THE little rabbits were
pulled out and pinched
to wake them。
Their parents stuffed the
empty sack with three rotten
vegetable marrows； an old
blacking…brush and two
decayed turnips。
THEN they all hid under
a bush and watched for
Mr。 McGregor。
MR。 McGREGOR came
back and picked up the
sack； and carried it off。
He carried it hanging down；
as if it were rather he
