the life and perambulations of a mouse-第12节
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ood morning to you； Miss。〃 And would you think it； the child stood like a stake； and never returned it so much as by a nod of the head； nor did she open her lips。 I saw by her looks the maid took notice of it； and I am sure I have such a regard for the family； that I felt quite ashamed of her behaviour。' 'Oh！ she served me worse than that；' resumed Sally； 'for； would you believe it； the other day I begged her to be so kind as to let her mamma know I wanted to speak with her； and I did not choose to go into the room myself； because I was dirty； and there was company there； but for all I desired her over and over only just to step in （and she was at play close to the door） yet； could you suppose it possible； she was ill…natured enough to refuse me； and would not do it at last。' 'Well； if ever I heard the like of that！' exclaimed John； whose pocket I had been in。 'I think that was being cross indeed； and if a child of mine was to behave in that surly manner； I would whip it to death almost。 I abominate such unkind doings； let everyone； I say； do as they like to be done by； and that is the only way to be happy； and the only way to deserve to be so； for if folks will not try to be kind； and oblige others； why should anybody try to please them？ And if Miss Mary was my girl； and chose to behave rude and cross to the servants； if I was her papa； I would order them to refuse doing anything for her。 I would soon humble her pride I warrant you； for nobody should make her puddings； or cut her bread； or do anything for her till she learned to be kind； and civil； and thankful too； for all that was done for her。 I have no notion； for my part； for a child to give herself such airs for nothing； and because her parents happen to have a little more money in their pockets； for that reason to think she may be rude to poor folks； but though servants are poor； still surely they are richer than she is； I should like to ask her how much she has got？ and which way she came by it？ A child I am sure is no richer than a beggar； for they have not a farthing that is not given them through mere bounty； whereas a servant who works for his living； has a right and just claim to his wages； and may truly call them his own； but a child has not one farthing that is not its parents。 So here's my service to you； Miss；' said he； （again lifting the ale…mug to his mouth） 'and wishing her a speedy reformation of manners； I drink to her very good health。'
John drank to the bottom of the mug； and then shaking the last drop into the ashes under the grate； he told the following story； as he sat swinging the mug by its handle across his two forefingers； which he had joined for that purpose。
'When my father was a young man he lived at one Mr。 Speedgo's； as upper footman： they were vastly rich。 Mr。 Speedgo was a merchant； and by good luck he gathered gold as fast as his neighbours would pick up stones （as a body may say）。 So they kept two or three carriages； there was a coach； and a chariot； and a phaeton； and I can't tell what besides； and a power of servants you may well suppose to attend them all； and very well they lived； with plenty of victuals and drink。 But though they wanted for nothing still they never much loved either their master or mistress； they used to give their orders in so haughty and imperious a manner； and if asked a civil question； answer so shortly； as if they thought their servants not worthy of their notice： so that； in short； no one loved them； nor their children either； for they brought them up just like themselves； to despise everyone poorer than they were； and to speak as cross to their servants as if they had been so many adders they were afraid would bite them。
'I have heard my father say； that if Master Speedgo wanted his horse to be got ready； he would say； 〃Saddle my horse！〃 in such a displeasing manner as made it quite a burthen to do anything for him。 Or if the young ladies wanted a piece of bread and butter； or cake； they would say； 〃Give me a bit of cake；〃 or； if they added the word pray to it； they spoke in such a grumpy way； as plainly showed they thought themselves a deal better than their servants； forgetting that an honest servant is just as worthy a member of society as his master； and whilst he behaves well； as much deserving of civility as anybody。 But to go on with my story。 I have already told you Mr。 Speedgo was very rich and very proud； nor would he on any account suffer anyone to visit at his house whom he thought below him； as he called it； or at least； if he did； he always took care to behave to them in such a manner； as plainly to let them know he thought he showed a mighty favour in conversing with them。
'Among the rest of the servants there was one Molly Mount； as good a hearted girl； my father says； as ever lived： she had never received much education； because her parents could not afford to give her any； and she learned to read after she was at Mr。 Speedgo's from one of the housemaids； who was kind enough to teach her a little； but you may suppose； from such sort of teaching； she was no very good scholar。 However； she read well enough to be able to make out some chapters in the Bible； and an excellent use she made of them； carefully fulfilling every duty she there found recommended as necessary for a Christian to practice。 She used often to say she was perfectly contented in her station； and only wished for more money that she might have it in her power to do more good。 And sometimes； when she was dressing and attending the young ladies of the family； she would advise them to behave prettier than they did； telling them； 〃That by kindness and civility they would be so far from losing respect； that； on the contrary； they would much gain it。 For we cannot （she would very truly say） have any respect for those people who seem to forget their human nature； and behave as if they thought themselves superior to the rest of their fellow…creatures。 Young ladies and gentlemen have no occasion to make themselves very intimate or familiar with their servants； but everybody ought to speak civilly and good…humouredly； let it be to whom it may： and if I was a lady I should make it a point never to look cross or speak gruffly to the poor； for fear they should think I forgot I was of the same human nature as they were。〃 By these kind of hints； which every now and then she would give to the misses； they were prodigiously offended； and complained of her insolence； as they called it； to their mamma； who very wrongly； instead of teaching them to behave better； joined with them in blaming Molly for her freedom； and； to show her displeasure at her conduct； put on a still haughtier air； whenever she spoke to her； than she did to any other of the servants。 Molly； however； continued to behave extremely well； and often very seriously lamented in the kitchen the wrong behaviour of the family。 〃I don't mind it；〃 she would say； 〃for my own part； I know that I do my duty； and their cross looks and proud behaviour can do me no real harm： but I cannot help grieving for their sakes； it distresses me to think that people who ought to know better； should； by their ill conduct； make themselves so many enemies； when they could so easily gain friendsI am astonished how anybody can act so foolishly。〃
'In this sensible manner she would frequently talk about the sin as well as the folly of pride。 And one day； as she was talking to her fellow…servants； rather louder than in prudence she ought to have done； her two young ladies overheard her； and the next time she went to dress them； they enquired what it was she had been saying to the other maids。 〃Indeed； ladies；〃 said she； 〃I hope you will excuse my telling you。 I think； if you give yourselves time to reflect a little； you will not insist upon knowing； as it is beneath such rich ladies as you are； to concern yourselves with what poor servants talk about。〃 This answer did not； however； satisfy them； and they positively commanded her to let them know。 Molly was by far too good a woman to attempt to deceive anyone； she therefore replied； 〃If； ladies； you insist upon knowing what I said； I hope you will not take anything amiss that I may tell you； thus compelled as I am by your commands。 You must know then； Miss Betsy and Miss Rachael； that I was saying how sad a thing it was for people to be proud because they are rich； or to fancy； because they happen to have a little more money； that for that reason they are better than their servants； when in reality the whole that makes one person better than another is； having superior virtues； being kinder and more good natured； and readier to assist and serve their fellow…creatures； these are the qualifications； I was saying； that make people beloved； and not being possessed of money。 Money may； indeed； procure servants to do their business for them； but it is not in the power of all the riches in the world to purchase the love and esteem of anyone。 What a sad thing then it is； when gentlefolks behave so as to make themselves despised； and that will ever be the case with all those who； like （excuse me； ladies； you insisted upon my telling you what I said） Miss Betsy； and Miss Rachael； and Master James； show such contempt to all their in
