the life and perambulations of a mouse(小耗子游记)-第20节
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shilling from Sharply； and called him a mean…spirited cheat； but he would
not let Smyth have it； because he said he deserved to lose it for fighting
about such a trifle； and so it was put into the forfeit…money。'
'But pray do not you think Sharply behaved extremely wrong？'
'Shamefully so； indeed；' said the gentleman。 'I never could have any
opinion of a boy 'who could act so dishonourably；' said the lady； 'let his
cleverness be what it would。' 'Pray； Frank； tell me some more；' said the
little boy。 'More！' replied Frank； 'I could tell you an hundred such kind of
things。 One time； as Peter Light was walking up the yard； with some
damsons in his hat； Sharply ran by； and as he passed； knocked his hat out
of his hand； for the sake of scrambling for as many as he could get himself。
And sometimes； after the pie…woman has been there； he gets such heaps of
tarts you cannot think； by his different tricks： perhaps he will buy a
currant tart himself； then he would go about； calling out； 〃Who'll change a
cheesecake for a currant tart？〃 and now…and…then he will add； 〃and half a
bun into the bargain！〃 Then two or three of the boys call out； 〃I will； I
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will！〃 and when they go to hold out their cheesecakes to him； he snatches
them out of their hands before they are aware； and runs away in an instant；
and whilst they stand for a moment in astonishment； he gets so much
ahead of them that he eats them up before they can again overtake him。
At other times； when he sees a boy beginning to eat his cake； he will come
and talk carelessly to him for a few moments； and then all of a sudden call
out； 〃Look！ look！ look！…there！〃 pointing his finger as if to show him
something wonderful； and when the other； without suspecting any
mischief； turns his head to see what has so surprised him； away he
snatches the cake； and runs off with it； cramming it into his mouth in a
moment。
'And when he plays at Handy…dandy； Jack…a…dandy； which will you
have； upper hand or lower？ if you happen to guess right； he slips whatever
you are playing with into his other hand； and that you know is not playing
fair； and so many of the boys tell him； but he does not mind any of us。
And as he is clever at his learning； and always does his exercise quite right；
Mr。 Chiron （who indeed does not know of his tricks） is very fond of him；
and is for ever saying what a clever fellow he is； and proposing him as an
example to the rest of the boys； and I do believe many of them imitate his
deceitful； cheating tricks； only for the sake of being thought like him。'
'Aye！ it is a sad thing；' interrupted the gentleman； 'that people who are
blessed with sense and abilities to behave well； should so misuse them as
to set a bad； instead of a good example to others； and by that means draw
many into sin； who otherwise； perhaps； might never have acted wrong。
Was this Sharply； you have been speaking of； a dunce and blockhead at his
book； he would never gain the commendations that Mr。 Chiron now
bestows upon him； and； consequently； no boy would wish to be thought
like him； his bad example； therefore； would not be of half the importance
it now is。
'Only think； then； my dear children； how extremely wicked it is； for
those who are blessed with understandings capable of acting as they
should do； and making people admire them； at the same time to be guilty
of such real and great sin。 For； however children at play may like to trick
and deceive each other； and call it only play or fun； still； let me tell you；
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they are much mistaken if they flatter themselves there is no harm in it。
It is a very wrong way of behaviour； it is mean； it is dishonorable； and it is
wicked； and the boy or girl who would ever permit themselves to act in so
unjustifiable a manner； however they may excel in their learning； or
exterior accomplishments； can never be deserving of esteem； confidence；
or regard。 What esteem or respect could I ever entertain of a person's
sense or learning； who made no better use of it than to practise wickedness
with more dexterity and grace than he otherwise would be enabled to do？
Or； what confidence could I ever place in the person who； I knew； only
wanted a convenient opportunity to defraud； trick； and deceive me？ Or；
what regard and love could I possibly entertain for such a one； who； unless
I kept a constant watch over； as I must over a wild beast； would； like a
wild beast； be sure to do me some injury？ Would it be possible； I say； to
love such a character； whatever shining abilities or depth of learning he
might possess？ Ask your own hearts； my dears； whether you think you
could？'
To this they all answered at once； 'No； that I could not；' and 'I am sure I
could not。' 'Well； then；' resumed the father； 'only think how odious that
conduct must be； which robs us of the esteem； confidence； and love of our
fellow…creatures； and that too； notwithstanding we may at the same time
be very clever； and have a great deal of sense and learning。 But； for my
part； I confess I know not the least advantage of our understanding or our
learning； unless we make a proper use of them。 Knowing a great deal；
and having read a great many books； will be of no service to us； unless we
are careful to make a proper use of that knowledge； and to improve by
what we read； otherwise the time we so bestow is but lost； and we might
as well spend the whole of our lives in idleness。
'Always remember； therefore； my loves； that the whole end of our
taking the trouble to instruct you； or putting ourselves to the expense of
sending you to school； or your attending to what is taught you； is； that you
may grow better men and women than you otherwise would be； and unless；
therefore； you do improve； we might as well spare ourselves the pains and
expense； and you need not take the trouble of learning； since； if you will
act wickedly； all our labour is but thrown away to no manner of purpose。
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'Mr。 and Mrs。 Sharply； how I pity them！ What sorrow must they
endure； to behold their son acting in the manner you have described； for
nothing can give so much concern to a fond parent's heart； as to see their
children； for whom they have taken so much pains； turn out naughty； and
to deceive and cheat！ What can be worse than that？ I hope； my dear
children； you will never； any of you； give us that dreadful misery！ I hope；
my dear Tom； I hope you will never learn any of those detestable ways
your brother has been telling you of。 And if it was not that you will often
be obliged to see such things when you mix with other children； I should
be sorry you should even hear of such bad actions； as I could wish you to
pass through life without so much as knowing such wickedness ever
existed； hut that is impossible。 There are so many naughty people in the
world； that you will often be obliged to see and hear of crimes which I
hope you will shudder to think of committing yourselves； and being
warned of them beforehand； I hope it will put you more upon your guard；
not to be tempted； upon any consideration； to give the least encouragement
to them； much less to practise them yourselves。
'Perhaps； Tom； if your brother had not； by telling us of Sharply's tricks；
given me an opportunity of warning you how extremely wrong and
wicked they are； you might when you were at school； have thought them
very clever； and marks of genius； and therefore； like others of the boys；
have tried to imitate them； and by that means have become as wicked；
mean； and dishonourable yourself。 And only think how it would have
grieved your mamma and me；
