the original peter rabbit books([1].波特文集)-第10节
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right size for DollsLucinda and Jane Doll…cook always bought their
groceries at Ginger and Pickles。
The counter inside was a convenient height for rabbits。 Ginger and
Pickles sold red spotty pocket… handkerchiefs at a penny three farthings。
They also sold sugar； and snuff and galoshes。
In fact； although it was such a small shop it sold nearly everything
except a few things that you want in a hurrylike bootlaces； hair…pins and
mutton chops。
Ginger and Pickles were the people who kept the shop。 Ginger was a
yellow tom…cat； and Pickles was a terrier。
The rabbits were always a little bit afraid of Pickles。
The shop was also patronized by miceonly the mice were rather
afraid of Ginger。
Ginger usually requested Pickles to serve them； because he said it
made his mouth water。
〃I cannot bear；〃 said he； 〃to see them going out at the door carrying
their little parcels。〃
〃I have the same feeling about rats；〃 replied Pickles； 〃but it would
never do to eat our own customers； they would leave us and go to Tabitha
Twitchit's。〃
〃On the contrary； they would go nowhere；〃 replied Ginger gloomily。
（Tabitha Twitchit kept the only other shop in the village。 She did not
give credit。）
Ginger and Pickles gave unlimited credit。
Now the meaning of 〃credit〃 is thiswhen a customer buys a bar of
soap； instead of the customer pulling out a purse and paying for itshe
says she will pay another time。
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And Pickles makes a low bow and says； 〃With pleasure； madam；〃 and
it is written down in a book。
The customers come again and again； and buy quantities； in spite of
being afraid of Ginger and Pickles。
But there is no money in what is called the 〃till。〃
The customers came in crowds every day and bought quantities；
especially the toffee customers。 But there was always no money； they
never paid for as much as a pennyworth of peppermints。
But the sales were enormous； ten times as large as Tabitha Twitchit's。
As there was always no money； Ginger and Pickles were obliged to
eat their own goods。
Pickles ate biscuits and Ginger ate a dried haddock。
They ate them by candle…light after the shop was closed。
When it came to Jan。 1st there was still no money； and Pickles was
unable to buy a dog licence。
〃It is very unpleasant； I am afraid of the police；〃 said Pickles。
〃It is your own fault for being a terrier； _I_ do not require a licence；
and neither does Kep； the Collie dog。〃
〃It is very uncomfortable； I am afraid I shall be summoned。 I have
tried in vain to get a licence upon credit at the Post Office；〃 said Pickles。
〃The place is full of policeman。 I met one as I was coming home。〃
〃Let us send in the bill again to Samuel Whiskers； Ginger； he owes
22/9 for bacon。〃
〃I do not believe that he intends to pay at all；〃 replied Ginger。
〃And I feel sure that Anna Maria pockets things… Where are all the
cream crackers？〃 〃You have eaten them yourself；〃 replied Ginger。
Ginger and Pickles retired into the back parlour。
They did accounts。 They added up sums and sums； and sums。
〃Samuel Whiskers has run up a bill as long as his tail； he has had an
ounce and three…quarters of snuff since October。〃
〃What is seven pounds of butter at 1/3； and a stick of sealing wax and
four matches？〃
〃Send in all the bills again to everybody 'with compts' 〃 replied Ginger。
After a time they heard a noise in the shop； as if something had been
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pushed in at the door。 They came out of the back parlour。 There was an
envelope lying on the counter； and a policeman writing in a note…book！
Pickles nearly had a fit； he barked and he barked and made little
rushes。
〃Bite him； Pickles！ bite him！〃 spluttered Ginger behind a sugar… barrel；
〃he's only a German doll！〃 The policeman went on writing in his notebook；
twice he put his pencil in his mouth； and once he dipped it in the treacle。
Pickles barked till he was hoarse。 But still the policeman took no
notice。 He had bead eyes； and his helmet was sewed on with stitches。
At length on his last little rush Pickles found that the shop was
empty。 The policeman had disappeared。
But the envelope remained。
〃Do you think that he has gone to fetch a real live policeman？ I am
afraid it is a summons；〃 said Pickles。
〃No；〃 replied Ginger； who had opened the envelope； 〃it is the rates and
taxes； L 3 19 11 3/4 。〃
〃This is the last straw；〃 said Pickles； 〃let us close the shop。〃
They put up the shutters； and left。 But they have not removed from the
neighbourhood。 In fact some people wish they had gone further。
Ginger is living in the warren。 I do not know what occupation he
pursues； he looks stout and comfortable。
Pickles is at present a gamekeeper。
The closing of the shop caused great inconvenience。 Tabitha Twitchit
immediately raised the price of everything a half…penny； and she continued
to refuse to give credit。
Of course there are the trades… men's cartsthe butcher； the fishman
and Timothy Baker。
But a person cannot live on 〃seed wigs〃 and sponge…cake and butter…
bunsnot even when the sponge… cake is as good as Timothy's！
After a time Mr。 John Dormouse and his daughter began to sell
peppermints and candles。
But they did not keep 〃self…fitting sixes〃； and it takes five mice to
carry one seven inch candle。
Besidesthe candles which they sell behave very strangely in warm
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weather。
And Miss Dormouse refused to take back the ends when they were
brought back to her with complaints。
And when Mr John Dormouse was complained to； he stayed in bed；
and would say nothing but 〃very snug；〃 which is not the way to carry on a
retail business
So everybody was pleased when Sally Henny Penny sent out a
printed poster to say that she was going to re…open the shop 〃Henny's
Opening Sale！ Grand co…operative Jumble！ Penny's penny prices！ Come
buy； come try； come buy！〃
The poster really was most 'ticing。
There was a rush upon the opening day。 The shop was crammed with
customers； and there were crowds of mice upon the biscuit canisters。
Sally Henny Penny gets rather flustered when she tries to count out
change； and she insists on being paid cash； but she is quite harmless。
And she has laid in a remarkable assortment of bargains。
There is something to please everybody。
THE END
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THE STORY OF MISS MOPPET
THIS is a Pussy called Miss Moppet； she thinks she has heard a
mouse！
THIS is the Mouse peeping out behind the cupboard； and making fun
of Miss Moppet。 He is not afraid of a kitten。
THIS is Miss Moppet jumping just too late； she misses the Mouse and
hits her own head。
SHE thinks it is a very hard cupboard！
THE Mouse watches Miss Moppet from the top of the cupboard。
MISS MOPPET ties up her head in a duster； and sits before the fire。
THE Mouse thinks she is looking very ill。 He comes sliding down the
bell… pull。
MISS MOPPET looks worse and worse。 The Mouse comes a little
nearer。
MISS MOPPET holds her poor head in her paws； and looks at him
through a hole in the duster。 The Mouse comes VERY close。
AND then all of a sudden Miss Moppet jumps upon the Mouse！
AND because the Mouse has teased Miss Moppet Miss Moppet
thinks she will tease the Mouse； which is not at all nice of Miss Moppet。
SHE ties him up in the duster； and tosses it about like a ball。
BUT she forgot about that hole in the duster； and when she untied it
there was no Mouse！
HE has wriggled out and run away； and he is dancing a jig on the top
of the cupboard！
THE END
