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or the cruelty of man。 We therefore congratulated each other； not more
on account of the wonderful escape which we had； than upon our good
fortune in coming to a Spot so blessed with peace and plenty。
After we were a little recovered from the fatigue of mind； as well as of
body； which we had lately gone through； we regaled very heartily upon the
corn that surrounded us； and then fell into a charming sleep； from which
we were awakened the next morning by the sound of human voices。 We
very distinctly heard that of a boy； saying； 'Let us mix all the threshed corn
with the rest that is not threshed； and that will make a fine fuss； and set
John and Simon a swearing like troopers when they come and find all their
labour lost； and that they must do all their work over again。' 'And do you
think there is anything so agreeable in giving people trouble； and hearing
them swear；' replied another voice； 'that you can wish to do it？ For my
part。 I think it is so wicked a thing； that I hate to hear anybody guilty of
it； much less would I be the cause of making them commit so great a sin；
and as for giving them all their trouble over again； so far would it be from
affording me any pleasure； that on the contrary it would give me great pain；
for however you may think of it； Will； I assure you； it always gives me
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
much uneasiness to see people labouring and working hard。 I always
think how much I should dislike to be obliged to do so myself； and
therefore very sincerely pity those who must。 On no account therefore
will I do anything to add to their labour； or that shall give them
unnecessary work。'
'Pooh！' answered Will； 'you are wonderfully wise； I； for my part； hate
such super…abundant wisdom； I like to see folk fret； and stew； and scold； as
our maids did last week when I cut the line； and let all the sheets； and
gowns； and petticoats； and frocks； and shirts； and aprons； and caps； and
what not； fall plump into the dirt。 O！ how I did laugh！ and how they did
mutter and scold！ And do you know； that just as the wash ladies were
wiping their coddled hands； and comforted themselves with the thought of
their work being all over； and were going to sip their tea by the fireside； I
put them all to the scout； and they were obliged to wash every rag over
again。 I shall never forget how cross they looked； nay； I verily believe
Susan cried about it； and how I did laugh！'
'And pray；' rejoined the other boy； 'should you have laughed equally
hearty if； after you had been at school all day； and had with much
difficulty just got through all your writing； and different exercises； and
were going to play； should you laugh； I say； if somebody was to run away
with them all； and your master oblige you to do them all over again？ Tell
me； Will； should you laugh； or cry and look cross？ And even that would
not be half so bad for you； as it was for the maids to be obliged to wash
their clothes over again； washing is very hard labour； and tires people
sadly； and so does threshing too。 It is very unkind； therefore； to give
them such unnecessary trouble； and everything that is unkind； is wicked；
and I would not do it upon any account； I assure you。' 'Then I assure
you；' replied Will； 'you may let it alone； I can do it without your
assistance。' He then began mixing the grain and the chaff together； the
other boy strongly remonstrating against it； to which he paid no attention；
and whilst he was so employed； two men； Simon and John； entered the
barn。
'Why； how now； Master Billy；' said Simon； 'what are you about？ What
business have you to be here？ You are always doing some mischief or
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
other！ I wish； with all my heart； that you were kept chained like a dog；
and never suffered to be at liberty； for you do more harm in an hour； than a
body can set right again in a month！' Will then took up hats full of the
corn and chaff； and threw it in the two men's faces； afterwards taking up a
flail； he gave Simon a blow across his back； saying； at the same time； 'I
will show you the way to thresh； and separate the flesh from the bones。'
'O！ will you so； young squire？' said John； 'I will show you the way to
make naughty boys good。' He then left the barn； but presently returned
accompanied by a gentleman； upon the sight of whom Will let fall the flail；
which he was till then brandishing over Simon's head； and was going away；
when the gentleman taking hold of his hand； said； 'You do not stir from
this place； Master William； nor have one mouthful of breakfast； till you
have asked the men pardon for your behaviour； and likewise sifted every
grain of corn from the chaff which you have mixed with it。 When you
have done that； you may have some food； but not before； and afterward
you may spend the rest of the day in threshing； then you will be a better
judge； my boy； of the fatigue and labour of it； and find how you should
like； after working hard all day； to have it rendered useless by a
mischievous boy。 Remember； William； what I have now said to you； for
I do insist upon being minded； and I promise you； that if you offer to play；
or do anything else today； you shall be punished very severely。' The
gentleman then went away。 Will muttered something； I could not exactly
hear what； began to sift the corn； and so much had he mixed together； that
he did not go in for his breakfast till after I had heard the church clock
strike one； though it was before eight when he came into the barn。 In
about an hour he returned； and the other boy with him； who addressed him；
saying； 'Ah！ Will； you had better have taken my advice； and not have done
so： I thought what you would get by your nice fun as you called it。 I
never knew any good come of mischief； it generally brings those who do it
into disgrace； or if they should happen to escape unpunished； still it is
always attended with some inconv