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and drove away with me in his pocket； till he came to a large house； about
a mile distant from this place； there he put down the company he had in
the coach； and then drove into the yard。 But he had not been there many
moments before the coachman of the family he was come to； invited him
into the kitchen to warm himself； drink a mug of ale； and eat a mouthful of
cold meat。 As soon as he entered； and had paid the proper compliments
to the Mrs。 Betties and Mollies at the place； he pulled off his great coat；
and hung it across the back of his chair。 I instantly seized the first
opportunity and whilst they were all busy assembling round the luncheon
table； made my escape； and ran under a cupboard door close to the
chimney； where I had an opportunity of seeing and hearing all that passed；
part of which conversation I will relate to you。
'Well； Mr。 John；' said a footman； addressing himself to the man whose
pocket I had just left； 'how fare you？ Are you pretty hearty？ You look
well； I am sure。' 'Aye； and so I am； replied he。 'I never was better in all
my life； I live comfortably； have a good master and mistress； eat and drink
bravely； and what can a man wish for more？ For my part I am quite
contented； and if I do but continue to enjoy my health； I am sure I shall be
very ungrateful not to be so。' 'That's true；' said the other； 'but the
misfortune of it is； people never know when they are well off； but are apt
to fret and wish and wish and fret； for something or other all their lives；
and so never have any enjoyment。 Now for my own part； I must needs
confess； that I cannot help wishing I was a gentleman； and think I should
be a deal happier if I was。' 'Pshaw！' replied John； 'I don't like now to hear
a man say so； it looks as if you are discontented with the state in which
you are placed； and depend upon it； you are in the one that is fittest for you；
or you would not have been put into it。 And as for being happier if you
were a gentleman； I don't know what to say to it。 To be sure； to have a
little more money in one's pocket； nobody can deny that it would be very
agreeable； and to be at liberty to come in and go out when one pleased； to
be sure would be very comfortable。 But still； Bob； still you may assure
yourself； that no state in this world is free from care； and if we were turned
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
into lords； we should find many causes for uneasiness。 So here's your
good health；' said he； lifting the mug to his mouth； 'wishing； my lad； you
may be contented； cheerful； and good humoured； for without these three
requisites； content； cheerfulness； and good humour； no one person upon
earth； rich or poor； old or young； can ever feel comfortable or happy； and
so here's to you； I say。' 'And here's the same good wishes to you；' said a
clean decent cook…woman servant； who took up the mug upon John's
putting it down。 'Content； cheerfulness； and good humour； I think was
the toast。' Then wiping her mouth； as she began her speech； she added；
'and an excellent one it is： I wish all folks would mind it； and endeavour
to acquire three such good qualifications。' 'I am sure；' rejoined another
female servant； whose name I heard was Sally； 'I wish so too： at least I
wish Miss Mary would try to gain a little more of the good humour； for I
never came near such a cross crab in my life as it is。 I declare I hate the
sight of the girl； she is such a proud little minx she would not vouchsafe to
speak to a poor servant for the world； as if she thought because we are
poorer； we were therefore not of the same nature： her sisters； I think are
worth ten of her； they always reply so civilly if a body speaks to them； and
say； 〃Yes； if you please； Mrs。 〃Sally； or 〃No； thank you； Mr。 Bob；〃 or 〃I
should be obliged to you if you would do so and so； Mrs。 Nelly；〃 and not
plain yes or no； as she does； and well too if you can get even that from her；
for sometimes I declare she will not deign to give one any answer at all。'
'Aye； that is a sure thing she won't；' replied the maid servant who first
drank； 'it is a sad thing she should behave so； I can't think； for my part；
where she learns it； I am sure neither her papa nor mamma set her the
example of it； for they always speak as pretty and as kind as it is possible
to do； and I have heard； with my own ears； my mistress tell her of it
twenty and twenty times； but she will do so。 I am sure it is a sad thing
that she should； for she will always make people dislike her。 I am sure； if
young gentlemen and ladies did not know how it makes people love them
to speak civilly and kind； they would take great care not to behave like
Miss Mary。 Do you know； the other day； when Mrs。 Lime's maid brought
little Miss Peggy to see my mistress； when she went away； she made a
courtesy to Miss Mary； and said； 〃Good morning to you； Miss。〃 And
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
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