the great big treasury of beatrix potter- 第14部分

the　young　family。　The　rabbit　babies　were　rather　tumbled　and　very　hungry；　they　were　fed　and　put　to　bed。　They　soon　recovered。

A　new　long　pipe　and　a　fresh　supply　of　rabbit　tobacco　was　presented　to　Mr。　Bouncer。　He　was　rather　upon　his　dignity；　but　he　accepted。

Old　Mr。　Bouncer　was　forgiven；　and　they　all　had　dinner。　Then　Peter　and　Benjamin　told　their　storybut　they　had　not　waited　long　enough　to　be　able　to　tell　the　end　of　the　battle　between　Tommy　Brock　and　Mr。　Tod。




THE　TALE　OF　PIGLING　BLAND

＇For　Cicily　and　Charlie；　a　Tale　of　the　Christmas　Pig＇




Once　upon　a　time　there　was　an　old　pig　called　Aunt　Pettitoes。　She　had　eight　of　a　family：　four　little　girl　pigs；　called　Cross…patch；　Suck…suck；　Yock…yock　and　Spot；　and　four　little　boy　pigs；　called　Alexander；　Pigling　Bland；　Chin…Chin　and　Stumpy。　Stumpy　had　had　an　accident　to　his　tail。

The　eight　little　pigs　had　very　fine　appetites〃Yus；　yus；　yus！　they　eat　and　indeed　they　DO　eat！〃　said　Aunt　Pettitoes；　looking　at　her　family　with　pride。　Suddenly　there　were　fearful　squeals；　Alexander　had　squeezed　inside　the　hoops　of　the　pig　trough　and　stuck。


Aunt　Pettitoes　and　I　dragged　him　out　by　the　hind　legs。

Chin…chin　was　already　in　disgrace；　it　was　washing　day；　and　he　had　eaten　a　piece　of　soap。　And　presently　in　a　basket　of　clean　clothes；　we　found　another　dirty　little　pig〃Tchut；　tut；　tut！　whichever　is　this？〃　grunted　Aunt　Pettitoes。　Now　all　the　pig　family　are　pink；　or　pink　with　black　spots；　but　this　pig　child　was　smutty　black　all　over；　when　it　had　been　popped　into　a　tub；　it　proved　to　be　Yock…yock。

I　went　into　the　garden；　there　I　found　Cross…patch　and　Suck…suck　rooting　up　carrots。　I　whipped　them　myself　and　led　them　out　by　the　ears。　Cross…patch　tried　to　bite　me。

〃Aunt　Pettitoes；　Aunt　Pettitoes！　you　are　a　worthy　person；　but　your　family　is　not　well　brought　up。　Every　one　of　them　has　been　in　mischief　except　Spot　and　Pigling　Bland。〃

〃Yus；　yus！〃　sighed　Aunt　Pettitoes。　〃And　they　drink　bucketfuls　of　milk；　I　shall　have　to　get　another　cow！　Good　little　Spot　shall　stay　at　home　to　do　the　housework；　but　the　others　must　go。　Four　little　boy　pigs　and　four　little　girl　pigs　are　too　many　altogether。〃　〃Yus；　yus；　yus；〃　said　Aunt　Pettitoes；　〃there　will　be　more　to　eat　without　them。〃

So　Chin…chin　and　Suck…suck　went

away　in　a　wheel…barrow；　and　Stumpy；　Yock…yock　and　Cross…　patch　rode　away　in　a　cart。

And　the　other　two　little　boy　pigs；　Pigling　Bland　and　Alexander　went　to　market。　We　brushed　their　coats；　we　curled　their　tails　and　washed　their　little　faces；　and　wished　them　good　bye　in　the　yard。

Aunt　Pettitoes　wiped　her　eyes　with　a　large　pocket　handkerchief；　then　she　wiped　Pigling　Bland's　nose　and　shed　tears；　then　she　wiped　Alexander's　nose　and　shed　tears；　then　she　passed　the　handkerchief　to　Spot。　Aunt　Pettitoes　sighed　and　grunted；　and　addressed　those　little　pigs　as　follows

〃Now　Pigling　Bland；　son　Pigling　Bland；　you　must　go　to　market。　Take　your　brother　Alexander　by　the　hand。　Mind　your　Sunday　clothes；　and　remember　to　blow　your　nose〃　（Aunt　Pettitoes　passed　round　the　handkerchief　again）〃beware　of　traps；　hen　roosts；　bacon　and　eggs；　always　walk　upon　your　hind　legs。〃　Pigling　Bland　who　was　a　sedate　little　pig；　looked　solemnly　at　his

mother；　a　tear　trickled　down　his　cheek。

Aunt　Pettitoes　turned　to　the　other〃Now　son　Alexander　take　the　hand〃〃Wee；　wee；　wee！〃　giggled　Alexander〃take　the　hand　of　your　brother　Pigling　Bland；　you　must　go　to　market。　Mind〃　〃Wee；　wee；　wee！〃　interrupted　Alexander　again。　〃You　put　me　out；〃　said　Aunt　Pettitoes〃Observe　signposts　and　milestones；　do　not　gobble　herring　bones〃　〃And　remember；〃　said　I　impressively；　〃if　you　once　cross　the　county　boundary　you　cannot　come　back。　Alexander；　you　are　not　attending。　Here　are　two　licenses　permitting　two　pigs　to　go　to　market　in　Lancashire。　Attend　Alexander。　I　have　had　no　end　of　trouble　in　getting　these　papers　from　the　policeman。〃　Pigling　Bland　listened　gravely；　Alexander　was　hopelessly　volatile。

I　pinned　the　papers；　for　safety；　inside　their　waistcoat　pockets；　Aunt　Pettitoes　gave　to　each　a　little　bundle；　and　eight　conversation　peppermints　with　appropriate

moral　sentiments　in　screws　of　paper。　Then　they　started。

Pigling　Bland　and　Alexander　trotted　along　steadily　for　a　mile；　at　least　Pigling　Bland　did。　Alexander　made　the　road　half　as　long　again　by　skipping　from　side　to　side。　He　danced　about　and　pinched　his　brother；　singing

　　　　　〃This　pig　went　to　market；　this　pig　stayed　　　　　　　　　　　at　home；　　　　　　〃This　pig　had　a　bit　of　meat

let's　see　what　they　have　given　US　for　dinner；　Pigling？〃

Pigling　Bland　and　Alexander　sat　down　and　untied　their　bundles。　Alexander　gobbled　up　his　dinner　in　no　time；　he　had　already　eaten　all　his　own　peppermints〃Give　me　one　of　yours；　please；　Pigling？〃　〃But　I　wish　to　preserve　them　for　emergencies；〃　said　Pigling　Bland　doubtfully。　Alexander　went　into　squeals　of　laughter。　Then　he　pricked　Pigling　with　the　pin　that　had　fastened　his　pig　paper；　and　when　Pigling　slapped　him　he　dropped　the　pin；　and　tried　to　take　Pigling's　pin；　and　the　papers　got　mixed　up。　Pigling　Bland　reproved　Alexander。

But　presently　they　made　it　up　again；　and　trotted　away　together；　singing

　　　　　〃Tom；　Tom　the　piper's　son；　stole　a　pig　　　　　　　　　　　and　away　he　ran！　　　　　　〃But　all　the　tune　that　he　could　play；　was　　　　　　　　　　　‘Over　the　hills　and　far　away！'〃


〃What's　that；　young　Sirs？　Stole　a　pig？　Where　are　your　licenses？〃　said　the　policeman。　They　had　nearly　run　against　him　round　a　corner。　Pigling　Bland　pulled　out　his　paper；　Alexander；　after　fumbling；　handed　over　something　scrumply

〃To　2　1/2　oz。　conversation　sweeties　at　three　farthings〃〃What's　this？　this　ain't　a　license？〃　Alexander's　nose　lengthened　visibly；　he　had　lost　it。　〃I　had　one；　indeed　I　had；　Mr。　Policeman！〃


〃It's　not　likely　they　let　you　start　without。　I　am　passing　the　farm。　You　may　walk　with　me。〃　〃Can　I　come　back　too？〃　inquired　Pigling　Bland。　〃I　see　no　reason；　young　Sir；　your　paper　is　all　right。〃　Pigling　Bland　did　not　like　going　on　alone；　and　it　was　beginning　to　rain。　But　it　is　unwise　to　argue　with　the　police；　he　gave　his　brother　a　peppermint；　and　watched　him　out　of　sight。

To　conclude　the　adventures　of　Alexanderthe　policeman　sauntered　up　to　the　house　about　tea　time；　followed　by　a　damp　subdued　little　pig。　I　disposed　of　Alexander　in　the　neighborhood；　he　did　fairly　well　when　he　had　settled　down。

Pigling　Bland　went　on　alone　dejectedly；　he　came　to　cross　roads　and　a　sign…post〃To　Market…town　5　miles；〃　〃Over　the　Hills；　4　miles；〃　〃To　Pettitoes　Farm；　3　miles。〃

Pigling　Bland　was　shocked；　there　was　little　hope　of　sleeping　in　Market　Town；　and　tomorrow　was　the　hiring　fair；　it　was　deplorable　to　think　how　much　time　had　been

wasted　by　the　frivolity　of　Alexander。

He　glanced　wistfully　along　the　road　towards　the　hills；　and　then　set　off　walking　obediently　the　other　way；　buttoning　up　his　coat　against　the　rain。　He　had　never　wanted　to　go；　and　the　idea　of　standing　all　by　himself　in　a　crowded　market；　to　be　stared　at；　pushed；　and　hired　by　some　big　strange　farmer　was　very　disagreeable

〃I　wish　I　could　have　a　little　garden　and　grow　potatoes；〃　said　Pigling　Bland。

He　put　his　cold　hand　in　his　pocket　and　felt　his　paper；　he　put　his　other　hand　in　his　other　pocket　and　felt　another　paperAlexander's！　Pigling　squealed；　then　ran　back　frantically；　hoping　to　overtake　Alexander　and　the　policeman。

He　took　a　wrong　turnseveral　wrong　turns；　and　was　quite　lost。

It　grew　dark；　the　wind　whistled；　the　trees　creaked　and　groaned。

Pigling　Bland　became　frightened　and　cried　〃Wee；　wee；　wee！　I　can't　find　my　way　home！〃

After　an　hour's　wandering　he　got　out　of　the　wood；　the　moon　shone　through　the　clouds；　and　Pigling　Bland　saw　a　country　that　was　new　to　him。

The　road　crossed　a　moor；　below　was　a　wide　valley　with　a　river　twinkling　in　the　moonlight；　and　beyond　in　misty　distancelay　the　hills。

He　saw　a　small　wooden　hut；　made　his　way　to　it；　and　crept　inside　〃I　am　afraid　it　IS　a　hen　house；　but　what　can　I　do？〃　said　Pigling　Bland；　wet　and　cold　and　quite　tired　out。


〃Bacon　and　eggs；　bacon　and　eggs！〃　clucked　a　hen　on　a　perch。

〃Trap；　trap；　trap！　cackle；　cackle；　cackle！〃　scolded　the　disturbed　cockerel。　〃To　market；　to　market！　jiggettyjig！〃　clucked　a　broody　white　hen　roosting　next　to　him。　Pigling　Bland；　much　alarmed；　determined　to　leave　at　daybreak。　In　the　meantime；　he　and　the　hens　fell　asleep。

In　less　than　an　hour　they　were　all　awakened。　The　owner；　Mr。　Peter　Thomas　Piperson；　came　with　a　lantern　and　a　hamper　to　catch　six　fowls　to　take　to　market　in　the　morning。

He　grabbed　the　white　hen　roosting　next　to　the　cock；　then　his　eye　fell　upon　Pigling　Bland；　squeezed　up　in　a　corner。　He　made　a　singular　remark〃Hallo；　here's　another！〃　seized　Pigling　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck；　and　dropped　him　into　the　hamper。　Then　he　dropped　in　five　more　dirty；　kicking；　cackling　hens　upon　the　top　of　Pigling　Bland。

The　hamper　containing　six　fowls　and　a　young　pig　was　no　light　weight；　it　was　taken　down　hill；　unsteadily；　with　jerks。　Pigling；　although　nearly　scratched　to　pieces；　contrived　to　hide　the　papers　and　peppermints　inside　his　clothes。

At　last　the　hamper　was　bumped

down　upon　a　kitchen　floor；　the　lid　was　opened；　and　Pigling　was　lifted　out。　He　looked　up；　blinking；　and　saw　an　offensively　ugly　elderly　man；　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。

〃This　one's　come　of　himself；　whatever；〃　said　Mr。　Piperson；　turning　Pigling's　pockets　inside　out。　He　pushed　the　hamper　into　a　corner；　threw　a　sack　over　it　to　keep　the　hens　quiet；　put　a　pot　on　the　fire；　and　unlaced　his　boots。

Pigling　Bland　drew　forward　a　coppy　stool；　and　sat　on　the　edge　of　it；　shyly　warming　his　hands。　Mr。　Piperson　pulled　off　a　boot　and　threw　it　against　the　wainscot　at　the　further　end　of　the　kitchen。　There　was　a　smothered　noise〃Shut　up！〃　said　Mr。　Piperson。　Pigling　Bland　warmed　his　hands；　and　eyed　him。

Mr。　Piperson　pulled　off　the　other　boot　and　flung　it　after　the　first；　there　was　again　a　curious　noise　〃Be　quiet；　will　ye？〃　said　Mr。　Piperson。　Pigling　Bland　sat　on　the　very　edge　of　the　coppy　stool。

Mr。　Piperson　fetched　meal　from　a　chest　and　made　porridge；　it　seemed　to　Pigling　that　something　at　the　further　end　of　the　kitchen　was　taking　a　suppressed　interest　in　the　cooking；　but　he　was　too　hungry　to　be　troubled　by　noises。

Mr。　Piperson　poured　out　three　platefuls：　for　himself；　for　Pigling；　and　a　third…after　glari