the great big treasury of beatrix potter-第15部分

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Mr。　Piperson　poured　out　three　platefuls：　for　himself；　for　Pigling；　and　a　third…after　glaring　at　Pigling　he　put　away　with　much　scuffling；　and　locked　up。　Pigling　Bland　ate　his　supper　discreetly。

After　supper　Mr。　Piperson　consulted　an　almanac；　and　felt　Pigling's　ribs；　it　was　too　late　in　the　season　for　curing　bacon；　and　he　grudged　his　meal。　Besides；　the　hens　had　seen　this　pig。

He　looked　at　the　small　remains　of　a　flitch　＇side　of　bacon＇；　and　then　looked　undecidedly　at　Pigling。　〃You

may　sleep　on　the　rug；〃　said　Mr。　Peter　Thomas　Piperson。

Pigling　Bland　slept　like　a　top。　In　the　morning　Mr。　Piperson　made　more　porridge；　the　weather　was　warmer。　He　looked　how　much　meal　was　left　in　the　chest；　and　seemed　dissatisfied〃You'll　likely　be　moving　on　again？〃　said　he　to　Pigling　Bland。

Before　Pigling　could　reply；　a　neighbor；　who　was　giving　Mr。　Piperson　and　the　hens　a　lift；　whistled　from　the　gate。　Mr。　Piperson　hurried　out　with　the　hamper；　enjoining　Pigling　to　shut　the　door　behind　him　and　not　meddle　with　nought；　or　〃I'll　come　back　and　skin　ye！〃　said　Mr。　Piperson。

It　crossed　Pigling's　mind　that　if　HE　had　asked　for　a　lift；　too；　he　might　still　have　been　in　time　for　market。

But　he　distrusted　Peter　Thomas。

After　finishing　breakfast　at　his　leisure；　Pigling　had　a　look　round　the　cottage；　everything　was　locked　up。　He　found　some　potato　peelings　in　a　bucket　in　the　back　kitchen。　Pigling　ate　the　peel；　and　washed　up　the　porridge　plates　in　the　bucket。　He　sang　while　he　worked

　　　　　〃Tom　with　his　pipe　made　such　a　noise；　　　　　　He　called　up　all　the　girls　and　boys　　　　　　〃And　they　all　ran　to　hear　him　play；　　　　　　　　　　　〃Over　the　hills　and　far　away！〃

Suddenly　a　little　smothered　voice　chimed　in

　　　　　〃Over　the　hills　and　a　great　way　off；　　　　　　The　wind　shall　blow　my　top　knot　　　　　　　　　　　off。〃

Pigling　Bland　put　down　a　plate　which　he　was　wiping；　and　listened。

After　a　long　pause；　Pigling　went　on　tiptoe　and　peeped　round　the　door　into　the　front　kitchen；　there　was　nobody　there。

After　another　pause；　Pigling　approached　the　door　of　the　locked　cupboard；　and　snuffed　at　the　keyhole。　It　was　quite　quiet。

After　another　long　pause；　Pigling　pushed　a　peppermint　under　the　door。　It　was　sucked　in　immediately。

In　the　course　of　the　day　Pigling　pushed　in　all　his　remaining　six　peppermints。

When　Mr。　Piperson　returned；　he　found　Pigling　sitting　before　the　fire；　he　had　brushed　up　the　hearth　and　put　on　the　pot　to　boil；　the　meal　was　not　get…at…able。

Mr。　Piperson　was　very　affable；　he　slapped　Pigling　on　the　back；　made　lots　of　porridge　and　forgot　to　lock　the　meal　chest。　He　did　lock　the　cup…　board　door；　but　without　properly　shutting　it。　He　went　to　bed　early；　and　told　Pigling　upon　no　account　to　disturb　him　next　day　before　twelve　o'clock。

Pigling　Bland　sat　by　the　fire；　eating　his　supper。


All　at　once　at　his　elbow；　a　little　voice　spoke〃My　name　is　Pig…wig。　Make　me　more　porridge；　please！〃　Pigling　Bland　jumped；　and　looked　round。

A　perfectly　lovely　little　black　Berkshire　pig　stood　smiling　beside　him。　She　had　twinkly　little　screwed　up　eyes；　a　double　chin；　and　a　short　turned　up　nose。

She　pointed　at　Pigling's　plate；　he　hastily　gave　it　to　her；　and　fled　to　the　meal　chest〃How　did　you　come　here？〃　asked　Pigling　Bland。

〃Stolen；〃　replied　Pig…wig；　with　her　mouth　full。　Pigling　helped　himself　to　meal　without　scruple。　〃What　for？〃　〃Bacon；　hams；〃　replied　Pig…　wig　cheerfully。　〃Why　on　earth　don't　you　run　away？〃　exclaimed　the　horrified　Pigling。

〃I　shall　after　supper；〃　said　Pig…　wig　decidedly。

Pigling　Bland　made　more　porridge　and　watched　her　shyly。

She　finished　a　second　plate；　got　up；　and　looked　about　her；　as　though　she　were　going　to　start。

〃You　can't　go　in　the　dark；〃　said　Pigling　Bland。

Pig…wig　looked　anxious。

〃Do　you　know　your　way　by　day…　light？〃

〃I　know　we　can　see　this　little　white　house　from　the　hills　across　the　river。　Which　way　are　_you_　going；　Mr。　Pig？〃

〃To　marketI　have　two　pig　papers。　I　might　take　you　to　the　bridge；　if　you　have　no　objection；〃　said

Pigling　much　confused　and　sitting　on　the　edge　of　his　coppy　stool。　Pig…　wig's　gratitude　was　such　and　she　asked　so　many　questions　that　it　became　embarrassing　to　Pigling　Bland。

He　was　obliged　to　shut　his　eyes　and　pretend　to　sleep。　She　became　quiet；　and　there　was　a　smell　of　peppermint。

〃I　thought　you　had　eaten　them？〃　said　Pigling；　waking　suddenly。

〃Only　the　corners；〃　replied　Pig…　wig；　studying　the　sentiments　with　much　interest　by　the　firelight。

〃I　wish　you　wouldn't；　he　might　smell　them　through　the　ceiling；〃　said　the　alarmed　Pigling。

Pig…wig　put　back　the　sticky　peppermints　into　her　pocket；　〃Sing　something；〃　she　demanded。

〃I　am　sorry。　。　。　I　have　tooth…　ache；〃　said　Pigling　much　dismayed。

〃Then　I　will　sing；〃　replied　Pig…　wig；　〃You　will　not　mind　if　I　say　iddy　tidditty？　I　have　forgotten　some　of　the　words。〃

Pigling　Bland　made　no　objection；　he　sat　with　his　eyes　half　shut；　and　watched　her。

She　wagged　her　head　and　rocked　about；　clapping　time　and　singing　in　a　sweet　little　grunty　voice

　〃A　funny　old　mother　pig　lived　in　a　stye；　　　　　　and　three　little　piggies　had　she；　　〃（Ti　idditty　idditty）　umph；　umph；　　　　　　umph！　and　the　little　pigs　said　wee；　　　　　　wee！〃


She　sang　successfully　through　three　or　four　verses；　only　at　every

verse　her　head　nodded　a　little　lower；　and　her　little　twinkly　eyes　closed　up

　〃Those　three　little　piggies　grew　peaky　　　　　　and　lean；　and　lean　they　might　very　　　　　　well　be；　　〃For　somehow　they　couldn't　say　umph；　　　　　　umph；　umph！　and　they　wouldn't　　　　　　say　wee；　wee；　wee！　　〃For　somehow　they　couldn't　say


Pig…wig's　head　bobbed　lower　and　lower；　until　she　rolled　over；　a　little　round　ball；　fast　asleep　on　the　hearth…rug。

Pigling　Bland；　on　tiptoe；　covered　her　up　with　an　antimacassar。

He　was　afraid　to　go　to　sleep　himself；　for　the　rest　of　the　night　he　sat　listening　to　the　chirping　of　the　crickets　and　to　the　snores　of　Mr。　Piperson　overhead。

Early　in　the　morning；　between　dark　and　daylight；　Pigling　tied　up　his　little　bundle　and　woke　up　Pig…　wig。　She　was　excited　and　half…　frightened。　〃But　it's　dark！　How　can　we　find　our　way？〃

〃The　cock　has　crowed；　we　must　start　before　the　hens　come　out；　they　might　shout　to　Mr。　Piperson。〃

Pig…wig　sat　down　again；　and　commenced　to　cry。


〃Come　away　Pig…wig；　we　can　see　when　we　get　used　to　it。　Come！　I　can　hear　them　clucking！〃

Pigling　had　never　said　shuh！　to　a　hen　in　his　life；　being　peaceable；　also　he　remembered　the　hamper。

He　opened　the　house　door　quietly　and　shut　it　after　them。　There　was　no　garden；　the　neighborhood　of　Mr。　Piperson's　was　all　scratched　up　by　fowls。　They　slipped　away　hand　in　hand　across　an　untidy　field　to　the　road。　　〃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！'〃


〃Come　Pig…wig；　we　must　get　to　the　bridge　before　folks　are　stirring。〃

〃Why　do　you　want　to　go　to　market；　Pigling？〃　inquired　Pig…wig

The　sun　rose　while　they　were　crossing　the　moor；　a　dazzle　of　light　over　the　tops　of　the　hills。　The　sunshine　crept　down　the　slopes　into　the　peaceful　green　valleys；　where　little　white　cottages　nestled　in　gardens　and　orchards。

〃That's　Westmorland；〃　said　Pig…　wig。　She　dropped　Pigling's　hand　and　commenced　to　dance；　singing

presently。　〃I　don't　want；　I　want　to　grow　potatoes。〃　〃Have　a　peppermint？〃　said　Pig…wig。　Pigling　Bland　refused　quite　crossly。　〃Does　your　poor　toothy　hurt？〃　inquired　Pig…　wig。　Pigling　Bland　grunted。

Pig…wig　ate　the　peppermint　herself；　and　followed　the　opposite　side　of　the　road。　〃Pig…wig！　keep　under　the　wall；　there's　a　man　ploughing。〃　Pig…wig　crossed　over；　they　hurried　down　hill　towards　the　county　boundary。

Suddenly　Pigling　stopped；　he　heard　wheels。

Slowly　jogging　up　the　road　below　them　came　a　tradesman's　cart。　The　reins　flapped　on　the　horse's　back；　the　grocer　was　reading　a　newspaper。

〃Take　that　peppermint　out　of　your　mouth；　Pig…wig；　we　may　have　to　run。　Don't　say　one　word。　Leave　it　to　me。　And　in　sight　of　the　bridge！〃　said　poor　Pigling；　nearly　crying。　He　began　to　walk　frightfully　lame；　holding　Pig…wig's　arm。

The　grocer；　intent　upon　his　newspaper；　might　have　passed　them；　if　his　horse　had　not　shied　and　snorted。　He　pulled　the　cart

crossways；　and　held　down　his　whip。　〃Hallo？　Where　are　you　going　to？〃Pigling　Bland　stared　at　him　vacantly。

〃Are　you　deaf？　Are　you　going　to　market？〃　Pigling　nodded　slowly。

〃I　thought　as　much。　It　was　yesterday。　Show　me　your　license？〃

Pigling　stared　at　the　off　hind　shoe　of　the　grocer's　horse　which　had　picked　up　a　stone。

The　grocer　flicked　his　whip　〃Papers？　Pig　license？〃　Pigling　fumbled　in　all　his　pockets；　and　handed　up　the　papers。　The　grocer　read　them；　but　still　seemed　dissatisfied。　〃This　here　pig　is　a　young　lady；　is　her　name　Alexander？〃　Pig…wig　opened　her　mouth　and　shut　it　again；　Pigling　coughed　asthmatically。

The　grocer　ran　his　finger　down　the　advertisement　column　of　his　newspaper〃Lost；　stolen　or　strayed；　10S。　reward；〃　he　looked　suspiciously　at　Pig…wig。　Then　he　stood　up　in　the　trap；　and　whistled　for　the　ploughman。

〃You　wait　here　while　I　drive　on　and　speak　to　him；〃　said　the　grocer；　gathering　up　the　reins。　He　knew　that　pigs　are　slippery；　but　surely；　such　a　VERY　lame　pig　could　never　run！

〃Not　yet；　Pig…wig；　he　will　look　back。〃　The　grocer　did　so；　he　saw　the　two　pigs　stock…still　in　the　mid…

dle　of　the　road。　Then　he　looked　over　at　his　horse's　heels；　it　was　lame　also；　the　stone　took　some　time　to　knock　out；　after　he　got　to　the　ploughman。

〃Now；　Pig…wig；　NOW！〃　said　Pigling　Bland。

Never　did　any　pigs　run　as　these　pigs　ran！　They　raced　and　squealed　and　pelted　down　the　long　white　hill　towards　the　bridge。　Little　fat　Pig…　wig's　petticoats　fluttered；　and　her　feet　went　pitter；　patter；　pitter；　as　she　bounded　and　jumped。

They　ran；　and　they　ran；　and　they　ran　down　the　hill；　and　across　a　short　cut　on　level　green　turf　at　the　bottom；　between　pebble　beds　and　rushes。

They　came　to　the　river；　they　came　to　the　bridgethey　crossed　it　hand　in　handthen　over　the　hills　and　far　away　she　danced　with　Pigling　Bland！



GINGER　AND　PICKLES

＇Dedicated　With　very　kind　regards　to　old　Mr。　John　Taylor；　Who　〃thinks　he　might　pass　as　a　dormouse；〃　（Three　years　in　bed　and　never　a　grumble！）。＇




Once　upon　a　time　there　was　a　village　shop。　The　name　over　the　window　was　〃Ginger　and　Pickles。〃

It　w