Johnny Town-mouse was born in a cupboard. Timmy Willie was born in a garden. Timmy Willie was a little country mouse who went to town by mistake in a hamper. The gardener sent vegetables to town once a week by carrier; he packed them in a big hamper.
The gardener left the hamper by the garden gate, so that the carrier could pick it up when he passed. Timmy Willie crept in through a hole in the wickerwork, and after eating some peas—Timmy Willie fell fast asleep. He awoke in a fright, while the hamper was being lifted into the carrier's cart. Then there was a jolting, and a clattering of horse's feet; other packages were thrown in; for miles and miles—jolt—jolt—jolt! and Timmy Willie trembled amongst the jumbled up vegetables.
At last the cart stopped at a house, where the hamper was taken out, carried in, and set down. The cook gave the carrier sixpence; the back door banged, and the cart rumbled away. But there was no quiet; there seemed to be hundreds of carts passing. Dogs barked; boys whistled in the street; the cook laughed, the parlour maid ran up and down stairs; and a canary sang like a steam engine.
Timmy Willie, who had lived all his life in a garden, was almost frightened to death. Presently the cook opened the hamper and began to unpack the vegetables. Out sprang the terrified Timmy Willie.
Up jumped the cook on a chair, exclaiming “A mouse! a mouse! Call the cat! Fetch me the poker, Sarah!” Timmy Willie did not wait for Sarah with the poker; he rushed along the skirting-board till he came to a little hole, and in he popped.
He dropped half a foot, and crashed into the middle of a mouse dinner party, breaking three glasses.—“who in the world is this?” inquired Johnny Town-mouse. But after the first exclamation of surprise he instantly recovered his manners. With the utmost politeness he introduced Timmy Willie to nine other mice, all with long tails and white neckties. Timmy Willie's own tail was insignificant. Johnny Town-mouse and his friends noticed it; but they were too well-bred to make personal remarks; only one of them asked Timmy Willie if he had ever been in a trap?
The dinner was of eight courses; not much of anything, but truly elegant. All the dishes were unknown to Timmy Willie, who would have been a little afraid of tasting them; only he was very hungry, and very anxious to behave with company manners. The continual noise upstairs made him so nervous, that he dropped a plate. “Never mind, they don't belong to us,” said Johnny. “Why don't those youngsters come back with the dessert?”
It should be explained that two young mice, who were waiting on the others, went skirmishing upstairs to the kitchen between courses. Several times they had come tumbling in, squeaking and laughing; Timmy Willie learnt with horror that they were being chased by the cat. His appetite failed, he felt faint.
“Try some jelly?” said Johnny Town-mouse. “No? Would you rather go to bed? I will show you a most comfortable sofa pillow.”
The sofa pillow had a hole in it. Johnny Town-mouse quite honestly recommended it as the best bed, kept exclusively for visitors. But the sofa smelt of cat. Timmy Willie preferred to spend a miserable night under the fender.
It was just the same next day. An excellent breakfast was provided—for mice accustomed to eat bacon; but Timmy Willie had been reared on roots and salad. Johnny Town-mouse and his friends racketted about under the floors, and came boldly out all over the house in the evening. One particularly loud crash had been caused by Sarah tumbling downstairs with the tea-tray; there were crumbs sand sugar and smears of jam to be collected, in spite of the cat.
Timmy Willie longed to be at home in his peaceful nest in a sunny bank. The food disagreed with him; the noise prevented him from sleeping. In a few days he grew so thin that Johnny Town-mouse noticed it, and questioned him. He listened to Timmy Willie's story and inquired about the garden. “It sounds rather a dull place? What do you do when it rains?”
“When it rains, I sit in my little sandy burrow and shell corn and seeds from my Autumn store. I peep out at the throstles and blackbirds on the lawn, and my friend Cock Robin. And when the sun comes out again, you should see my garden and the flowers—roses and pinks and pansies—no noise except the birds and bees, and the lambs in the meadows.”
“There goes that cat again!” exclaimed Johnny Town-mouse. When they had taken refuge in the coal-cellar he resumed the conversation; “I confess I am a little disappointed; we have endeavoured to entertain you, Timothy William.”
“Oh yes, yes, you have been most kind; but I do feel so ill,” said Timmy Willie.
“It may be that your teeth and digestion are unaccustomed to our food; perhaps it might be wiser for you to return in the hamper.”
“Oh? Oh!” cried Timmy Willie.
“Why of course for the matter of that we could have sent you back last week,” said Johnny rather huffily—“did you not know that the hamper goes back empty on Saturdays?”
So Timmy Willie said goodbye to his new friends, and hid in the hamper with a crumb of cake and a withered cabbage leaf; and after much jolting, he was set down safely in his own garden.
Sometimes on Saturdays he went to look at the hamper lying by the gate, but he knew better than to get in again. And nobody got out, though Johnny Town-mouse had half promised a visit.
The winter passed; the sun came out again; Timmy Willie sat by his burrow warming his little fur coat, and sniffing the smell of violets and spring grass. He had nearly forgotten his visit to town. When up the sandy path all spick and span with a brown leather bag came Johnny Town-mouse!
Timmy Willie received him with open arms. “You have come at the best of all the year, we will have herb pudding and sit in the sun.”
“H'm'm! it is a little damp,” said Johnny Town-mouse, who was carrying his tail under his arm, out of the mud.
“What is that fearful noise?” he started violently.
“That?” said Timmy Willie, “that is only a cow; I will beg a little milk, they are quite harmless, unless they happen to lie down upon you. How are all our friends?”
Johnny's account was rather middling. He explained why he was paying his visit so early in the season; the family had gone to the seaside for Easter; the cook was doing spring cleaning, on board wages, with particular instructions to clear out the mice. There were four kittens, and the cat had killed the canary.
“They say we did it; but I know better,” said Johnny Town-mouse.“Whatever is that fearful racket?”
“That is only the lawnmower; I will fetch some of the grass clippings presently to make your bed. I am sure you had better settle in the country, Johnny.”
“H'm'm—we shall see by Tuesday week; the hamper is stopped while they are at the seaside.”
“I am sure you will never want to live in town again,” said Timmy Willie.
But he did. He went back in the very next hamper of vegetables; he said it was too quiet!
One place suits one person, another place suits another person. For my part, I prefer to live in the country, like Timmy Willie.
THE END
城里老鼠約翰尼出生在一個(gè)櫥柜里。蒂米·威利出生在一個(gè)菜園里。蒂米·威利是一只鄉(xiāng)下的小老鼠,陰差陽錯(cuò)地被裝在一個(gè)柳條筐中帶到了城里。園丁請(qǐng)送貨人每個(gè)星期往城里送一次菜,菜被他裝在一個(gè)大柳條筐子里。
園丁把筐子放在菜園門口,送貨人經(jīng)過的時(shí)候就會(huì)帶走。蒂米·威利從柳條間的一個(gè)洞鉆進(jìn)了那個(gè)裝菜的筐中,吃了一些豌豆,然后,蒂米·威利睡著了。他后來是被嚇醒的,當(dāng)時(shí)筐子正被搬起裝到送貨人的馬車上。一陣震動(dòng)后,傳來了“嘚嘚”的馬蹄聲。其他的包裹也都被不斷地裝到車上,馬車走了很久很久——顛——噠——顛——噠,蒂米·威利在雜亂無章的蔬菜中顫抖個(gè)不停。
最后,馬車停在了一棟房子前,柳條筐被取了下來,送到房子里,放到地上。廚娘給了送貨人六便士,后門被“砰”地關(guān)上,馬車碌碌地走了。但是并沒有安靜下來,似乎有幾百輛馬車不斷經(jīng)過的隆隆聲,狗的狂吠聲,街上的男孩子們吹口哨的聲音,廚娘的大笑聲,客廳里的女傭順著樓梯跑上跑下的聲音,還有一只金絲雀像蒸汽引擎一樣的叫聲。
蒂米·威利自出生以來一直住在那個(gè)菜園里,面對(duì)這一切簡直怕得要死。沒過多久,廚娘便打開筐子,往外取蔬菜。被嚇壞了的蒂米·威利猛地跳出了筐子。
廚娘嚇得跳到了椅子上,尖叫著:“有老鼠!有老鼠!快找貓來!給我取個(gè)撥火棍來,莎拉!”蒂米·威利沒有等著莎拉拿撥火棍來,他沿著踢腳板拼命地跑,直到看見一個(gè)小洞,便一頭鉆了進(jìn)去。
他向下墜落了半英尺的距離,跌落到一個(gè)老鼠的晚宴當(dāng)中,還打碎了三個(gè)玻璃杯?!斑@到底是誰啊?”城里的老鼠約翰尼問道。但經(jīng)過最開始的驚慌之后,他立刻恢復(fù)了自己的禮儀。他以最好的禮節(jié),將蒂米·威利介紹給了另外九只小老鼠,他們都有著長長的尾巴,戴著白色領(lǐng)結(jié)。蒂米·威利自己的尾巴很短,城里的老鼠約翰尼和他的朋友們都注意到了,但是他們的教養(yǎng)都很好,沒有做任何評(píng)論,他們中只有一只問蒂米·威利是不是曾經(jīng)被老鼠夾子困住過。
晚宴由八道菜組成,分量并不多,但是非常優(yōu)雅。桌子上的菜肴,蒂米·威利都沒有見過,他有點(diǎn)兒不敢去嘗。只是他非常餓,又很希望能展現(xiàn)出社交禮儀。樓上持續(xù)不斷傳來的聲音令他非常緊張,他摔了一個(gè)盤子?!皼]關(guān)系,盤子不是我們的?!奔s翰尼說,“那些年輕人為什么沒有帶著點(diǎn)心回來呢?”
得解釋一下,有兩只年輕的老鼠,負(fù)責(zé)伺候其他老鼠,在上菜的間歇,他們?cè)谕ㄍ鶑N房的樓梯上和人起了沖突,有好幾次,他們都是滾進(jìn)來的,尖叫著,大笑著,蒂米·威利得知有貓?jiān)谧匪麄冎蠓浅s@恐。他立刻就沒了胃口,還覺得有些頭暈。
“再吃點(diǎn)果凍?”城里的老鼠約翰尼說,“不要了嗎?還是你想上床睡覺了?我會(huì)給你一個(gè)最最舒服的沙發(fā)靠枕?!?/p>
那個(gè)沙發(fā)靠枕上面有個(gè)洞。城里的老鼠很熱誠地介紹說這是最好的床,是專門為客人留著的。但是沙發(fā)上散發(fā)著貓的氣味。蒂米·威利更愿意在火爐圍欄下面度過一個(gè)不舒服的夜晚。
第二天情況一模一樣。一頓非常豐盛的早餐擺了出來——這些老鼠習(xí)慣吃咸肉,但蒂米·威利卻從小到大都是以植物的根和沙拉為食。城里的老鼠約翰尼和他的朋友們?cè)诘匕逑旅嫘[,在夜里的時(shí)候大膽地滿屋子亂跑。莎拉端著茶盤跌下了樓梯,發(fā)出一聲巨響。盡管有貓,但還是有不少的面包屑、糖果和果醬可以收集。
蒂米·威利渴望回家,回到陽光照耀的河岸上他那平靜的窩里。這里的食物讓他不舒服,噪音吵得人睡不著覺。過了幾天,他就瘦了很多,城里的老鼠約翰尼也注意到了,于是便問他怎么了。他聽了蒂米·威利對(duì)他的菜園的描述,還打聽了那個(gè)菜園的事情。“聽起來是個(gè)很無聊的地方啊。下雨的時(shí)候,你干些什么?”
“下雨的時(shí)候,我就坐在我小小的沙土洞穴里,給秋天時(shí)存下的玉米和種子剝皮。我會(huì)望著外面草地上的畫眉鳥和烏鶇,還有我的朋友知更鳥。等到雨過天晴,太陽出來,你真應(yīng)該去看看我的菜園和那些花兒,玫瑰,石竹,三色紫羅蘭,那里一片寧靜,只有鳥唱蜂鳴和草地中的羊羔咩咩叫?!?/p>
“那只貓又來了!”城里的老鼠約翰尼叫道。他們躲到儲(chǔ)煤室后,他繼續(xù)剛才的談話:“我承認(rèn),我有點(diǎn)兒失望。我們想要好好招待你的,蒂莫西·威廉[1]?!?/p>
“噢,是的,是的,你們都特別熱心。但是我覺得很不舒服?!钡倜住ねf。
“可能是因?yàn)槟愕难例X和消化系統(tǒng)不太適應(yīng)我們的食物。也許你鉆進(jìn)筐子里面回去比較明智。”
“哦?哦!”蒂米·威利叫道。
“哎呀,我們本來可以上個(gè)星期就送你回去的?!奔s翰尼很懊惱地說,“你難道不知道那個(gè)大筐子每個(gè)星期六都會(huì)空著送回去嗎?”
就這樣,蒂米·威利和他的新朋友作別,他帶著一小塊蛋糕和一片蔫了的卷心菜葉子躲到了筐子里。經(jīng)過很多顛簸,他安全回到了自己的菜園里。
有時(shí)候,在星期六,蒂米·威利會(huì)看著放在大門口的柳條筐,但是他很清楚地知道不能再次進(jìn)去。也沒有人從筐子里面出來,盡管約翰尼曾經(jīng)半認(rèn)真地答應(yīng)過要來拜訪。
冬天過去了。當(dāng)太陽在新的一天再次起來時(shí)。蒂米·威利坐在自己的洞穴邊曬著自己小身體上的皮毛,嗅著紫羅蘭和春草的香氣。他幾乎已經(jīng)忘掉他去城里的旅行了。而就在這時(shí),在沙土小路上走來了一個(gè)打扮整潔、一絲不茍、背著棕色皮包的人,那是城里的老鼠約翰尼。
蒂米·威利張開雙臂歡迎他?!澳阍谌曛凶蠲篮玫臅r(shí)候來了,我們可以曬著太陽享用些香草布丁?!?/p>
“嗯嗯嗯!這里有點(diǎn)兒潮濕??!”城里的老鼠約翰尼說。他把尾巴夾在胳膊下面,以防沾到泥土。
“那可怕的聲音是什么???”他大聲驚叫道。
“那?”蒂米·威利說,“那是頭奶牛而已。我去找她討點(diǎn)兒牛奶,她們不會(huì)傷害人的,除非是碰巧躺到了你的身上。我們那些朋友怎么樣了?”
約翰尼的描述很平淡。他解釋自己為什么在開春這么早就來拜訪,那戶人家去了海邊過復(fù)活節(jié),廚娘要留下做大掃除,只發(fā)伙食費(fèi),還得到特別指示要把老鼠都清理干凈。家里又多了四只小貓,那只大貓把金絲雀給殺死了。
“他們說是我們干的,但是我很清楚到底是怎么回事。”約翰尼說,“那可怕的喧鬧聲又是怎么回事?”
“不過是割草機(jī)的聲音。一會(huì)兒我去取些割下來的碎草來給你鋪床。我肯定你在鄉(xiāng)下會(huì)更踏實(shí)的,約翰尼?!?/p>
“嗯嗯嗯——等下個(gè)星期二再說吧。他們?nèi)チ撕_?,筐子的送貨也停了?!?/p>
“我肯定你不會(huì)再想回城里生活了?!钡倜住ねf。
但約翰尼還是回去了。是隨下一次送菜的筐子回去的。他說村子里面太安靜了。
一個(gè)地方適合一些人居住,另一個(gè)地方適合另外一些人居住。至于我自己,我更愿意住在鄉(xiāng)下,就像蒂米·威利一樣。
* * *
[1]蒂莫西·威廉是蒂米·威利的大名。
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