第4章
Tiggy-winklewiththebundlesofclothes！
Allthewaydownthepathlittleanimalscameoutoftheferntomeetthem；theveryfirstthattheymetwerePeterRabbitandBenjaminBunny！
ANDshegavethemtheirnicecleanclothes；andallthelittleanimalsandbirdsweresoverymuchobligedtodearMrs。Tiggy-winkle。
SOthatatthebottomofthehillwhentheycametothestile，therewasnothinglefttocarryexceptLucie"sonelittlebundle。
LUCIEscrambledupthestilewiththebundleinherhand；andthensheturnedtosay"Good-night，"andtothankthewasher-woman——
ButwhataVERYoddthing！
Mrs。Tiggy-winklehadnotwaitedeitherforthanksorforthewashingbill！
Shewasrunningrunningrunningupthehill——andwherewasherwhitefrilledcap？andhershawl？andhergown——andherpetticoat？
ANDhowsmallshehadgrown——andhowbrown——andcoveredwithPRICKLES！
Why！Mrs。Tiggy-winklewasnothingbutaHEDGEHOG。
****
（NowsomepeoplesaythatlittleLuciehadbeenasleepuponthestile——
butthenhowcouldshehavefoundthreecleanpocket-handkinsandapinny，pinnedwithasilversafety-pin？
Andbesides——_I_haveseenthatdoorintothebackofthehillcalledCatBells——andbesides_I_amverywellacquaintedwithdearMrs。Tiggy-winkle！）
THETALEOF
GINGER&PICKLES
ONCEuponatimetherewasavillageshop。Thenameoverthewindowwas"GingerandPickles。"
ItwasalittlesmallshopjusttherightsizeforDolls——LucindaandJaneDoll-cookalwaysboughttheirgroceriesatGingerandPickles。
Thecounterinsidewasaconvenientheightforrabbits。GingerandPicklessoldredspottypocket-
handkerchiefsatapennythreefarthings。
Theyalsosoldsugar，andsnuffandgaloshes。
Infact，althoughitwassuchasmallshopitsoldnearlyeverything——exceptafewthingsthatyouwantinahurry——likebootlaces，hair-pinsandmuttonchops。
GingerandPickleswerethepeoplewhokepttheshop。Gingerwasayellowtom-cat，andPickleswasaterrier。
TherabbitswerealwaysalittlebitafraidofPickles。
Theshopwasalsopatronizedbymice——onlythemicewereratherafraidofGinger。
GingerusuallyrequestedPicklestoservethem，becausehesaiditmadehismouthwater。
"Icannotbear，"saidhe，"toseethemgoingoutatthedoorcarryingtheirlittleparcels。"
"Ihavethesamefeelingaboutrats，"repliedPickles，"butitwouldneverdotoeatourowncustomers；theywouldleaveusandgotoTabithaTwitchit"s。"
"Onthecontrary，theywouldgonowhere，"repliedGingergloomily。
（TabithaTwitchitkepttheonlyothershopinthevillage。Shedidnotgivecredit。）
GingerandPicklesgaveunlimitedcredit。
Nowthemeaningof"credit"isthis——whenacustomerbuysabarofsoap，insteadofthecustomerpullingoutapurseandpayingforit——shesaysshewillpayanothertime。
AndPicklesmakesalowbowandsays，"Withpleasure，madam，"
anditiswrittendowninabook。
Thecustomerscomeagainandagain，andbuyquantities，inspiteofbeingafraidofGingerandPickles。
Butthereisnomoneyinwhatiscalledthe"till。"
Thecustomerscameincrowdseverydayandboughtquantities，especiallythetoffeecustomers。
Buttherewasalwaysnomoney；
theyneverpaidforasmuchasapennyworthofpeppermints。
Butthesaleswereenormous，tentimesaslargeasTabithaTwitchit"s。
Astherewasalwaysnomoney，GingerandPickleswereobligedtoeattheirowngoods。
PicklesatebiscuitsandGingerateadriedhaddock。
Theyatethembycandle-lightaftertheshopwasclosed。
WhenitcametoJan。1sttherewasstillnomoney，andPickleswasunabletobuyadoglicence。
"Itisveryunpleasant，Iamafraidofthepolice，"saidPickles。
"Itisyourownfaultforbeingaterrier；_I_donotrequirealicence，andneitherdoesKep，theColliedog。"
"Itisveryuncomfortable，IamafraidIshallbesummoned。I
havetriedinvaintogetalicenceuponcreditatthePostOffice；"
saidPickles。"Theplaceisfullofpoliceman。ImetoneasIwascominghome。"
"LetussendinthebillagaintoSamuelWhiskers，Ginger，heowes22/9forbacon。"
"Idonotbelievethatheintendstopayatall，"repliedGinger。
"AndIfeelsurethatAnnaMariapocketsthings——Whereareallthecreamcrackers？"
"Youhaveeatenthemyourself，"
repliedGinger。
GingerandPicklesretiredintothebackparlour。
Theydidaccounts。Theyaddedupsumsandsums，andsums。
"SamuelWhiskershasrunupabillaslongashistail；hehashadanounceandthree-quartersofsnuffsinceOctober。"
"Whatissevenpoundsofbutterat1/3，andastickofsealingwaxandfourmatches？"
"Sendinallthebillsagaintoeverybody"withcompts""repliedGinger。
Afteratimetheyheardanoiseintheshop，asifsomethinghadbeenpushedinatthedoor。Theycameoutofthebackparlour。Therewasanenvelopelyingonthecounter，andapolicemanwritinginanote-book！
Picklesnearlyhadafit，hebarkedandhebarkedandmadelittlerushes。
"Bitehim，Pickles！bitehim！"
splutteredGingerbehindasugar-
barrel，"he"sonlyaGermandoll！"
Thepolicemanwentonwritinginhisnotebook；twiceheputhispencilinhismouth，andoncehedippeditinthetreacle。
Picklesbarkedtillhewashoarse。
Butstillthepolicemantooknonotice。Hehadbeadeyes，andhishelmetwassewedonwithstitches。
Atlengthonhislastlittlerush——Picklesfoundthattheshopwasempty。Thepolicemanhaddisappeared。
Buttheenveloperemained。
"Doyouthinkthathehasgonetofetchareallivepoliceman？I
amafraiditisasummons，"saidPickles。
"No，"repliedGinger，whohadopenedtheenvelope，"itistheratesandtaxes，L319113/4。"
"Thisisthelaststraw，"saidPickles，"letusclosetheshop。"
Theyputuptheshutters，andleft。Buttheyhavenotremovedfromtheneighbourhood。Infactsomepeoplewishtheyhadgonefurther。
Gingerislivinginthewarren。I
donotknowwhatoccupationhepursues；helooksstoutandcomfortable。
Picklesisatpresentagamekeeper。
Theclosingoftheshopcausedgreatinconvenience。TabithaTwitchitimmediatelyraisedthepriceofeverythingahalf-penny；
andshecontinuedtorefusetogivecredit。
Ofcoursetherearethetrades-
men"scarts——thebutcher，thefishmanandTimothyBaker。
Butapersoncannotliveon"seedwigs"andsponge-cakeandbutter-
buns——notevenwhenthesponge-
cakeisasgoodasTimothy"s！
AfteratimeMr。JohnDormouseandhisdaughterbegantosellpeppermintsandcandles。
Buttheydidnotkeep"self-fittingsixes"；andittakesfivemicetocarryoneseveninchcandle。
Besides——thecandleswhichtheysellbehaveverystrangelyinwarmweather。
AndMissDormouserefusedtotakebacktheendswhentheywerebroughtbacktoherwithcomplaints。
AndwhenMrJohnDormousewascomplainedto，hestayedinbed，andwouldsaynothingbut"verysnug；"whichisnotthewaytocarryonaretailbusinessSoeverybodywaspleasedwhenSallyHennyPennysentoutaprintedpostertosaythatshewasgoingtore-opentheshop——
"Henny"sOpeningSale！Grandco-operativeJumble！Penny"spennyprices！Comebuy，cometry，comebuy！"
Theposterreallywasmost"ticing。
Therewasarushupontheopeningday。Theshopwascrammedwithcustomers，andtherewerecrowdsofmiceuponthebiscuitcanisters。
SallyHennyPennygetsratherflusteredwhenshetriestocountoutchange，andsheinsistsonbeingpaidcash；butsheisquiteharmless。
Andshehaslaidinaremarkableassortmentofbargains。
Thereissomethingtopleaseeverybody。
THEEND
THESTORYOF
MISSMOPPET
THISisaPussycalledMissMoppet，shethinksshehasheardamouse！
THISistheMousepeepingoutbehindthecupboard，andmakingfunofMissMoppet。Heisnotafraidofakitten。
THISisMissMoppetjumpingjusttoolate；
shemissestheMouseandhitsherownhead。
SHEthinksitisaveryhardcupboard！
THEMousewatchesMissMoppetfromthetopofthecupboard。
MISSMOPPETtiesupherheadinaduster，andsitsbeforethefire。
THEMousethinkssheislookingveryill。Hecomesslidingdownthebell-
pull。
MISSMOPPETlooksworseandworse。TheMousecomesalittlenearer。
MISSMOPPETholdsherpoorheadinherpaws，andlooksathimthroughaholeintheduster。
TheMousecomesVERYclose。
ANDthenallofasudden——MissMoppetjumpsupontheMouse！
ANDbecausetheMousehasteasedMissMoppet——MissMoppetthinksshewillteasetheMouse；whichisnotatallniceofMissMoppet。
SHEtieshimupintheduster，andtossesitaboutlikeaball。
BUTsheforgotaboutthatholeintheduster；andwhensheuntiedit——therewasnoMouse！
HEhaswriggledoutandrunaway；andheisdancingajigonthetopofthecupboard！
THEEND
THETALEOF
MR。JEREMYFISHER
FOR
STEPHANIE
FROM
COUSINB。
ONCEuponatimetherewasafrogcalledMr。
JeremyFisher；helivedinalittledamphouseamongstthebuttercupsattheedgeofapond。
THEwaterwasallslippy-
sloppyinthelarderandinthebackpassage。
ButMr。Jeremylikedgettinghisfeetwet；nobodyeverscoldedhim，andhenevercaughtacold！
HEwasquitepleasedwhenhelookedoutandsawlargedropsofrain，splashinginthepond——
"IWILLgetsomewormsandgofishingandcatchadishofminnowsformydinner，"saidMr。JeremyFisher。"IfIcatchmorethanfivefish，IwillinvitemyfriendsMr。AldermanPtolemyTortoiseandSirIsaacNewton。
TheAlderman，however，eatssalad。"
MR。JEREMYputonamacintosh，andapairofshinygoloshes；hetookhisrodandbasket，andsetoffwithenormoushopstotheplacewherehekepthisboat。
THEboatwasroundandgreen，andveryliketheotherlily-leaves。Itwastiedtoawater-plantinthemiddleofthepond。
MR。JEREMYtookareedpole，andpushedtheboatoutintoopenwater。"I
knowagoodplaceforminnows，"
saidMr。JeremyFisher。
MR。JEREMYstuckhispoleintothemudandfastenedhisboattoit。
Thenhesettledhimselfcross-leggedandarrangedhisfishingtackle。Hehadthedearestlittleredfloat。Hisrodwasatoughstalkofgrass，hislinewasafinelongwhitehorse-hair，andhetiedalittlewrigglingwormattheend。
THEraintrickleddownhisback，andfornearlyanhourhestaredatthefloat。
"Thisisgettingtiresome，IthinkIshouldlikesomelunch，"saidMr。JeremyFisher。
HEpuntedbackagainamongstthewater-
plants，andtooksomelunchoutofhisbasket。
"Iwilleatabutterflysandwich，andwaittilltheshowerisover，"saidMr。
JeremyFisher。
AGREATbigwater-beetlecameupunderneaththelilyleafandtweakedthetoeofoneofhisgoloshes。
Mr。Jeremycrossedhislegsupshorter，outofreach，andwentoneatinghissandwich。
ONCEortwicesomethingmovedaboutwitharustleandasplashamongsttherushesatthesideofthepond。
"Itrustthatisnotarat，"
saidMr。JeremyFisher；"I
thinkIhadbettergetawayfromhere。"
MR。JEREMYshovedtheboatoutagainalittleway，anddroppedinthebait。
Therewasabitealmostdirectly；thefloatgaveatremendousbobbit！
"Aminnow！aminnow！I
havehimbythenose！"criedMr。JeremyFisher，jerkinguphisrod。
BUTwhatahorriblesurprise！Insteadofasmoothfatminnow，Mr。
JeremylandedlittleJackSharpthestickleback，coveredwithspines！
THEsticklebackflounderedabouttheboat，prickingandsnappinguntilhewasquiteoutofbreath。Thenhejumpedbackintothewater。
ANDashoalofotherlittlefishesputtheirheadsout，andlaughedatMr。
JeremyFisher。
ANDwhileMr。Jeremysatdisconsolatelyontheedgeofhisboat——suckinghissorefingersandpeeringdownintothewater——aMUCHworsethinghappened；areallyFRIGHTFULthingitwouldhavebeen，ifMr。Jeremyhadnotbeenwearingamacintosh！
AGREATbigenormoustroutcameup——ker-
pflop-p-p-p！withasplash——
anditseizedMr。Jeremywithasnap，"Ow！Ow！Ow！"——
andthenitturnedanddiveddowntothebottomofthepond！
BUTthetroutwassodispleasedwiththetasteofthemacintosh，thatinlessthanhalfaminuteitspathimoutagain；andtheonlythingitswallowedwasMr。Jeremy"sgoloshes。
MR。JEREMYbounceduptothesurfaceofthewater，likeacorkandthebubblesoutofasodawaterbottle；andheswamwithallhismighttotheedgeofthepond。
HEscrambledoutonthefirstbankhecameto，andhehoppedhomeacrossthemeadowwithhismacintoshallintatters。
"WHATamercythatwasnotapike！"saidMr。JeremyFisher。"Ihavelostmyrodandbasket；butitdoesnotmuchmatter，forI
amsureIshouldneverhavedaredtogofishingagain！"
HEputsomestickingplasteronhisfingers，andhisfriendsbothcametodinner。Hecouldnotofferthemfish，buthehadsomethingelseinhislarder。
SIRISAACNEWTON
worehisblackandgoldwaistcoat，ANDMr。AldermanPtolemyTortoisebroughtasaladwithhiminastringbag。
ANDinsteadofanicedishofminnows——theyhadaroastedgrasshopperwithlady-birdsauce；whichfrogsconsiderabeautifultreat；but_I_thinkitmusthavebeennasty！
THEEND
THETALEOF
TIMMYTIPTOES
FOR
MANYUNKNOWNLITTLEFRIENDS，INCLUDINGMONICA
ONCEuponatimetherewasalittlefatcomfortablegreysquirrel，calledTimmyTiptoes。Hehadanestthatchedwithleavesinthetopofatalltree；andhehadalittlesquirrelwifecalledGoody。
TIMMYTIPTOESsatout，enjoyingthebreeze；hewhiskedhistailandchuckled——"LittlewifeGoody，thenutsareripe；wemustlayupastoreforwinterandspring。"
GoodyTiptoeswasbusypushingmossunderthethatch——"Thenestissosnug，weshallbesoundasleepallwinter。""Thenweshallwakeupallthethinner，whenthereisnothingtoeatinspring-time，"repliedprudentTimothy。
WHENTimmyandGoodyTiptoescametothenutthicket，theyfoundothersquirrelsweretherealready。
Timmytookoffhisjacketandhungitonatwig；theyworkedawayquietlybythemselves。
EVERYdaytheymadeseveraljourneysandpickedquantitiesofnuts。
Theycarriedthemawayinbags，andstoredtheminseveralhollowstumpsnearthetreewheretheyhadbuilttheirnest。
WHENthesestumpswerefull，theybegantoemptythebagsintoaholehighupatree，thathadbelongedtoawood-pecker；thenutsrattleddown——down——
downinside。
"Howshallyouevergetthemoutagain？Itislikeamoney-box！"saidGoody。
"Ishallbemuchthinnerbeforespring-time，mylove，"
saidTimmyTiptoes，peepingintothehole。
THEYdidcollectquantities——becausetheydidnotlosethem！Squirrelswhoburytheirnutsinthegroundlosemorethanhalf，becausetheycannotremembertheplace。
ThemostforgetfulsquirrelinthewoodwascalledSilvertail。
Hebegantodig，andhecouldnotremember。Andthenhedugagainandfoundsomenutsthatdidnotbelongtohim；andtherewasafight。
Andothersquirrelsbegantodig，——thewholewoodwasincommotion！
UNFORTUNATELY，justatthistimeaflockoflittlebirdsflewby，frombushtobush，searchingforgreencaterpillarsandspiders。
Therewereseveralsortsoflittlebirds，twitteringdifferentsongs。
Thefirstonesang——
"Who"sbindigging-upMY
nuts？Who"s-been-digging-
upMYnuts？"
Andanothersang——"Littlebitabreadand-NO-cheese！
Littlebit-a-breadan"-NO-
cheese！"
THEsquirrelsfollowedandlistened。ThefirstlittlebirdflewintothebushwhereTimmyandGoodyTiptoeswerequietlytyinguptheirbags，anditsang——"Who"s-
bindigging-upMYnuts？
Who"sbeendigging-upMY-
nuts？"
TimmyTiptoeswentonwithhisworkwithoutreplying；indeed，thelittlebirddidnotexpectananswer。Itwasonlysingingitsnaturalsong，anditmeantnothingatall。
BUTwhentheothersquirrelsheardthatsong，theyrusheduponTimmyTiptoesandcuffedandscratchedhim，andupsethisbagofnuts。
Theinnocentlittlebirdwhichhadcausedallthemischief，flewawayinafright！
Timmyrolledoverandover，andthenturnedtailandfledtowardshisnest，followedbyacrowdofsquirrelsshouting——"Who"s-beendigging-upMY-nuts？"
THEYcaughthimanddraggedhimuptheverysametree，wheretherewasthelittleroundhole，andtheypushedhimin。TheholewasmuchtoosmallforTimmyTiptoes"figure。Theysqueezedhimdreadfully，itwasawondertheydidnotbreakhisribs。"Wewillleavehimheretillheconfesses，"saidSilvertailSquirrel，andheshoutedintothehole——
"Who"s-been-digging-upMY-nuts？"
TIMMYTIPTOESmadenoreply；hehadtumbleddowninsidethetree，uponhalfapeckofnutsbelongingtohimself。Helayquitestunnedandstill。
GOODYTIPTOESpickedupthenutbagsandwenthome。ShemadeacupofteaforTimmy；buthedidn"tcomeanddidn"tcome。
GoodyTiptoespassedalonelyandunhappynight。
Nextmorningsheventuredbacktothenut-bushestolookforhim；buttheotherunkindsquirrelsdroveheraway。
Shewanderedalloverthewood，calling——
"TimmyTiptoes！TimmyTiptoes！Oh，whereisTimmyTiptoes？"
INthemeantimeTimmyTiptoescametohissenses。
Hefoundhimselftuckedupinalittlemossbed，verymuchinthedark，feelingsore；itseemedtobeunderground。
Timmycoughedandgroaned，becausehisribshurtedhim。
Therewasachirpynoise，andasmallstripedChipmunkappearedwithanightlight，andhopedhefeltbetter？
ItwasmostkindtoTimmyTiptoes；itlenthimitsnightcap；
andthehousewasfullofprovisions。
THEChipmunkexplainedthatithadrainednutsthroughthetopofthetree——"Besides，Ifoundafewburied！"ItlaughedandchuckledwhenitheardTimmy"sstory。WhileTimmywasconfinedtobed，it"ticedhimtoeatquantities——"ButhowshallIevergetoutthroughthatholeunlessI
thinmyself？Mywifewillbeanxious！""Justanothernut——ortwonuts；letmecrackthemforyou，"saidtheChipmunk。
TimmyTiptoesgrewfatterandfatter！
NOWGoodyTiptoeshadsettoworkagainbyherself。Shedidnotputanymorenutsintothewoodpecker"shole，becauseshehadalwaysdoubtedhowtheycouldbegotoutagain。Shehidthemunderatreeroot；
theyrattleddown，down，down。OncewhenGoodyemptiedanextrabigbagful，therewasadecidedsqueak；
andnexttimeGoodybroughtanotherbagful，alittlestripedChipmunkscrambledoutinahurry。
"ITisgettingperfectlyfull-
updown-stairs；thesitting-roomisfull，andtheyarerollingalongthepassage；andmyhusband，ChippyHackee，hasrunawayandleftme。
Whatistheexplanationoftheseshowersofnuts？"
"IamsureIbegyourpardon；Ididnotnotknowthatanybodylivedhere，"saidMrs。
GoodyTiptoes；"butwhereisChippyHackee？Myhusband，TimmyTiptoes，hasrunawaytoo。""IknowwhereChippyis；alittlebirdtoldme，"saidMrs。ChippyHackee。
SHEledthewaytothewoodpecker"stree，andtheylistenedatthehole。
Downbelowtherewasanoiseofnutcrackers，andafatsquirrelvoiceandathinsquirrelvoiceweresingingtogether——
"MylittleoldmanandIfellout，Howshallwebringthismatterabout？
Bringitaboutaswellasyoucan，Andgetyougone，youlittleoldman！"
"Youcouldsqueezein，throughthatlittleroundhole，"saidGoodyTiptoes。"Yes，Icould，"saidtheChipmunk，"butmyhusband，ChippyHackee，bites！"
Downbelowtherewasanoiseofcrackingnutsandnibbling；andthenthefatsquirrelvoiceandthethinsquirrelvoicesang——
"ForthediddlumdayDaydiddledumdi！
Daydiddlediddledumday！"
THENGoodypeepedinatthehole，andcalleddown——"TimmyTiptoes！Ohfie，TimmyTiptoes！"AndTimmyreplied，"Isthatyou，GoodyTiptoes？Why，certainly！"
HecameupandkissedGoodythroughthehole；buthewassofatthathecouldnotgetout。