第6章

WHENshereachedthetopofthehill，shesawawoodinthedistance。

Shethoughtthatitlookedasafequietspot。

JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK

wasnotmuchinthehabitofflying。Sherandownhillafewyardsflappinghershawl，andthenshejumpedoffintotheair。

SHEflewbeautifullywhenshehadgotagoodstart。

Sheskimmedalongoverthetree-topsuntilshesawanopenplaceinthemiddleofthewood，wherethetreesandbrushwoodhadbeencleared。

JEMIMAalightedratherheavily，andbegantowaddleaboutinsearchofaconvenientdrynesting-place。

Sheratherfanciedatree-stumpamongstsometallfox-gloves。

But——seateduponthestump，shewasstartledtofindanelegantlydressedgentlemanreadinganewspaper。

Hehadblackprickearsandsandycolouredwhiskers。

"Quack？"saidJemimaPuddle-duck，withherheadandherbonnetononeside——

"Quack？"

THEgentlemanraisedhiseyesabovehisnewspaperandlookedcuriouslyatJemima——

"Madam，haveyoulostyourway？"saidhe。Hehadalongbushytailwhichhewassittingupon，asthestumpwassomewhatdamp。

Jemimathoughthimmightycivilandhandsome。Sheexplainedthatshehadnotlostherway，butthatshewastryingtofindaconvenientdrynesting-place。

"AH！isthatso？indeed！"saidthegentlemanwithsandywhiskers，lookingcuriouslyatJemima。Hefoldedupthenewspaper，andputitinhiscoat-tailpocket。

Jemimacomplainedofthesuperfluoushen。

"Indeed！howinteresting！

IwishIcouldmeetwiththatfowl。Iwouldteachittominditsownbusiness！"

"BUTastoanest——thereisnodifficulty:Ihaveasackfuloffeathersinmywood-

shed。No，mydearmadam，youwillbeinnobody"sway。

Youmaysitthereaslongasyoulike，"saidthebushylong-

tailedgentleman。

Heledthewaytoaveryretired，dismal-lookinghouseamongstthefox-gloves。

Itwasbuiltoffaggotsandturf，andthereweretwobrokenpails，oneontopofanother，bywayofachimney。

"THISismysummerresidence；youwouldnotfindmyearth——mywinterhouse——soconvenient，"saidthehospitablegentleman。

Therewasatumble-downshedatthebackofthehouse，madeofoldsoap-boxes。Thegentlemanopenedthedoor，andshowedJemimain。

THEshedwasalmostquitefulloffeathers——itwasalmostsuffocating；butitwascomfortableandverysoft。

JemimaPuddle-duckwasrathersurprisedtofindsuchavastquantityoffeathers。Butitwasverycomfortable；andshemadeanestwithoutanytroubleatall。

WHENshecameout，thesandywhiskeredgentlemanwassittingonalogreadingthenewspaper——atleasthehaditspreadout，buthewaslookingoverthetopofit。

Hewassopolite，thatheseemedalmostsorrytoletJemimagohomeforthenight。

Hepromisedtotakegreatcareofhernestuntilshecamebackagainnextday。

Hesaidhelovedeggsandducklings；heshouldbeproudtoseeafinenestfulinhiswood-shed。

JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK

cameeveryafternoon；shelaidnineeggsinthenest。

Theyweregreenywhiteandverylarge。Thefoxygentlemanadmiredthemimmensely。

HeusedtoturnthemoverandcountthemwhenJemimawasnotthere。

AtlastJemimatoldhimthatsheintendedtobegintositnextday——"andIwillbringabagofcornwithme，sothatIneedneverleavemynestuntiltheeggsarehatched。

Theymightcatchcold，"saidtheconscientiousJemima。

"MADAM，Ibegyounottotroubleyourselfwithabag；Iwillprovideoats。

Butbeforeyoucommenceyourtedioussitting，Iintendtogiveyouatreat。Letushaveadinner-partyalltoourselves！

"MayIaskyoutobringupsomeherbsfromthefarm-

gardentomakeasavouryomelette？Sageandthyme，andmintandtwoonions，andsomeparsley。Iwillprovidelardforthestuff-lardfortheomelette，"saidthehospitablegentlemanwithsandywhiskers。

JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK

wasasimpleton:noteventhementionofsageandonionsmadehersuspicious。

Shewentroundthefarm-

garden，nibblingoffsnippetsofallthedifferentsortsofherbsthatareusedforstuffingroastduck。

ANDshewaddledintothekitchen，andgottwoonionsoutofabasket。

Thecollie-dogKepmethercomingout，"Whatareyoudoingwiththoseonions？

Wheredoyougoeveryafternoonbyyourself，JemimaPuddle-duck？"

Jemimawasratherinaweofthecollie；shetoldhimthewholestory。

Thecollielistened，withhiswiseheadononeside；hegrinnedwhenshedescribedthepolitegentlemanwithsandywhiskers。

HEaskedseveralquestionsaboutthewood，andabouttheexactpositionofthehouseandshed。

Thenhewentout，andtrotteddownthevillage。Hewenttolookfortwofox-houndpuppieswhowereoutatwalkwiththebutcher。

JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK

wentupthecart-roadforthelasttime，onasunnyafternoon。

Shewasratherburdenedwithbunchesofherbsandtwoonionsinabag。

Sheflewoverthewood，andalightedoppositethehouseofthebushylong-tailedgentleman。

HEwassittingonalog；

hesniffedtheair，andkeptglancinguneasilyroundthewood。WhenJemimaalightedhequitejumped。

"Comeintothehouseassoonasyouhavelookedatyoureggs。Givemetheherbsfortheomelette。Besharp！"

Hewasratherabrupt。

JemimaPuddle-duckhadneverheardhimspeaklikethat。

Shefeltsurprised，anduncomfortable。

WHILEshewasinsidesheheardpatteringfeetroundthebackoftheshed。

Someonewithablacknosesniffedatthebottomofthedoor，andthenlockedit。

Jemimabecamemuchalarmed。

AMOMENTafterwardsthereweremostawfulnoises——barking，baying，growlsandhowls，squealingandgroans。

Andnothingmorewaseverseenofthatfoxy-whiskeredgentleman。

PRESENTLYKepopenedthedooroftheshed，andletoutJemimaPuddle-duck。

Unfortunatelythepuppiesrushedinandgobbledupalltheeggsbeforehecouldstopthem。

Hehadabiteonhisearandboththepuppieswerelimping。

JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK

wasescortedhomeintearsonaccountofthoseeggs。

SHElaidsomemoreinJune，andshewaspermittedtokeepthemherself:butonlyfourofthemhatched。

JemimaPuddle-ducksaidthatitwasbecauseofhernerves；butshehadalwaysbeenabadsitter。

THEEND

THETALEOF

PIGLINGBLAND

FOR

CECILYANDCHARLIE，ATALEOF

THECHRISTMASPIG。

THETALEOFPIGLINGBLAND

ONCEuponatimetherewasanoldpigcalledAuntPettitoes。

Shehadeightofafamily:fourlittlegirlpigs，calledCross-patch，Suck-suck，Yock-yockandSpot；

andfourlittleboypigs，calledAlexander，PiglingBland，Chin-

chinandStumpy。Stumpyhadhadanaccidenttohistail。

Theeightlittlepigshadveryfineappetites。"Yus，yus，yus！theyeatandindeedtheyDOeat！"

saidAuntPettitoes，lookingatherfamilywithpride。Suddenlytherewerefearfulsqueals；Alexanderhadsqueezedinsidethehoopsofthepigtroughandstuck。

AuntPettitoesandIdraggedhimoutbythehindlegs。

Chin-chinwasalreadyindisgrace；itwaswashingday，andhehadeatenapieceofsoap。Andpresentlyinabasketofcleanclothes，wefoundanotherdirtylittlepig。

"Tchut，tut，tut！whicheveristhis？"gruntedAuntPettitoes。

Nowallthepigfamilyarepink，orpinkwithblackspots，butthispigchildwassmuttyblackallover；

whenithadbeenpoppedintoatub，itprovedtobeYock-yock。

Iwentintothegarden；thereI

foundCross-patchandSuck-suckrootingupcarrots。Iwhippedthemmyselfandledthemoutbytheears。

Cross-patchtriedtobiteme。

"AuntPettitoes，AuntPettitoes！

youareaworthyperson，butyourfamilyisnotwellbroughtup。

EveryoneofthemhasbeeninmischiefexceptSpotandPiglingBland。"

"Yus，yus！"sighedAuntPettitoes。"Andtheydrinkbucketfulsofmilk；Ishallhavetogetanothercow！GoodlittleSpotshallstayathometodothehousework；buttheothersmustgo。

Fourlittleboypigsandfourlittlegirlpigsaretoomanyaltogether。"

"Yus，yus，yus，"saidAuntPettitoes，"therewillbemoretoeatwithoutthem。"

SoChin-chinandSuck-suckwentawayinawheel-barrow，andStumpy，Yock-yockandCross-

patchrodeawayinacart。

Andtheothertwolittleboypigs，PiglingBlandandAlexander，wenttomarket。Webrushedtheircoats，wecurledtheirtailsandwashedtheirlittlefaces，andwishedthemgood-byeintheyard。

AuntPettitoeswipedhereyeswithalargepockethandkerchief，thenshewipedPiglingBland"snoseandshedtears；thenshewipedAlexander"snoseandshedtears；

thenshepassedthehandkerchieftoSpot。AuntPettitoessighedandgrunted，andaddressedthoselittlepigsasfollows:

"NowPiglingBland，sonPiglingBland，youmustgotomarket。

TakeyourbrotherAlexanderbythehand。MindyourSundayclothes，andremembertoblowyournose"——

（AuntPettitoespassedroundthehandkerchiefagain）——"bewareoftraps，henroosts，baconandeggs；

alwayswalkuponyourhindlegs。"

PiglingBland，whowasasedatelittlepig，lookedsolemnlyathismother，ateartrickleddownhischeek。

AuntPettitoesturnedtotheother——"NowsonAlexandertakethehand"——"Wee，wee，wee！"

giggledAlexander——"takethehandofyourbrotherPiglingBland，youmustgotomarket。

Mind——""Wee，wee，wee！"interruptedAlexanderagain。Youputmeout，"saidAuntPettitoes"Observesign-postsandmilestones；

donotgobbleherringbones——"

"Andremember，"saidIimpressively，"ifyouoncecrossthecountyboundaryyoucannotcomeback。

Alexander，youarenotattending。

HerearetwolicencespermittingtwopigstogotomarketinLancashire。Attend，Alexander。Ihavehadnoendoftroubleingettingthesepapersfromthepoliceman。"

PiglingBlandlistenedgravely；

Alexanderwashopelesslyvolatile。

Ipinnedthepapers，forsafety，insidetheirwaistcoatpockets；

AuntPettitoesgavetoeachalittlebundle，andeightconversationpeppermintswithappropriatemoralsentimentsinscrewsofpaper。Thentheystarted。

PiglingBlandandAlexandertrottedalongsteadilyforamile；

atleastPiglingBlanddid。Alexandermadetheroadhalfaslongagainbyskippingfromsidetoside。

Hedancedaboutandpinchedhisbrother，singing——

"Thispigwenttomarket，thispigstayedathome，"Thispighadabitofmeat——

let"sseewhattheyhavegivenUS

fordinner，Pigling？"

PiglingBlandandAlexandersatdownanduntiedtheirbundles。

Alexandergobbleduphisdinnerinnotime；hehadalreadyeatenallhisownpeppermints。"Givemeoneofyours，please，Pigling。"

"ButIwishtopreservethemforemergencies，"saidPiglingBlanddoubtfully。Alexanderwentintosquealsoflaughter。ThenheprickedPiglingwiththepinthathadfastenedhispigpaper；andwhenPiglingslappedhimhedroppedthepin，andtriedtotakePigling"spin，andthepapersgotmixedup。PiglingBlandreprovedAlexander。

Butpresentlytheymadeitupagain，andtrottedawaytogether，singing——

"Tom，Tom，thepiper"sson，stoleapigandawayheran！

"Butallthetunethathecouldplay，was"Overthehillsandfaraway！""

"What"sthat，youngsirs？Stoleapig？Whereareyourlicences？"

saidthepoliceman。Theyhadnearlyrunagainsthimroundacorner。PiglingBlandpulledouthispaper；Alexander，afterfumbling，handedoversomethingscrumply——

"To21/2oz。conversationsweetiesatthreefarthings"——"What"sthis？

Thisain"talicence。"Alexander"snoselengthenedvisibly，hehadlostit。"Ihadone，indeedIhad，Mr。

Policeman！"

"It"snotlikelytheyletyoustartwithout。Iampassingthefarm。

Youmaywalkwithme。""CanI

comebacktoo？"inquiredPiglingBland。"Iseenoreason，youngsir；

yourpaperisallright。"PiglingBlanddidnotlikegoingonalone，anditwasbeginningtorain。Butitisunwisetoarguewiththepolice；

hegavehisbrotherapeppermint，andwatchedhimoutofsight。

ToconcludetheadventuresofAlexander——thepolicemansauntereduptothehouseaboutteatime，followedbyadampsubduedlittlepig。IdisposedofAlexanderintheneighbourhood；hedidfairlywellwhenhehadsettleddown。

PiglingBlandwentonalonedejectedly；hecametocross-roadsandasign-post——"ToMarketTown，5miles，""OvertheHills，4miles，"

"ToPettitoesFarm，3miles。"

PiglingBlandwasshocked，therewaslittlehopeofsleepinginMarketTown，andto-morrowwasthehiringfair；itwasdeplorabletothinkhowmuchtimehadbeenwastedbythefrivolityofAlexander。

Heglancedwistfullyalongtheroadtowardsthehills，andthensetoffwalkingobedientlytheotherway，buttoninguphiscoatagainsttherain。Hehadneverwantedtogo；andtheideaofstandingallbyhimselfinacrowdedmarket，tobestaredat，pushed，andhiredbysomebigstrangefarmerwasverydisagreeable——

"IwishIcouldhavealittlegardenandgrowpotatoes，"saidPiglingBland。

Heputhiscoldhandinhispocketandfelthispaper，heputhisotherhandinhisotherpocketandfeltanotherpaper——Alexander"s！

Piglingsquealed；thenranbackfrantically，hopingtoovertakeAlexanderandthepoliceman。

Hetookawrongturn——severalwrongturns，andwasquitelost。

Itgrewdark，thewindwhistled，thetreescreakedandgroaned。

PiglingBlandbecamefrightenedandcried"Wee，wee，wee！Ican"tfindmywayhome！"

Afteranhour"swanderinghegotoutofthewood；themoonshonethroughtheclouds，andPiglingBlandsawacountrythatwasnewtohim。

Theroadcrossedamoor；belowwasawidevalleywitharivertwinklinginthemoonlight，andbeyond，inmistydistance，laythehills。

Hesawasmallwoodenhut，madehiswaytoit，andcreptinside——"IamafraiditISahenhouse，butwhatcanIdo？"saidPiglingBland，wetandcoldandquitetiredout。

"Baconandeggs，baconandeggs！"cluckedahenonaperch。

"Trap，trap，trap！cackle，cackle，cackle！"scoldedthedisturbedcockerel。"Tomarket，tomarket！

jiggettyjig！"cluckedabroodywhitehenroostingnexttohim。

PiglingBland，muchalarmed，determinedtoleaveatdaybreak。

Inthemeantime，heandthehensfellasleep。

Inlessthananhourtheywereallawakened。Theowner，Mr。

PeterThomasPiperson，camewithalanternandahampertocatchsixfowlstotaketomarketinthemorning。

Hegrabbedthewhitehenroostingnexttothecock；thenhiseyefelluponPiglingBland，squeezedupinacorner。Hemadeasingularremark——"Hallo，here"sanother！"——seizedPiglingbythescruffoftheneck，anddroppedhimintothehamper。Thenhedroppedinfivemoredirty，kicking，cacklinghensuponthetopofPiglingBland。

Thehampercontainingsixfowlsandayoungpigwasnolightweight；itwastakendownhill，unsteadily，withjerks。Pigling，althoughnearlyscratchedtopieces，contrivedtohidethepapersandpeppermintsinsidehisclothes。

Atlastthehamperwasbumpeddownuponakitchenfloor，thelidwasopened，andPiglingwasliftedout。Helookedup，blinking，andsawanoffensivelyuglyelderlyman，grinningfromeartoear。

"Thisone"scomeofhimself，whatever，"saidMr。Piperson，turningPigling"spocketsinsideout。

Hepushedthehamperintoacorner，threwasackoverittokeepthehensquiet，putapotonthefire，andunlacedhisboots。

PiglingBlanddrewforwardacoppystool，andsatontheedgeofit，shylywarminghishands。Mr。

Pipersonpulledoffabootandthrewitagainstthewainscotatthefurtherendofthekitchen。

Therewasasmotherednoise——

"Shutup！"saidMr。Piperson。

PiglingBlandwarmedhishands，andeyedhim。

Mr。Pipersonpulledofftheotherbootandflungitafterthefirst，therewasagainacuriousnoise——

"Bequiet，willye？"saidMr。

Piperson。PiglingBlandsatontheveryedgeofthecoppystool。

Mr。Pipersonfetchedmealfromachestandmadeporridge。ItseemedtoPiglingthatsomethingatthefurtherendofthekitchenwastakingasuppressedinterestinthecooking，buthewastoohungrytobetroubledbynoises。

Mr。Pipersonpouredoutthreeplatefuls:forhimself，forPigling，andathird——afterglaringatPigling——heputawaywithmuchscuffling，andlockedup。PiglingBlandatehissupperdiscreetly。

AftersupperMr。Pipersonconsultedanalmanac，andfeltPigling"sribs；itwastoolateintheseasonforcuringbacon，andhegrudgedhismeal。Besides，thehenshadseenthispig。

Helookedatthesmallremainsofaflitch，andthenlookedundecidedlyatPigling。"Youmaysleepontherug，"saidMr。PeterThomasPiperson。

PiglingBlandsleptlikeatop。

InthemorningMr。Pipersonmademoreporridge；theweatherwaswarmer。Helookedtoseehowmuchmealwasleftinthechest，andseemeddissatisfied——"You"lllikelybemovingonagain？"saidhetoPiglingBland。

BeforePiglingcouldreply，aneighbour，whowasgivingMr。

Pipersonandthehensalift，whistledfromthegate。Mr。Pipersonhurriedoutwiththehamper，enjoiningPiglingtoshutthedoorbehindhimandnotmeddlewithnought；or"I"llcomebackandskinye！"saidMr。Piperson。

ItcrossedPigling"smindthatifHEhadaskedforalift，too，hemightstillhavebeenintimeformarket。

ButhedistrustedPeterThomas。

Afterfinishingbreakfastathisleisure，Piglinghadalookroundthecottage；everythingwaslockedup。Hefoundsomepotatopeelingsinabucketinthebackkitchen。

Piglingatethepeel，andwasheduptheporridgeplatesinthebucket。

Hesangwhileheworked——

"Tomwithhispipemadesuchanoise，Hecalledupallthegirlsandboys——

"Andtheyallrantohearhimplay""Overthehillsandfaraway！""

Suddenlyalittlesmotheredvoicechimedin——

"Overthehillsandagreatwayoff，Thewindshallblowmytopknotoff！"

PiglingBlandputdownaplatewhichhewaswiping，andlistened。

Afteralongpause，Piglingwentontip-toeandpeepedroundthedoorintothefrontkitchen。Therewasnobodythere。

Afteranotherpause，Piglingapproachedthedoorofthelockedcupboard，andsnuffedatthekey-

hole。Itwasquitequiet。

Afteranotherlongpause，Piglingpushedapeppermintunderthedoor。

Itwassuckedinimmediately。

InthecourseofthedayPiglingpushedinalltheremainingsixpeppermints。

WhenMr。Pipersonreturned，hefoundPiglingsittingbeforethefire；hehadbrushedupthehearthandputonthepottoboil；themealwasnotget-at-able。

Mr。Pipersonwasveryaffable；

heslappedPiglingontheback，madelotsofporridgeandforgottolockthemealchest。Hedidlockthecupboarddoor；butwithoutproperlyshuttingit。Hewenttobedearly，andtoldPiglinguponnoaccounttodisturbhimnextdaybeforetwelveo"clock。

PiglingBlandsatbythefire，eatinghissupper。

Allatonceathiselbow，alittlevoicespoke——"MynameisPig-

wig。Makememoreporridge，please！"PiglingBlandjumped，andlookedround。

AperfectlylovelylittleblackBerkshirepigstoodsmilingbesidehim。Shehadtwinklylittlescrewedupeyes，adoublechin，andashortturnedupnose。

ShepointedatPigling"splate；