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ulty； we clambered up a high wall on the inside of a wainscot； till we reached the story above that we were born in； where we found it much easier to run round within the skirting…board； than to ascend any higher。
While we were there； our noses were delightfully regaled with the scent of the most delicate food that we had ever smelt； we were anxious to procure a taste of it likewise； and after running round and round the room a great many times； we at last discovered a little crack； through which we made our entrance。 My brother Longtail led the way； I followed； Softdown came next； but Brighteyes would not be prevailed upon to venture。 The apartment which we entered was spacious and elegant； at least； differed so greatly from anything we had seen； that we imagined it the finest place upon earth。 It was covered all over with a carpet of various colours； that not only concealed some bird…seeds which we came to devour； but also for some time prevented our being discovered； as we were of much the same hue with many of the flowers on the carpet。 At last a little girl； who was at work in the room； by the side of her mamma； shrieked out as if violently hurt。 Her mamma begged to know the cause of her sudden alarm。 Upon which she called out； 'A mouse！ a mouse！ I saw one under the chair！' 'And if you did； my dear；' replied her mother； 'is that any reason for your behaving so ridiculously？ If there were twenty mice； what harm could they possibly do？ You may easily hurt and destroy then；； but； poor little things！ they cannot； if they would； hurt you。' 'What； could they not bite me？' inquired the child。 'They may； indeed； be able to do that； but you may be very sure that they have no such inclination；' rejoined the mother。 'A mouse is one of the most timorous things in the world； every noise alarms it： and though it chiefly lives by plunder； it appears as if punished by its fears for the mischiefs which it commits among our property。 It is therefore highly ridiculous to pretend to be alarmed at the sight of a creature that would run from the sound of your voice； and wishes never to come near you； lest； as you are far more able； you should also be disposed to hurt it。' 'But I am sure； madam；' replied the little girl； whose name I afterwards heard was Nancy； 'they do not always run away； for one day； as Miss Betsy Kite was looking among some things which she had in her box； a mouse jumped out and ran up her frock sleeveshe felt it quite up on her arm。' 'And what became of it then？' inquired the mother。 'It jumped down again；' replied Nancy； 'and got into a little hole in the window…seat； and Betsy did not see it again。' 'Well； then； my dear；' resumed the lady； 'what harm did it do her？ Is not that a convincing proof of what I say； that you have no cause to be afraid of them； and that it is very silly to be so？ It is certainly foolish to be afraid of any thing； unless it threatens us with immediate danger； but to pretend to be so at a mouse； and such like inoffensive things； is a degree of weakness that I can by no means suffer any of my children to indulge。' 'May I then； madam；' inquired the child； 'be afraid of cows and horses； and such great beasts as those？' 'Certainly not；' answered her mother； 'unless they are likely to hurt you。 If a cow or an horse runs after you； I would have you fear them so much as to get out of the way； but if they are quietly walking or grazing in a field； then to fly from them； as if you thought they would eat you instead of the grass； is most absurd； and discovers great want of sense。 I once knew a young lady； who； I believe； thought it looked pretty to be terrified at everything； and scream if dog or even a mouse looked at her： but most severely was she punished for her folly； by several very disagreeable accidents she by those means brought upon herself。
'One day when she was drinking tea in a large company； on the door being opened； a small Italian greyhound walked into the drawing…room。 She happened to be seated near the mistress of the dog； who was making tea： the dog； therefore； walked toward her； in order to be by his favourite； but； upon his advancing near her； she suddenly jumped up； without considering what she was about； overturned the water…urn； the hot iron of which rolling out； set fire to her clothes； which instantly blazed up； being only muslin； and burnt her arms； face； and neck； most dreadfully： she was so much hurt as to be obliged to be put immediately to bed； nor did she recover enough to go abroad for many months。 Now； though every one was sorry for her sufferings； who could possibly help blaming her for her ridiculous behaviour； as it was entirely owing to her own folly that she was so hurt？ When she was talked to upon the subject； she pleaded for her excuse； that she was so frightened she did not know what she did； nor whither she was going； but as she thought that the dog was coming to her she could not help jumping up； to get out of his way。 Now what ridiculous arguing was this！ Why could not she help it？ And if the dog had really been going to her； what harm would it have done？ Could she suppose that the lady whose house she was at； would have suffered a beast to walk about the house loose； and go into company； if he was apt to bite and hurt people？ Or why should she think he would more injure her； than those he had before passed by？ But the real case was； she did not think at all； if she had given herself time for that； she could not have acted so ridiculously。 Another time； when she was walking； from the same want of reflection； she very nearly drowned herself。 She was passing over a bridge； the outside rails of which were in some places broken down： while she was there； some cows； which a man was driving； met her： immediately； without minding whither she went； she shrieked out； and at the same time jumped on one side just where the rail happened to be broken； and down she fell into the river； nor was it without the greatest difficulty that she was taken out time enough to save her life。 However； she caught a violent cold and fever； and was again； by her own foolish fears； confined to her bed for some weeks。 Another accident she once met with； which though not quite so bad as the two former； yet might have been attended with fatal consequences。 She was sitting in a window； when a wasp happened to fly toward her； she hastily drew back her head； and broke the pane of glass behind her； some of which stuck in her neck。 It bled prodigiously； but a surgeon happily being present； made some application to it； which prevented its being followed by any other ill effects than only a few days weakness； occasioned by the loss of blood。 Many other misfortunes of the like kind she frequently experienced； but these which I have now related may serve to convince you how extremely absurd it is for people to give way to and indulge themselves in such groundless apprehensions； and； by being afraid when there is no danger； subject themselves to real misfortunes and most fatal accidents。 And if being afraid of cows； dogs； and wasps （all of which； if they please； can certainly hurt us） is so ridiculous； what must be the folly of those people who are terrified a