the land。 I am sure； if it were needful； I would go through fire and water for their sakes； and so would every man in the parish； I dare say。 But I wonder who would do as much to help Squire Stately or any of his family； if it was not that I should think it my duty （and an honest man ought always to do that； whether he likes it or not）； but I say； if it was not that it would be my duty to help my fellow…creature； I would scarcely be at the trouble of stepping over the threshold to serve them； they are such a set of cross； good…for…nothing gentry。 I declare； it was but as we came home to dinner now； that we saw Master Sam throwing sticks and stones at Dame Frugal's ducks； for the sake of seeing them waddle； and then； when they got to the pond； he sent his dog in after them to bark and frighten them out of their wits。 And as I came by； nothing would serve him but throwing a great dab of mud all over the sleeve of my coat。 So I said； 〃Why； Master Sam； you need not have done that； I did nothing to offend you； and however amusing you may think it to insult poor people； I assure you it is very wicked； and what no good person in the world would be guilty of。〃 He then set up a great rude laugh； and I walked on and said no more。 But if all gentlefolk were to behave like that family； I had rather be poor as I am； than have all their riches； if that would make me act like them。' 'Very true； Abraham；' replied his wife； 'that is what I say； and what I told Master George this morning； for to be poor； if people do not become so through their own extravagance； is no disgrace to any body： but to be haughty； cruel； cross； and mischievous； is a disgrace to all who are so； let their rank be as exalted as it may。'
Here the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of a man； who begged Mr。 Flood to assist him in unloading his cart of flour； as his man was gone out； and he could not do it by himself。 'Well； I will come and help you； with all my heart；' said Flood； 'and so shall Tom too： will you； my lad？ I cannot live without help myself； and if I do not assist others； I am sure I shall not deserve any when I want it。' So saying； he left his house； and his wife； after cleaning and putting in their proper places those things which had been used at dinner； again sat down to her sewing。
Soon after the clock had struck six； the man and his son returned； and； sitting round the fire； they passed the evening in social conversation； till they went to bed； which was a little after eight； and they convinced me； by their talk and behaviour； that happiness in this world depends far more upon the temper and disposition of the heart； than upon any external possessions； and that virtue； and a desire to be useful to others； afford far greater satisfaction and peace of mind than any riches and grandeur can possibly supply without such necessary qualifications。 After they were all fallen asleep； we crept out； and； leaving the candle unmolested； which was again placed on the tinder…box by the bed…side； we hastened into the closet； where we regaled heartily； and devoured that part of the plum…cake which Tom had very generously left for his sister Polly； who we found was expected home the next day。
We then retired to our safe retreat； and thought we might venture to stay for one more night's provisions without running any danger from our too frequent return to the same place。 But in the morning we found our scheme frustrated； for； on the woman's going to the closet to get her breakfast； she observed the robbery which we had committed； and exclaimed； 'Some teasing mice have found their way into the closet： I will borrow neighbour Savewell's trap to…night； and catch some of the little toads； that I will！' After hearing this； it would have been madness to make any further attempts： we therefore agreed to watch for an opportunity； and escape on the very first that offered。 Accordingly； about noon； when Mrs。 Flood was busily employed in making some pancakes； we slipped by her unobserved； and crept out at the same hole by which we first entered。 But no sooner were we in the open road； than we repented our haste； and wished that we had continued where we were till the darkness of the night might better have concealed us from the observation of anyone。 We crept as close to the wall of the house （as far as it reached； which was but a few paces） as we possibly could； and then stepped into a little ditch； which we were soon obliged to leave again； as the water ran in some parts of it almost up to the edge。
At length we reached a little cottage； which we were just entering； when a cat that was sleeping unnoticed by us upon a chair； jumped down； and would certainly have destroyed me （who happened to go first） had she not at the same moment tried to catch my brother； and by that means missed her aim； and so given us both an opportunity to escape； which we did by scrambling behind a brick that a child had been playing with by the side of the door。 Fortunately； the brick lay too close to the house for the cat to get her paw behind it； so as to be able to reach us； though to avoid it we were obliged to use the greatest precaution； as she could thrust it in a little way； so that if we had gone one inch too near either end； she would certainly have dragged us out by her talons。 In this dreadful situation did we spend some hours； incessantly moving from one end of the brick to the other； for the moment she had； by the entrance of her paw at one end； driven us to the other； she stepped over； and again made us retreat。 Think with what dreadful terror our little hearts must have been oppressed； to see our mortal enemy so closely watching us； expecting every moment when she shook the brick with her two forepaws in searching； and with her mouth endeavoured to lift it up； that she would be so far able to effect her purpose； as to make it impossible for us to escape her jaws。 But； happily for us； it had somehow or other got so wedged that she could not move it to any distance； though it kept momentarily increasing our terrors； by shaking as she strove to turn it。
From this state of horror； however； we were at length delivered by a little boy of about two years old； who came out of the house； and taking the cat up round its body with both hands； tottered away with it； and shut the door。
Finding ourselves thus unexpectedly once more at liberty； we determined to make use of it； by seeking some safer retreat； at least； till night should better hide us from public view。 Terrified almost out of our senses； we crept from behind the brick； and； after running a few yards； slipped under the folding doors of a barn； and soon concealed ourselves amidst a vast quantity of threshed corn。 This appeared to us the most desirable retreat that we had yet found； not only as it afforded such immense plenty of food； but also as we could so easily hide ourselves from the observation of any one： beside； as it did not appear to be a dwelling…house； we could in security reside； free from any danger of traps； or the cruelty of man。 We therefore congratulated each other； not more on account of the wonderful escape which we had； than upon our good fortune in coming to a Spot so blessed with peace and plenty。
After we were a little recovered from the fatigue of mind； as well as of body； which we had lately gone through； we regaled very heartily upon the corn that surrounded us； and then fell into a charming sleep； from which we were awakened the next morning by the sound of human voices。 We very distinctly heard that of a boy； saying； 'Let us mix all the threshed corn with the rest that is not threshed； and that will make a fine fuss； and set John and Simon a swearing like troopers when they come and find all their labour lost； and that they must do all their work over again。' 'And do you think there is anything so agreeable in giving people trouble； and hearing them swear；' replied another voice； 'that you can wish to do it？ For my part。 I think it is so wicked a thing； that I hate to hear anybody guilty of it； much less would I be the cause of making them commit so great a sin； and as for giving them all their trouble over again； so far would it be from affording me any pleasure； that on the contrary it would give me great pain； for however you may think of it； Will； I assure you； it always gives me much uneasiness to see people labouring and working hard。 I always think how much I should dislike to be obliged to do so myself； and therefore very sincerely pity those who must。 On no account therefore will I do anything to add to their labour； or that shall give them unnecessary work。'
'Pooh！' answered Will； 'you are wonderfully wise； I； for my part； hate such super…abundant wisdom； I like to see folk fret； and stew； and scold； as our maids did last week when I cut the line； and let all the sheets； and gowns； and petticoats； and frocks； and shirts； and aprons； and caps； and what not； fall plump into the dirt。 O！ how I did laugh！ and how they did mutter and scold！ And do you know； that just as the wash ladies were wiping their coddled hands； and comforted themselves with the thought of their work being all over； and were going to sip their tea by the fireside； I put them all