hese walls, and so anxious am I to learn what is
become of him, that I am now come forth, contrary to my nature, to
engage your compassion, and to beseech you, in case--

At this moment, the door of my room opened, and my servant coming
hastily in, the mouse jumped from my table, and precipitately retreated
to the same hole from whence it first addressed me; and though I have
several times peeped into it, and even laid little bits of cake to
entice it back again, yet have I never been able to see it any where
since. Should either that, or any other, ever again favour me so far
with their confidence, as to instruct me with their history, I will
certainly communicate it with all possible speed to my little readers;
who I hope have been wise enough to attend to the advice given them
in the preceding pages, although it was delivered to them by one as
insignificant as a MOUSE.

PART II.

INTRODUCTION

It is now some months ago since I took leave of my little readers,
promising, in case I should ever hear any further tidings of either
Nimble or Longtail, I would certainly communicate it to them; and, as I
think it extremely wrong not to fulfil any engagement we enter into,
I look upon myself bound to give them all the information I have since
gained, relating to those two little animals; and I doubt not but they
will be glad to hear what happened to them, after Nimble was frightened
from my writing table by the entrance of my servant. If I recollect
right, I have already told you, that I frequently peeped into the hole
in the skirting-board, and laid bits of cake to try to entice my little
companion back, but all to no purpose: and I had quite given over all
hopes of ever again seeing him, when one day, as I was putting my hand
into a large jar, which had some Turkey figs in it, I felt something
soft at the bottom, and taking it out, found it to be a poor little
mouse, not quite dead, but so starved and weak, that upon my placing it
upon the table, it had not strength sufficient to get from me. A little
boy happened to be standing by me, who, upon the sight of the mouse,
began to beg me to give it to the cat, or kill it, 'for I don't like
mice,' said he; 'pray, ma'am, put it away.' 'Not like mice,' replied I;
'what can be your objection to such a little soft creature as this?'
and taking advantage of its weakness, I picked it up, and held it in
the palm of one hand, whilst I stroked it with the fingers o