ole in his side. So they
both came down together, but the conqueror was not at all injured by
his fall.

After our fortunate escape, nothing worth relating occurred till the
day I was caught by that cruel boy from whose hands you so kindly
rescued me. Being now nearly full grown our mother allowed us to take
care of ourselves in the daytime, but she made two of my sisters and
myself sleep in the nest with her at night.

One morning, wishing to see a little of the world, I set off by myself
across the meadow, intending to visit a pleasant little wood we could
just see from the bank above our house. But I had hardly reached the
middle of the field, when a tremendous hail-storm came on. Oh! what a
dreadful predicament I was in! The sheep had eaten down the grass so
close that it gave me no shelter whatever, neither could I find any
hole or crack to creep into, till the storm was over. So I made the
best of my way back again, though dreadfully bruised by the
hail-stones, and at last a very heavy one struck me such a blow on the
top of my head, that I was quite stunned; and I can remember nothing
more, till I found myself in the hands of your papa's stable-boy, Tom.
He had picked me up, when looking for mushrooms in the meadow, and
thought perhaps that I should make a nice breakfast for his kitten. But
when he found me come to life again, he said he would tame me, and make
me draw a little pasteboard cart to amuse his sister Jenny. You cannot
think how cruelly he used me, and how he made my lips bleed by forcing
an iron bit into my mouth. And then he almost killed me by trying to
make me swallow raw meat, which is a sort of food none of our species
can abide. Truly, I should never have lived to have related this
history, if you had not come into the stable-yard to see the young
rabbits. Most fortunately for me, you were singing your favourite song.
I remembered the words and the sweet clear voice instantly, and I said
to myself, "Perhaps the young lady that was so kind to the little
gleaner, may have compassion on a poor harvest-mouse." You know the
rest: I squeaked with all my might; you heard me, and soon persuaded
Tom to give up his prize in exchange for a dozen fine apples from your
own little tree.

And now, my dear kind mistress, will you not fulfil your promise, and
give me my liberty? I have been very happy with you, but I long
exceedingly to return to the beautiful green bank again, and to see
dear mamma, who mu