Adventures of a Squirrel, Supposed to be Related by Himself Read online

  _CHAPTER VI._

  But soon was my happiness put an end to. Very near my mistress,lived a young gentleman, whose name was Eaton, who, though nearlyfourteen years of age, and a very clever youth, delighted inmischief; and though he did not mean it, he sometimes did thingsvery unworthy a gentleman.

  _He admired me greatly._]

  This young fellow no sooner found Miss Huntley kept a squirrel,than he resolved to be possessed of me. I afterwards found hisreason for so doing, was only "because he thought, if he took itto school with him, it might cause some fine sport." The next daywas fixed for his departure; and, as he was very intimate withMiss Huntley, he said he would came and drink tea with her oncemore before he went to school. He came, admired me greatly, and,after tea, said he would play with me. The window happened to beup, so, while they were talking, and not looking at him, he slilyput me into his pocket, buttoned it, and giving a great shriek,said I had jumped out of the window. Poor Isabella Huntley wasvery much vexed. He said there was no hopes of getting it, as ittravelled at such a rate, he supposed it would be ten or twelvemiles off by the next day. He told truth, for, as he was goingthe next day, he would be much farther than twelve miles; and soshould I also, as I went in his pocket. He soon after took hisleave, leaving Isabella very sorrowful, little thinking whereher squirrel was. He went to school very early the next day, andI travelled all the way in his pocket. Luckily I found a fewcherries and a cake, or most probably I should not have lived tomy journey's end. We arrived at the Rev. Mr. Clarkson's academy, Icannot tell at what time; let it suffice, that when he got there,he took me out, and tied a piece of string round my neck, while heshowed me to his schoolfellows! He then asked, if any body had acage to sell. They none of them had one, except one boy, who cameand said he would sell his, but that it would put him to a greatinconvenience, as he had a bird in it at present, and could notsell it under three shillings; for he knew Eaton would buy it, letit cost what it would. He therefore tried to make the most of it.Eaton paid him the money, and put me in it. Here I had to performmy tricks before all the boys, four or five times a day, and wasliable to all the insults they chose to bestow upon me. Indeed,a boy did once hit me a terrible blow with an apple. In about aweek, the money Eaton had brought with him to school, was allgone; he then had recourse to selling me. He offered me in my cagefor two shillings. Nobody would give it. At last a boy came to himand offered tenpence for me. Eaton, in a rage, hit him a box onthe ear, and sent the boy away crying. At last, finding nobodywould give more, he went to the boy he had struck, whose namewas Bentley, asked his pardon, and said he should have me fortenpence. Bentley now refused, saying, that as he had been struck,he would give no more than sixpence. At this time, the man whoused to come with cakes and apples for the boys to buy, cameinto the play-ground. Eaton took up a tart, and holding his handout to Bentley, said: "Come, you may as well give me tenpence;"but Bentley held out sixpence, and said he would give no more.Eaton then tried to knock it out of his hand, but instead of hissucceeding, the tart fell and was broke to pieces. Eaton lookedred. "Come," said Bentley, "though you refused so often, perhapsyou may be inclined to take sixpence now." Eaton was not longdetermining, but snatched the sixpence and gave me into Bentley'shands. He carried me directly into his chamber, and having givenme some food, put me on his window seat. I lived very comfortablywith him for a few days; till one day a boy named Smart, who, Iafterwards learnt, was hired by Eaton, opened the window and putme out. I ran along the tiles, trembling, a great way, before Isaw any window open where I might shelter myself. At last a boyspied me, and getting up to me with a ladder, I surrenderedimmediately. The boy, thinking he could sell me at the schoolbetter than at any other place, went there; and Bentley seeingme, before any of the boys said what they would give, offered theboy eighteenpence for me, which he accepted, and left me once morein good hands. He now took more care of me than ever, intendingto take me home with him at the holidays; but an accident whichhappened soon after, made his good intention totally useless. Oneof his schoolfellows, named Hawkins, who slept in his room, had,it seems, long wished for me. He had tried various stratagems,none of which had turned out to his advantage: at last he thoughtof the following. He put his bottle and wash-hand bason in the wayof my cage, so that when Bentley came to take me out, he threwthem down, and broke them into a thousand pieces. Hawkins hearingthe noise came up, and the following dialogue I distinctly heard,as I sat on Bentley's arm.

  _Hawkins._ So, Bentley, you have broke my bason. How could you beso careless.

  _Bentley._ It was rather careless, I must own; but who would havethought of a bottle and bason being so near a squirrel-cage, asto be broken when I went to take out my squirrel.

  _Hawkins._ Nobody could have thought it; but you should lookbefore you do things in such a hurry. I suppose you intend topay me for it.

  _Bentley._ That I would very willingly do, if I had money. If youwill trust me, I will give you my week's pay till the whole debtis paid.

  _Hawkins._ And so I am to stay a month or more, while you pay meat your leisure. It was all owing to your want of attention, andI am to suffer for it.

  _Bentley._ As to being owing to my want of attention, I don't seeit in the least. It certainly was not a proper place for a bottleand bason. I think it must have been put there on purpose.

  _Hawkins._ Pray, Sir, am I to be accountable to you for the placewhere I choose to put my bottle and bason. Suppose I put it thereon purpose, have not I a right?

  _Bentley._ A most undoubted one. But then, if it is broken, youhave no right to scold about it, as it was through your own meansit became so.

  _Hawkins._ Well, I don't care, I will be paid for it. Come,Bentley, give me your squirrel, and I'll think no more about it.

  _Bentley._ A likely matter.

  _Hawkins._ Well, then, I am resolved you shall pay me.

  _Bentley._ Very well, I will pay you in the manner I mentioned.

  _Hawkins._ Don't you believe it: if you can't pay me now, I willtake the Squirrel.

  He then snatched me from him, and carried me down stairs, wherehe met a boy named Lively, to whom he showed me; and both walkingup to a bench that was placed under the study window, whereMr. Clarkson generally was, Hawkins began the conversation whichwill be related in the next chapter.