the original peter rabbit books([1].波特文集)-第16节
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〃there will be more to eat without them。〃
So Chin…chin and Suck…suck went away in a wheel…barrow； and
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Stumpy； Yock…yock and Cross… patch rode away in a cart。
And the other two little boy pigs； Pigling Bland and Alexander； went
to market。 We brushed their coats；
we curled their tails and washed their little faces； and wished them
good…bye in the yard。
Aunt Pettitoes wiped her eyes with a large pocket handkerchief； then
she wiped Pigling Bland's nose and shed tears； then she wiped Alexander's
nose and shed tears； then she passed the handkerchief to Spot。 Aunt
Pettitoes sighed and grunted； and addressed those little pigs as follows：
〃Now Pigling Bland； son Pigling Bland； you must go to market。 Take
your brother Alexander by the hand。 Mind your Sunday clothes； and
remember to blow your nose〃
（Aunt Pettitoes passed round the handkerchief again）〃beware of traps；
hen roosts； bacon and eggs； always walk upon your hind legs。〃 Pigling
Bland； who was a sedate little pig； looked solemnly at his mother； a tear
trickled down his cheek。
Aunt Pettitoes turned to the other〃Now son Alexander take the
hand〃〃Wee； wee； wee！〃 giggled Alexander〃take the hand of your
brother Pigling Bland； you must go to market。 Mind〃 〃Wee； wee； wee！〃
interrupted Alexander again。 You put me out；〃 said Aunt Pettitoes
〃Observe sign…posts and milestones； do not gobble herring bones〃
〃And remember；〃 said I impressively； 〃if you once cross the county
boundary you cannot come back。
Alexander； you are not attending。 Here are two licences permitting two
pigs to go to market in Lancashire。 Attend； Alexander。 I have had no end
of trouble in getting these papers from the policeman。〃
Pigling Bland listened gravely； Alexander was hopelessly volatile。
I pinned the papers； for safety； inside their waistcoat pockets；
Aunt Pettitoes gave to each a little bundle； and eight conversation
peppermints with appropriate moral sentiments in screws of paper。 Then
they started。
Pigling Bland and Alexander trotted along steadily for a mile； at least
Pigling Bland did。 Alexander made the road half as long again by skipping
from side to side。 He danced about and pinched his brother； singing
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〃This pig went to market； this pig stayed at home； 〃This pig had a bit
of meat
let's see what they have given US for dinner； Pigling？〃
Pigling Bland and Alexander sat down and untied their bundles。
Alexander gobbled up his dinner in no time； he had already eaten all his
own peppermints。 〃Give me one of yours； please； Pigling。〃
〃But I wish to preserve them for emergencies；〃 said Pigling Bland
doubtfully。 Alexander went into squeals of laughter。 Then he pricked
Pigling with the pin that had fastened his pig paper； and when Pigling
slapped him he dropped the pin； and tried to take Pigling's pin； and the
papers got mixed up。 Pigling Bland reproved Alexander。
But presently they made it up again； and trotted away together；
singing
〃Tom； Tom； the piper's son； stole a pig and away he ran！ 〃But all the
tune that he could play； was 'Over the hills and far away！' 〃
〃What's that； young sirs？ Stole a pig？ Where are your licences？〃 said
the policeman。 They had nearly run against him round a corner。 Pigling
Bland pulled out his paper； Alexander； after fumbling； handed over
something scrumply
〃To 2 1/2 oz。 conversation sweeties at three farthings〃〃What's this？
This ain't a licence。 〃Alexander's nose lengthened visibly； he had lost it。〃 I
had one； indeed I had； Mr。 Policeman！〃
〃It's not likely they let you start without。 I am passing the farm。 You
may walk with me。〃 〃Can I come back too？〃 inquired Pigling Bland。 〃I see
no reason； young sir； your paper is all right。〃 Pigling Bland did not like
going on alone； and it was beginning to rain。 But it is unwise to argue with
the police； he gave his brother a peppermint； and watched him out of sight。
To conclude the adventures of Alexanderthe policeman sauntered
up to the house about tea time； followed by a damp subdued little pig。 I
disposed of Alexander in the neighbourhood； he did fairly well when he
had settled down。
Pigling Bland went on alone dejectedly； he came to cross…roads and a
sign…post〃To Market Town； 5 miles；〃 〃Over the Hills； 4 miles；〃 〃To
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Pettitoes Farm； 3 miles。〃
Pigling Bland was shocked； there was little hope of sleeping in Market
Town； and to…morrow was the hiring fair； it was deplorable to think how
much time had been wasted by the frivolity of Alexander。
He glanced wistfully along the road towards the hills； and then set off
walking obediently the other way； buttoning up his coat against the rain。
He had never wanted to go； and the idea of standing all
by himself in a crowded market； to be stared at； pushed； and hired by
some big strange farmer was very disagreeable
〃I wish I could have a little garden and grow potatoes；〃 said Pigling
Bland。
He put his cold hand in his pocket and felt his paper； he put his other
hand in his other pocket and felt another paperAlexander's！ Pigling
squealed； then ran back frantically； hoping to overtake Alexander and the
policeman。
He took a wrong turnseveral wrong turns； and was quite lost。
It grew dark； the wind whistled； the trees creaked and groaned。
Pigling Bland became frightened and cried 〃Wee； wee； wee！ I can't
find my way home！〃
After an hour's wandering he got out of the wood； the moon shone
through the clouds； and Pigling Bland saw a country that was new to him。
The road crossed a moor； below was a wide valley with a river
twinkling in the moonlight； and beyond； in misty distance； lay the hills。
He saw a small wooden hut； made his way to it； and crept inside〃I
am afraid it IS a hen house； but what can I do？〃 said Pigling Bland； wet
and cold and quite tired out。
〃Bacon and eggs； bacon and eggs！〃 clucked a hen on a perch。
〃Trap； trap； trap！ cackle； cackle； cackle！〃 scolded the disturbed
cockerel。 〃To market； to market！ jiggetty jig！〃 clucked a broody white hen
roosting next to him。 Pigling Bland； much alarmed； determined to leave at
daybreak。 In the meantime； he and the hens fell asleep。
In less than an hour they were all awakened。 The owner； Mr。 Peter
Thomas Piperson； came with a lantern and a hamper to catch six fowls to
take to market in the morning。
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He grabbed the white hen roosting next to the cock； then his eye fell
upon Pigling Bland； squeezed up in a corner。 He made a singular remark
〃Hallo； here's another！〃seized Pigling by the scruff of the neck； and
dropped him into the hamper。 Then he dropped in five more dirty； kicking；
cackling hens upon the top of Pigling Bland。
The hamper containing six fowls and a young pig was no light weight；
it was taken down hill； unsteadily； with jerks。 Pigling； although nearly
scratched to pieces； contrived to hide the papers and peppermints inside
his clothes。
At last the hamper was bumped down upon a kitchen floor； the lid
was opened； and Pigling was lifted out。 He looked up； blinking； and saw
an offensively ugly elderly man； grinning from ear to ear。
〃This one's come of himself； whatever；〃 said Mr。 Piperson； turning
Pigling's pockets inside out。 He pushed the hamper into a corner； threw a
sack over it to keep the hens quiet； put a pot on the fire； and unlaced his
boots。
Pigling Bland drew forward a coppy stool； and sat on the edge of it；
shyly warming his hands。 Mr。 Piperson pulled off a boot and threw it
against the wain
