the original peter rabbit books([1].波特文集)-第2节
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LITTLE Benjamin said； 〃It spoils people's clothes to squeeze under a
gate； the proper way to get in； is to climb down a pear tree。〃
Peter fell down head first； but it was of no consequence； as the bed
below was newly raked and quite soft。
IT had been sown with lettuces。
They left a great many odd little foot…marks all over the bed； especially
little Benjamin； who was wearing clogs。
LITTLE Benjamin said that the first thing to be done was to get back
Peter's clothes； in order that they might be able to use the pocket
handkerchief。
They took them off the scarecrow。 There had been rain during the
night； there was water in the shoes； and the coat was somewhat shrunk。
Benjamin tried on the tam… o…shanter； but it was too big for him。
THEN he suggested that they should fill the pocket… handkerchief with
onions； as a little present for his Aunt。
Peter did not seem to be enjoying himself； he kept hearing noises。
BENJAMIN； on the contrary； was perfectly at home； and ate a lettuce
leaf。 He said that he was in the habit of coming to the garden with his
father to get lettuces for their Sunday dinner。
（The name of little Benjamin's papa was old Mr。 Benjamin Bunny。）
The lettuces certainly were very fine。
PETER did not eat anything； he said he should like to go home。
Presently he dropped half the onions。
LITTLE Benjamin said that it was not possible to get back up the pear…
tree； with a load of vegetables。 He led the way boldly towards the other
end of the garden。 They went along a little walk on planks； under a sunny
red… brick wall。
The mice sat on their door… steps cracking cherry…stones； they winked
at Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin Bunny。
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PRESENTLY Peter let the pocket…handkerchief go again。
THEY got amongst flower… pots； and frames and tubs； Peter heard
noises worse than ever； his eyes were as big as lolly…pops！
He was a step or two in front of his cousin； when he suddenly stopped。
THIS is what those little rabbits saw round that corner！
Little Benjamin took one look； and then； in half a minute less than no
time； he hid himself and Peter and the onions underneath a large
basket。 。 。 。
THE cat got up and stretched herself； and came and sniffed at the
basket。
Perhaps she liked the smell of onions！
Anyway； she sat down upon the top of the basket。
SHE sat there for FIVE HOURS。
* * * * *
I cannot draw you a picture of Peter and Benjamin underneath the
basket； because it was quite dark； and because the smell of onions was
fearful； it made Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin cry。
The sun got round behind the wood； and it was quite late in the
afternoon； but still the cat sat upon the basket。
AT length there was a pitter… patter； pitter…patter； and some bits of
mortar fell from the wall above。
The cat looked up and saw old Mr。 Benjamin Bunny prancing along
the top of the wall of the upper terrace。
He was smoking a pipe of rabbit…tobacco； and had a little switch in his
hand。
He was looking for his son。
OLD Mr。 Bunny had no opinion whatever of cats。
He took a tremendous jump off the top of the wall on to the top of the
cat； and cuffed it off the basket； and kicked it into the garden…house；
scratching off a handful of fur。
The cat was too much surprised to scratch back。
WHEN old Mr。 Bunny had driven the cat into the green…house； he
locked the door。
Then he came back to the basket and took out his son Benjamin by the
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ears； and whipped him with the little switch。
Then he took out his nephew Peter。
THEN he took out the handkerchief of onions； and marched out of the
garden。
When Mr。 McGregor returned about half an hour later； he observed
several things which perplexed him。
It looked as though some person had been walking all over the garden
in a pair of clogsonly the foot…marks were too ridiculously little！
Also he could not understand how the cat could have managed to shut
herself up INSIDE the green…house； locking the door upon the OUTSIDE。
WHEN Peter got home； his mother forgave him； because she was so
glad to see that he had found his shoes and coat。 Cotton…tail and Peter
folded up the pocket… handkerchief； and old Mrs。 rabbit strung up the
onions and hung them from the kitchen ceiling； with the rabbit…tobacco。
THE END
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THE TALE OF THE FLOPSY
BUNNIES
FOR ALL LITTLE FRIENDS OF MR。 McGREGOR & PETER &
BENJAMIN
IT is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is 〃soporific。〃
_I_ have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces； but then _I_ am not a
rabbit。
They certainly had a very soporific effect upon the Flopsy Bunnies！
WHEN Benjamin Bunny grew up； he married his Cousin Flopsy。 They
had a large family； and they were very improvident and cheerful。
I do not remember the separate names of their children； they were
generally called the 〃Flopsy Bunnies。〃
AS there was not always quite enough to eat； Benjamin used to
borrow cabbages from Flopsy's brother； Peter Rabbit； who kept a nursery
garden。
SOMETIMES Peter Rabbit had no cabbages to spare。
WHEN this happened； the Flopsy Bunnies went across the field to a
rubbish heap； in the ditch outside Mr。 McGregor's garden。
MR。 McGREGOR'S rubbish heap was a mixture。 There were jam pots
and paper bags； and mountains of chopped grass from the mowing
machine （which always tasted oily）； and some rotten vegetable marrows
and an old boot or two。 One dayoh joy！there were a quantity of
overgrown lettuces； which had 〃shot〃 into flower。
THE Flopsy Bunnies simply stuffed lettuces。 By degrees； one after
another； they were overcome with slumber； and lay down in the mown
grass。
Benjamin was not so much overcome as his children。 Before going to
sleep he was sufficiently wide awake to put a paper bag over his head to
keep off the flies。
THE little Flopsy Bunnies slept delightfully in the warm sun。 From the
lawn beyond the garden came the distant clacketty sound of the mowing
machine。 The blue… bottles buzzed about the wall； and a little old mouse
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picked over the rubbish among the jam pots。 （I can tell you her name； she
was called Thomasina Tittlemouse； a woodmouse with a long tail。）
SHE rustled across the paper bag； and awakened Benjamin Bunny。
The mouse apologized profusely； and said that she knew Peter Rabbit。
WHILE she and Benjamin were talking； close under the wall； they
heard a heavy tread above their heads； and suddenly Mr。 McGregor
emptied out a sackful of lawn mowings right upon the top of the sleeping
Flopsy Bunnies！ Benjamin shrank down under his paper bag。 The mouse
hid in a jam pot。
THE little rabbits smiled sweetly in their sleep under the shower of
grass； they did not awake because the lettuces had been so soporific。
They dreamt that their mother Flopsy was tucking them up in a hay
bed。
Mr。 McGregor looked down after emptying his sack。 He saw some
funny little brown tips of ears sticking up through the lawn mowings。 He
stared at them for some time。
PRESENTLY a fly settled on one of them and it moved。
Mr。 McGregor climbed down on to the rubbish heap
〃One； two； three； four！ five！ six leetle rabbits！〃 said he as he dropped
them into his sack。 The Flopsy Bunnies dreamt that their mother was
turning them over in bed。 They stirred a little in their sleep； but still they
did not wake up。
MR。 McGREGOR tied up the sack and le
