WHENshereachedthetopofthehill，shesawawoodinthedistance。
Shethoughtthatitlookedasafequietspot。
JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK
wasnotmuchinthehabitofflying。Sherandownhillafewyardsflappinghershawl，andthenshejumpedoffintotheair。
SHEflewbeautifullywhenshehadgotagoodstart。
Sheskimmedalongoverthetree-topsuntilshesawanopenplaceinthemiddleofthewood，wherethetreesandbrushwoodhadbeencleared。
JEMIMAalightedratherheavily，andbegantowaddleaboutinsearchofaconvenientdrynesting-place。
Sheratherfanciedatree-stumpamongstsometallfox-gloves。
But——seateduponthestump，shewasstartledtofindanelegantlydressedgentlemanreadinganewspaper。
Hehadblackprickearsandsandycolouredwhiskers。
\"Quack？\"saidJemimaPuddle-duck，withherheadandherbonnetononeside——
\"Quack？\"
THEgentlemanraisedhiseyesabovehisnewspaperandlookedcuriouslyatJemima——
\"Madam，haveyoulostyourway？\"saidhe。Hehadalongbushytailwhichhewassittingupon，asthestumpwassomewhatdamp。
Jemimathoughthimmightycivilandhandsome。Sheexplainedthatshehadnotlostherway，butthatshewastryingtofindaconvenientdrynesting-place。
\"AH！isthatso？indeed！\"saidthegentlemanwithsandywhiskers，lookingcuriouslyatJemima。Hefoldedupthenewspaper，andputitinhiscoat-tailpocket。
Jemimacomplainedofthesuperfluoushen。
\"Indeed！howinteresting！
IwishIcouldmeetwiththatfowl。Iwouldteachittominditsownbusiness！\"
\"BUTastoanest——thereisnodifficulty:Ihaveasackfuloffeathersinmywood-
shed。No，mydearmadam，youwillbeinnobody\'sway。
Youmaysitthereaslongasyoulike，\"saidthebushylong-
tailedgentleman。
Heledthewaytoaveryretired，dismal-lookinghouseamongstthefox-gloves。
Itwasbuiltoffaggotsandturf，andthereweretwobrokenpails，oneontopofanother，bywayofachimney。
\"THISismysummerresidence；youwouldnotfindmyearth——mywinterhouse——soconvenient，\"saidthehospitablegentleman。
Therewasatumble-downshedatthebackofthehouse，madeofoldsoap-boxes。Thegentlemanopenedthedoor，andshowedJemimain。
THEshedwasalmostquitefulloffeathers——itwasalmostsuffocating；butitwascomfortableandverysoft。
JemimaPuddle-duckwasrathersurprisedtofindsuchavastquantityoffeathers。Butitwasverycomfortable；andshemadeanestwithoutanytroubleatall。
WHENshecameout，thesandywhiskeredgentlemanwassittingonalogreadingthenewspaper——atleasthehaditspreadout，buthewaslookingoverthetopofit。
Hewassopolite，thatheseemedalmostsorrytoletJemimagohomeforthenight。
Hepromisedtotakegreatcareofhernestuntilshecamebackagainnextday。
Hesaidhelovedeggsandducklings；heshouldbeproudtoseeafinenestfulinhiswood-shed。
JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK
cameeveryafternoon；shelaidnineeggsinthenest。
Theyweregreenywhiteandverylarge。Thefoxygentlemanadmiredthemimmensely。
HeusedtoturnthemoverandcountthemwhenJemimawasnotthere。
AtlastJemimatoldhimthatsheintendedtobegintositnextday——\"andIwillbringabagofcornwithme，sothatIneedneverleavemynestuntiltheeggsarehatched。
Theymightcatchcold，\"saidtheconscientiousJemima。
\"MADAM，Ibegyounottotroubleyourselfwithabag；Iwillprovideoats。
Butbeforeyoucommenceyourtedioussitting，Iintendtogiveyouatreat。Letushaveadinner-partyalltoourselves！
\"MayIaskyoutobringupsomeherbsfromthefarm-
gardentomakeasavouryomelette？Sageandthyme，andmintandtwoonions，andsomeparsley。Iwillprovidelardforthestuff-lardfortheomelette，\"saidthehospitablegentlemanwithsandywhiskers。
JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK
wasasimpleton:noteventhementionofsageandonionsmadehersuspicious。
Shewentroundthefarm-
garden，nibblingoffsnippetsofallthedifferentsortsofherbsthatareusedforstuffingroastduck。
ANDshewaddledintothekitchen，andgottwoonionsoutofabasket。
Thecollie-dogKepmethercomingout，\"Whatareyoudoingwiththoseonions？
Wheredoyougoeveryafternoonbyyourself，JemimaPuddle-duck？\"
Jemimawasratherinaweofthecollie；shetoldhimthewholestory。
Thecollielistened，withhiswiseheadononeside；hegrinnedwhenshedescribedthepolitegentlemanwithsandywhiskers。
HEaskedseveralquestionsaboutthewood，andabouttheexactpositionofthehouseandshed。
Thenhewentout，andtrotteddownthevillage。Hewenttolookfortwofox-houndpuppieswhowereoutatwalkwiththebutcher。
JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK
wentupthecart-roadforthelasttime，onasunnyafternoon。
Shewasratherburdenedwithbunchesofherbsandtwoonionsinabag。
Sheflewoverthewood，andalightedoppositethehouseofthebushylong-tailedgentleman。
HEwassittingonalog；
hesniffedtheair，andkeptglancinguneasilyroundthewood。WhenJemimaalightedhequitejumped。
\"Comeintothehouseassoonasyouhavelookedatyoureggs。Givemetheherbsfortheomelette。Besharp！\"
Hewasratherabrupt。
JemimaPuddle-duckhadneverheardhimspeaklikethat。
Shefeltsurprised，anduncomfortable。
WHILEshewasinsidesheheardpatteringfeetroundthebackoftheshed。
Someonewithablacknosesniffedatthebottomofthedoor，andthenlockedit。
Jemimabecamemuchalarmed。
AMOMENTafterwardsthereweremostawfulnoises——barking，baying，growlsandhowls，squealingandgroans。
Andnothingmorewaseverseenofthatfoxy-whiskeredgentleman。
PRESENTLYKepopenedthedooroftheshed，andletoutJemimaPuddle-duck。
Unfortunatelythepuppiesrushedinandgobbledupalltheeggsbeforehecouldstopthem。
Hehadabiteonhisearandboththepuppieswerelimping。
JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK
wasescortedhomeintearsonaccountofthoseeggs。
SHElaidsomemoreinJune，andshewaspermittedtokeepthemherself:butonlyfourofthemhatched。
JemimaPuddle-ducksaidthatitwasbecauseofhernerves；butshehadalwaysbeenabadsitter。
THEEND
THETALEOF
PIGLINGBLAND
FOR
CECILYANDCHARLIE，ATALEOF
THECHRISTMASPIG。
THETALEOFPIGLINGBLAND
ONCEuponatimetherewasanoldpigcalledAuntPettitoes。
Shehadeightofafamily:fourlittlegirlpigs，calledCross-patch，Suck-suck，Yock-yockandSpot；
andfourlittleboypigs，calledAlexander，PiglingBland，Chin-
chinandStumpy。Stumpyhadhadanaccidenttohistail。
Theeightlittlepigshadveryfineappetites。\"Yus，yus，yus！theyeatandindeedtheyDOeat！\"
saidAuntPettitoes，lookingatherfamilywithpride。Suddenlytherewerefearfulsqueals；Alexanderhadsqueezedinsidethehoopsofthepigtroughandstuck。
AuntPettitoesandIdraggedhimoutbythehindlegs。
Chin-chinwasalreadyindisgrace；itwaswashingday，andhehadeatenapieceofsoap。Andpresentlyinabasketofcleanclothes，wefoundanotherdirtylittlepig。
\"Tchut，tut，tut！whicheveristhis？\"gruntedAuntPettitoes。
Nowallthepigfamilyarepink，orpinkwithblackspots，butthispigchildwassmuttyblackallover；
whenithadbeenpoppedintoatub，itprovedtobeYock-yock。
Iwentintothegarden；thereI
foundCross-patchandSuck-suckrootingupcarrots。Iwhippedthemmyselfandledthemoutbytheears。
Cross-patchtriedtobiteme。
\"AuntPettitoes，AuntPettitoes！
youareaworthyperson，butyourfamilyisnotwellbroughtup。
EveryoneofthemhasbeeninmischiefexceptSpotandPiglingBland。\"
\"Yus，yus！\"sighedAuntPettitoes。\"Andtheydrinkbucketfulsofmilk；Ishallhavetogetanothercow！GoodlittleSpotshallstayathometodothehousework；buttheothersmustgo。
Fourlittleboypigsandfourlittlegirlpigsaretoomanyaltogether。\"
\"Yus，yus，yus，\"saidAuntPettitoes，\"therewillbemoretoeatwithoutthem。\"
SoChin-chinandSuck-suckwentawayinawheel-barrow，andStumpy，Yock-yockandCross-
patchrodeawayinacart。
Andtheothertwolittleboypigs，PiglingBlandandAlexander，wenttomarket。Webrushedtheircoats，wecurledtheirtailsandwashedtheirlittlefaces，andwishedthemgood-byeintheyard。
AuntPettitoeswipedhereyeswithalargepockethandkerchief，thenshewipedPiglingBland\'snoseandshedtears；thenshewipedAlexander\'snoseandshedtears；
thenshepassedthehandkerchieftoSpot。AuntPettitoessighedandgrunted，andaddressedthoselittlepigsasfollows:
\"NowPiglingBland，sonPiglingBland，youmustgotomarket。
TakeyourbrotherAlexanderbythehand。MindyourSundayclothes，andremembertoblowyournose\"——
（AuntPettitoespassedroundthehandkerchiefagain）——\"bewareoftraps，henroosts，baconandeggs；
alwayswalkuponyourhindlegs。\"
PiglingBland，whowasasedatelittlepig，lookedsolemnlyathismother，ateartrickleddownhischeek。
AuntPettitoesturnedtotheother——\"NowsonAlexandertakethehand\"——\"Wee，wee，wee！\"
giggledAlexander——\"takethehandofyourbrotherPiglingBland，youmustgotomarket。
Mind——\"\"Wee，wee，wee！\"interruptedAlexanderagain。Youputmeout，\"saidAuntPettitoes\"Observesign-postsandmilestones；
donotgobbleherringbones——\"
\"Andremember，\"saidIimpressively，\"ifyouoncecrossthecountyboundaryyoucannotcomeback。
Alexander，youarenotattending。
HerearetwolicencespermittingtwopigstogotomarketinLancashire。Attend，Alexander。Ihavehadnoendoftroubleingettingthesepapersfromthepoliceman。\"
PiglingBlandlistenedgravely；
Alexanderwashopelesslyvolatile。
Ipinnedthepapers，forsafety，insidetheirwaistcoatpockets；
AuntPettitoesgavetoeachalittlebundle，andeightconversationpeppermintswithappropriatemoralsentimentsinscrewsofpaper。Thentheystarted。
PiglingBlandandAlexandertrottedalongsteadilyforamile；
atleastPiglingBlanddid。Alexandermadetheroadhalfaslongagainbyskippingfromsidetoside。
Hedancedaboutandpinchedhisbrother，singing——
\"Thispigwenttomarket，thispigstayedathome，\"Thispighadabitofmeat——
let\'sseewhattheyhavegivenUS
fordinner，Pigling？\"
PiglingBlandandAlexandersatdownanduntiedtheirbundles。
Alexandergobbleduphisdinnerinnotime；hehadalreadyeatenallhisownpeppermints。\"Givemeoneofyours，please，Pigling。\"
\"ButIwishtopreservethemforemergencies，\"saidPiglingBlanddoubtfully。Alexanderwentintosquealsoflaughter。ThenheprickedPiglingwiththepinthathadfastenedhispigpaper；andwhenPiglingslappedhimhedroppedthepin，andtriedtotakePigling\'spin，andthepapersgotmixedup。PiglingBlandreprovedAlexander。
Butpresentlytheymadeitupagain，andtrottedawaytogether，singing——
\"Tom，Tom，thepiper\'sson，stoleapigandawayheran！
\"Butallthetunethathecouldplay，was\'Overthehillsandfaraway！\'\"
\"What\'sthat，youngsirs？Stoleapig？Whereareyourlicences？\"
saidthepoliceman。Theyhadnearlyrunagainsthimroundacorner。PiglingBlandpulledouthispaper；Alexander，afterfumbling，handedoversomethingscrumply——
\"To21/2oz。conversationsweetiesatthreefarthings\"——\"What\'sthis？
Thisain\'talicence。\"Alexander\'snoselengthenedvisibly，hehadlostit。\"Ihadone，indeedIhad，Mr。
Policeman！\"
\"It\'snotlikelytheyletyoustartwithout。Iampassingthefarm。
Youmaywalkwithme。\"\"CanI
comebacktoo？\"inquiredPiglingBland。\"Iseenoreason，youngsir；
yourpaperisallright。\"PiglingBlanddidnotlikegoingonalone，anditwasbeginningtorain。Butitisunwisetoarguewiththepolice；
hegavehisbrotherapeppermint，andwatchedhimoutofsight。
ToconcludetheadventuresofAlexander——thepolicemansauntereduptothehouseaboutteatime，followedbyadampsubduedlittlepig。IdisposedofAlexanderintheneighbourhood；hedidfairlywellwhenhehadsettleddown。
PiglingBlandwentonalonedejectedly；hecametocross-roadsandasign-post——\"ToMarketTown，5miles，\"\"OvertheHills，4miles，\"
\"ToPettitoesFarm，3miles。\"
PiglingBlandwasshocked，therewaslittlehopeofsleepinginMarketTown，andto-morrowwasthehiringfair；itwasdeplorabletothinkhowmuchtimehadbeenwastedbythefrivolityofAlexander。
Heglancedwistfullyalongtheroadtowardsthehills，andthensetoffwalkingobedientlytheotherway，buttoninguphiscoatagainsttherain。Hehadneverwantedtogo；andtheideaofstandingallbyhimselfinacrowdedmarket，tobestaredat，pushed，andhiredbysomebigstrangefarmerwasverydisagreeable——
\"IwishIcouldhavealittlegardenandgrowpotatoes，\"saidPiglingBland。
Heputhiscoldhandinhispocketandfelthispaper，heputhisotherhandinhisotherpocketandfeltanotherpaper——Alexander\'s！
Piglingsquealed；thenranbackfrantically，hopingtoovertakeAlexanderandthepoliceman。
Hetookawrongturn——severalwrongturns，andwasquitelost。
Itgrewdark，thewindwhistled，thetreescreakedandgroaned。
PiglingBlandbecamefrightenedandcried\"Wee，wee，wee！Ican\'tfindmywayhome！\"
Afteranhour\'swanderinghegotoutofthewood；themoonshonethroughtheclouds，andPiglingBlandsawacountrythatwasnewtohim。
Theroadcrossedamoor；belowwasawidevalleywitharivertwinklinginthemoonlight，andbeyond，inmistydistance，laythehills。
Hesawasmallwoodenhut，madehiswaytoit，andcreptinside——\"IamafraiditISahenhouse，butwhatcanIdo？\"saidPiglingBland，wetandcoldandquitetiredout。
\"Baconandeggs，baconandeggs！\"cluckedahenonaperch。
\"Trap，trap，trap！cackle，cackle，cackle！\"scoldedthedisturbedcockerel。\"Tomarket，tomarket！
jiggettyjig！\"cluckedabroodywhitehenroostingnexttohim。
PiglingBland，muchalarmed，determinedtoleaveatdaybreak。
Inthemeantime，heandthehensfellasleep。
Inlessthananhourtheywereallawakened。Theowner，Mr。
PeterThomasPiperson，camewithalanternandahampertocatchsixfowlstotaketomarketinthemorning。
Hegrabbedthewhitehenroostingnexttothecock；thenhiseyefelluponPiglingBland，squeezedupinacorner。Hemadeasingularremark——\"Hallo，here\'sanother！\"——seizedPiglingbythescruffoftheneck，anddroppedhimintothehamper。Thenhedroppedinfivemoredirty，kicking，cacklinghensuponthetopofPiglingBland。
Thehampercontainingsixfowlsandayoungpigwasnolightweight；itwastakendownhill，unsteadily，withjerks。Pigling，althoughnearlyscratchedtopieces，contrivedtohidethepapersandpeppermintsinsidehisclothes。
Atlastthehamperwasbumpeddownuponakitchenfloor，thelidwasopened，andPiglingwasliftedout。Helookedup，blinking，andsawanoffensivelyuglyelderlyman，grinningfromeartoear。
\"Thisone\'scomeofhimself，whatever，\"saidMr。Piperson，turningPigling\'spocketsinsideout。
Hepushedthehamperintoacorner，threwasackoverittokeepthehensquiet，putapotonthefire，andunlacedhisboots。
PiglingBlanddrewforwardacoppystool，andsatontheedgeofit，shylywarminghishands。Mr。
Pipersonpulledoffabootandthrewitagainstthewainscotatthefurtherendofthekitchen。
Therewasasmotherednoise——
\"Shutup！\"saidMr。Piperson。
PiglingBlandwarmedhishands，andeyedhim。
Mr。Pipersonpulledofftheotherbootandflungitafterthefirst，therewasagainacuriousnoise——
\"Bequiet，willye？\"saidMr。
Piperson。PiglingBlandsatontheveryedgeofthecoppystool。
Mr。Pipersonfetchedmealfromachestandmadeporridge。ItseemedtoPiglingthatsomethingatthefurtherendofthekitchenwastakingasuppressedinterestinthecooking，buthewastoohungrytobetroubledbynoises。
Mr。Pipersonpouredoutthreeplatefuls:forhimself，forPigling，andathird——afterglaringatPigling——heputawaywithmuchscuffling，andlockedup。PiglingBlandatehissupperdiscreetly。
AftersupperMr。Pipersonconsultedanalmanac，andfeltPigling\'sribs；itwastoolateintheseasonforcuringbacon，andhegrudgedhismeal。Besides，thehenshadseenthispig。
Helookedatthesmallremainsofaflitch，andthenlookedundecidedlyatPigling。\"Youmaysleepontherug，\"saidMr。PeterThomasPiperson。
PiglingBlandsleptlikeatop。
InthemorningMr。Pipersonmademoreporridge；theweatherwaswarmer。Helookedtoseehowmuchmealwasleftinthechest，andseemeddissatisfied——\"You\'lllikelybemovingonagain？\"saidhetoPiglingBland。
BeforePiglingcouldreply，aneighbour，whowasgivingMr。
Pipersonandthehensalift，whistledfromthegate。Mr。Pipersonhurriedoutwiththehamper，enjoiningPiglingtoshutthedoorbehindhimandnotmeddlewithnought；or\"I\'llcomebackandskinye！\"saidMr。Piperson。
ItcrossedPigling\'smindthatifHEhadaskedforalift，too，hemightstillhavebeenintimeformarket。
ButhedistrustedPeterThomas。
Afterfinishingbreakfastathisleisure，Piglinghadalookroundthecottage；everythingwaslockedup。Hefoundsomepotatopeelingsinabucketinthebackkitchen。
Piglingatethepeel，andwasheduptheporridgeplatesinthebucket。
Hesangwhileheworked——
\"Tomwithhispipemadesuchanoise，Hecalledupallthegirlsandboys——
\"Andtheyallrantohearhimplay\"\'Overthehillsandfaraway！\'\"
Suddenlyalittlesmotheredvoicechimedin——
\"Overthehillsandagreatwayoff，Thewindshallblowmytopknotoff！\"
PiglingBlandputdownaplatewhichhewaswiping，andlistened。
Afteralongpause，Piglingwentontip-toeandpeepedroundthedoorintothefrontkitchen。Therewasnobodythere。
Afteranotherpause，Piglingapproachedthedoorofthelockedcupboard，andsnuffedatthekey-
hole。Itwasquitequiet。
Afteranotherlongpause，Piglingpushedapeppermintunderthedoor。
Itwassuckedinimmediately。
InthecourseofthedayPiglingpushedinalltheremainingsixpeppermints。
WhenMr。Pipersonreturned，hefoundPiglingsittingbeforethefire；hehadbrushedupthehearthandputonthepottoboil；themealwasnotget-at-able。
Mr。Pipersonwasveryaffable；
heslappedPiglingontheback，madelotsofporridgeandforgottolockthemealchest。Hedidlockthecupboarddoor；butwithoutproperlyshuttingit。Hewenttobedearly，andtoldPiglinguponnoaccounttodisturbhimnextdaybeforetwelveo\'clock。
PiglingBlandsatbythefire，eatinghissupper。
Allatonceathiselbow，alittlevoicespoke——\"MynameisPig-
wig。Makememoreporridge，please！\"PiglingBlandjumped，andlookedround。
AperfectlylovelylittleblackBerkshirepigstoodsmilingbesidehim。Shehadtwinklylittlescrewedupeyes，adoublechin，andashortturnedupnose。
ShepointedatPigling\'splate；