English
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;thereIfoundCross-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,PiglingBlandandAlexanderwenttomarket.Webrushedtheircoats,wecurledtheirtailsandwashedtheirlittlefaces,andwishedthemgoodbyeintheyard.
AuntPettitoeswipedhereyeswithalargepockethandkerchief,thenshewipedPiglingBland’snoseandshedtears;thenshewipedAlexander’snoseandshedtears;thenshepassedthehandkerchieftoSpot.
AuntPettitoessighedandgrunted,andaddressedthoselittlepigsasfollows—
“NowPiglingBland,sonPiglingBland,youmustgotomarket.
TakeyourbrotherAlexanderbythehand.
MindyourSundayclothes,andremembertoblowyournose.”
—(AuntPettitoespassedroundthehandkerchiefagain)—“Bewareoftraps,henroosts,baconandeggs;alwayswalkuponyourhindlegs.”
PiglingBlandwhowasasedatelittlepig,lookedsolemnlyathismother,ateartrickleddownhischeek.
AuntPettitoesturnedtotheother—“NowsonAlexandertakethehand”—
“Wee,wee,wee!”giggledAlexander—
“TakethehandofyourbrotherPiglingBland,youmustgotomarket.Mind—”
“Wee,wee,wee!”interruptedAlexanderagain.
“Youputmeout,”saidAuntPettitoes—“Observesignpostsandmilestones;donotgobbleherringbones—”
“Andremember,”saidIimpressively,“ifyouoncecrossthecountyboundaryyoucannotcomeback.Alexander,youarenotattending.
HerearetwolicensespermittingtwopigstogotomarketinLancashire.AttendAlexander.
Ihavehadnoendoftroubleingettingthesepapersfromthepoliceman.”
PiglingBlandlistenedgravely;Alexanderwashopelesslyvolatile.
Ipinnedthepapers,forsafety,insidetheirwaistcoatpockets;AuntPettitoesgavetoeachalittlebundle,andeightconversationpeppermintswithappropriatemoralsentimentsinscrewsofpaper.Thentheystarted.
PiglingBlandandAlexandertrottedalongsteadilyforamile;atleastPiglingBlanddid.
Alexandermadetheroadhalfaslongagainbyskippingfromsidetoside.
Hedancedaboutandpinchedhisbrother,singing—
“Thispigwenttomarket,thispigstayed
athome,
“Thispighadabitofmeat—
let’sseewhattheyhavegivenUSfordinner,Pigling?”
PiglingBlandandAlexandersatdownanduntiedtheirbundles.Alexandergobbleduphisdinnerinnotime;hehadalreadyeatenallhisownpeppermints—“Givemeoneofyours,please,Pigling?”
“ButIwishtopreservethemforemergencies,”saidPiglingBlanddoubtfully.
Alexanderwentintosquealsoflaughter.
ThenheprickedPiglingwiththepinthathadfastenedhispigpaper;andwhenPiglingslappedhimhedroppedthepin,andtriedtotakePigling’spin,andthepapersgotmixedup.PiglingBlandreprovedAlexander.
Butpresentlytheymadeitupagain,andtrottedawaytogether,singing—
“Tom,Tomthepiper’sson,stoleapig
andawayheran!
“Butallthetunethathecouldplay,was
‘Overthehillsandfaraway!’”
“What’sthat,youngSirs?Stoleapig?Whereareyourlicenses?”saidthepoliceman.
Theyhadnearlyrunagainsthimroundacorner.
PiglingBlandpulledouthispaper;Alexander,afterfumbling,handedoversomethingscrumply—
“To21/2oz.conversationsweetiesatthreefarthings”—“What’sthis?thisain’talicense?”Alexander’snoselengthenedvisibly,hehadlostit.“Ihadone,indeedIhad,Mr.Policeman!”
“It’snotlikelytheyletyoustartwithout.Iampassingthefarm.Youmaywalkwithme.”
“CanIcomebacktoo?”inquiredPiglingBland.
“Iseenoreason,youngSir;yourpaperisallright.”
PiglingBlanddidnotlikegoingonalone,anditwasbeginningtorain.
Butitisunwisetoarguewiththepolice;hegavehisbrotherapeppermint,andwatchedhimoutofsight.
ToconcludetheadventuresofAlexander—thepolicemansauntereduptothehouseaboutteatime,followedbyadampsubduedlittlepig.
IdisposedofAlexanderintheneighborhood;hedidfairlywellwhenhehadsettleddown.
PiglingBlandwentonalonedejectedly;hecametocrossroadsandasign-post—“ToMarket-town5miles,”“OvertheHills,4miles,”“ToPettitoesFarm,3miles.”
PiglingBlandwasshocked,therewaslittlehopeofsleepinginMarketTown,andtomorrowwasthehiringfair;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.
Hegrabbedthewhitehenroostingnexttotherooster;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[sideofbacon],andthenlookedundecidedlyatPigling.“Youmaysleepontherug,”saidMr.PeterThomasPiperson.
PiglingBlandsleptlikeatop.InthemorningMr.Pipersonmademoreporridge;theweatherwaswarmer.
Helookedhowmuchmealwasleftinthechest,andseemeddissatisfied—“You’lllikelybemovingonagain?”saidhetoPiglingBland.
BeforePiglingcouldreply,aneighbor,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,
Thewindshallblowmytopknot
off.”
PiglingBlandputdownaplatewhichhewaswiping,andlistened.
Afteralongpause,Piglingwentontiptoeandpeepedroundthedoorintothefrontkitchen;therewasnobodythere.
Afteranotherpause,Piglingapproachedthedoorofthelockedcupboard,andsnuffedatthekeyhole.Itwasquitequiet.
Afteranotherlongpause,Piglingpushedapeppermintunderthedoor.Itwassuckedinimmediately.
InthecourseofthedayPiglingpushedinallhisremainingsixpeppermints.
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;hehastilygaveittoher,andfledtothemealchest—“Howdidyoucomehere?”askedPiglingBland.
“Stolen,”repliedPig-wig,withhermouthfull.Piglinghelpedhimselftomealwithoutscruple.“Whatfor?”
“Bacon,hams,”repliedPig-wigcheerfully.
“Whyonearthdon’tyourunaway?”exclaimedthehorrifiedPigling.
“Ishallaftersupper,”saidPig-wigdecidedly.
PiglingBlandmademoreporridgeandwatchedhershyly.
Shefinishedasecondplate,gotup,andlookedabouther,asthoughsheweregoingtostart.
“Youcan’tgointhedark,”saidPiglingBland.
Pig-wiglookedanxious.
“Doyouknowyourwaybyday-light?”
“Iknowwecanseethislittlewhitehousefromthehillsacrosstheriver.Whichwayareyougoing,Mr.Pig?”
“Tomarket—Ihavetwopigpapers.Imighttakeyoutothebridge;ifyouhavenoobjection,”saidPiglingmuchconfusedandsittingontheedgeofhiscoppystool.
Pig-wig’sgratitudewassuchandsheaskedsomanyquestionsthatitbecameembarrassingtoPiglingBland.
Hewasobligedtoshuthiseyesandpretendtosleep.Shebecamequiet,andtherewasasmellofpeppermint.
“Ithoughtyouhadeatenthem?”saidPigling,wakingsuddenly.
“Onlythecorners,”repliedPig-wig,studyingthesentimentswithmuchinterestbythefirelight.
“Iwishyouwouldn’t;hemightsmellthemthroughtheceiling,”saidthealarmedPigling.
Pig-wigputbackthestickypeppermintsintoherpocket;“Singsomething,”shedemanded.
“Iamsorry...Ihavetooth-ache,”saidPiglingmuchdismayed.
“ThenIwillsing,”repliedPig-wig,“YouwillnotmindifIsayiddytidditty?Ihaveforgottensomeofthewords.”
PiglingBlandmadenoobjection;hesatwithhiseyeshalfshut,andwatchedher.
Shewaggedherheadandrockedabout,clappingtimeandsinginginasweetlittlegruntyvoice—
“Afunnyoldmotherpiglivedinasty,
andthreelittlepiggieshadshe;
“(Tiiddittyidditty)umph,umph,
umph!andthelittlepigssaidwee,
wee!”
Shesangsuccessfullythroughthreeorfourverses,onlyateveryverseherheadnoddedalittlelower,andherlittletwinklyeyesclosedup—
“Thosethreelittlepiggiesgrewpeaky
andlean,andleantheymightvery
wellbe;
“Forsomehowtheycouldn’tsayumph,
umph,umph!andtheywouldn’t
saywee,wee,wee!
“Forsomehowtheycouldn’tsay—”
Pig-wig’sheadbobbedlowerandlower,untilsherolledover,alittleroundball,fastasleeponthehearth-rug.
PiglingBland,ontiptoe,coveredherupwithanantimacassar.
Hewasafraidtogotosleephimself;fortherestofthenighthesatlisteningtothechirpingofthecricketsandtothesnoresofMr.Pipersonoverhead.
Earlyinthemorning,betweendarkanddaylight,PiglingtieduphislittlebundleandwokeupPig-wig.Shewasexcitedandhalf-frightened.“Butit’sdark!Howcanwefindourway?”
“Thecockhascrowed;wemuststartbeforethehenscomeout;theymightshouttoMr.Piperson.”
Pig-wigsatdownagain,andcommencedtocry.
“ComeawayPig-wig;wecanseewhenwegetusedtoit.Come!Icanhearthemclucking!”
Piglinghadneversaidshuh!toaheninhislife,beingpeaceable;alsoherememberedthehamper.
Heopenedthehousedoorquietlyandshutitafterthem.
Therewasnogarden;theneighborhoodofMr.Piperson’swasallscratchedupbyfowls.
Theyslippedawayhandinhandacrossanuntidyfieldtotheroad.
“Tom,Tomthepiper’sson,stoleapig
andawayheran!
“Butallthetunethathecouldplay,was
‘Overthehillsandfaraway!’”
“ComePig-wig,wemustgettothebridgebeforefolksarestirring.”
“Whydoyouwanttogotomarket,Pigling?”inquiredPig-wig.
Thesunrosewhiletheywerecrossingthemoor,adazzleoflightoverthetopsofthehills.
Thesunshinecreptdowntheslopesintothepeacefulgreenvalleys,wherelittlewhitecottagesnestledingardensandorchards.
“That’sWestmorland,”saidPig-wig.ShedroppedPigling’shandandcommencedtodance,singing—presently.“Idon’twant;Iwanttogrowpotatoes.”
“Haveapeppermint?”saidPig-wig.PiglingBlandrefusedquitecrossly.“Doesyourpoortoothyhurt?”inquiredPig-wig.PiglingBlandgrunted.
Pig-wigatethepeppermintherself,andfollowedtheoppositesideoftheroad.“Pig-wig!
keepunderthewall,there’samanploughing.”
Pig-wigcrossedover,theyhurrieddownhilltowardsthecountyboundary.
SuddenlyPiglingstopped;heheardwheels.
Slowlyjogginguptheroadbelowthemcameatradesman’scart.Thereinsflappedonthehorse’sback,thegrocerwasreadinganewspaper.
“Takethatpeppermintoutofyourmouth,Pig-wig,wemayhavetorun.Don’tsayoneword.Leaveittome.Andinsightofthebridge!”saidpoorPigling,nearlycrying.
Hebegantowalkfrightfullylame,holdingPig-wig’sarm.
Thegrocer,intentuponhisnewspaper,mighthavepassedthem,ifhishorsehadnotshiedandsnorted.
Hepulledthecartcrossways,andhelddownhiswhip.“Hallo?Whereareyougoingto?”—PiglingBlandstaredathimvacantly.
“Areyoudeaf?Areyougoingtomarket?”Piglingnoddedslowly.
“Ithoughtasmuch.Itwasyesterday.Showmeyourlicense?”
Piglingstaredattheoffhindshoeofthegrocer’shorsewhichhadpickedupastone.
Thegrocerflickedhiswhip—“Papers?Piglicense?”
Piglingfumbledinallhispockets,andhandedupthepapers.
Thegrocerreadthem,butstillseemeddissatisfied.
“Thisherepigisayounglady;ishernameAlexander?”
Pig-wigopenedhermouthandshutitagain;Piglingcoughedasthmatically.
Thegrocerranhisfingerdowntheadvertisementcolumnofhisnewspaper—“Lost,stolenorstrayed,10S.
reward;”helookedsuspiciouslyatPig-wig.
Thenhestoodupinthetrap,andwhistledfortheploughman.
“YouwaitherewhileIdriveonandspeaktohim,”saidthegrocer,gatheringupthereins.Heknewthatpigsareslippery;butsurely,suchaVERYlamepigcouldneverrun!
“Notyet,Pig-wig,hewilllookback.”Thegrocerdidso;hesawthetwopigsstock-stillinthemiddleoftheroad.
Thenhelookedoverathishorse’sheels;itwaslamealso;thestonetooksometimetoknockout,afterhegottotheploughman.
“Now,Pig-wig,NOW!”saidPiglingBland.
Neverdidanypigsrunasthesepigsran!
Theyracedandsquealedandpelteddownthelongwhitehilltowardsthebridge.
LittlefatPig-wig’spetticoatsfluttered,andherfeetwentpitter,patter,pitter,assheboundedandjumped.
Theyran,andtheyran,andtheyrandownthehill,andacrossashortcutonlevelgreenturfatthebottom,betweenpebblebedsandrushes.
Theycametotheriver,theycametothebridge—theycrossedithandinhand—thenoverthehillsandfarawayshedancedwithPiglingBland!
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