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；