Peter.--I’ll be sure there are no more thorns here, before…

Peter.—I’ll be sure there are no more thorns here, before I set down; Pretty well of one thorn at a time, Master Zedekiah Brown! There, now, I think this seat is safe and easy—so now you must know I was fast asleep at breakfast time; and you’ll always find it so, That if you begin a day ill, it will be ill all the day. Well, when I woke, the breakfast-things were clattering all away: And I know they had eggs and fowl, and all sort of good things; But then none may partake who are in bed when the morning bell rings; So, sadly vexed as I was, I rolled myself round in bed, And, “as breakfast is over, I’ll not hurry myself,” I said, So I just got into a nice little doze, when in came my mother; And “for shame, Peter,” she said, “to be a-bed now! well, you can’t go with your brother!” Then out of the door she went, without another word; And just then a sound of wheels, and of pawing horses’ hoofs I heard; So I jumped up to the window to see what it was, and I declare There was a grand party of fine folks setting off somewhere: There was my brother, mounted on the pony so sleek and brown; And Bell in her white frock, and my mother in her satin gown; And my father in his best, and two gentlemen beside; And I had never heard a word about it, either of drive or ride! I really think it was very queer of them to set off in that way— If I’d only known over-night, I’d have been up by break of day! As you may think, I was sadly vexed, but I did not choose to show it, So I whistled as I came down stairs, that the servants might not know it; Then I went into the yard, and called the dog by his name, For I thought if they were gone, he and I might have a good game; But I called and called, and there was no dog either in this place or th’ other; And Thomas said, “Master Peter, Neptune’s gone with your brother.” Well, as there was no dog, I went to look for the fox, And sure enough the chain was broke, and there was no creature in the box; But where the fellow had gone nobody could say, He had broken loose himself, I suppose, and so had slipped away; I would give anything I have but to find the fox again— And was it not provoking, Zedekiah, to lose him just then?

ZEDEKIAH.—Provoking enough! Well, Peter, and what happened next?

PETER.—Why, when I think of it now, it makes me quite vexed; I went into the garden, just to look about To see, if the green peas were ready, or the scarlet-lychnis come out; And there, what should I clap my eyes on but the old sow, And seven little pigs, making a pretty row! And of all places in the world, as if for very spite, They had gone into my garden, and spoiled and ruined it quite! The old sow, she had grubbed up my rosemary and old-man by the root, And my phlox and my sunflowers, and my hollyhocks that were as black as soot; And every flower that I set store on was ruined for ever; I never was so mortified in all my life—never!