My little friends, as you may not perhaps all have seen a Marmotte, I will describe myself in a few words, begging you at the same time to look at my picture on the first page, for it was taken by a very celebrated artist, and was said at the time to be a striking likeness.
My head something resembles that of a hare, only the top of it is larger and flatter, and my ears much smaller; so small, that they are scarcely perceptible, though the hair on that part of my head is very short. I have a large bushy pair of whiskers. My eyes, which are bright and sparkling, are placed at the side of my head, like those of a hare. The form of my body is between that of a bear and a rat, but much smaller than the former, and a good deal larger than the latter. My coat is generally of a sandy black, or red brown colour. My voice sounds much like that of a little dog, when pleased, but our species is remarkable for the shrill and piercing whistle which we employ when irritated.
I think I have now given you a pretty accurate description of myself, and I fear many of my little readers will feel inclined to say, that little José was clever to find any beauty in me.
The old dame received me very kindly, but told her son he would not be able to keep me long, as Marmottes were most mischievous little animals. This I thought very ill-natured of her, and naughtily determined to revenge myself, by gnawing whatever came in my way; but she afterwards treated me so kindly, that I am happy to say I soon gave up this wicked intention: had I continued in it, I am very sure that nothing but mortifications and misfortunes would have happened to me, and I should have well deserved them.
Little José, thinking I must be hungry, gave me a great piece of bread. I had never before seen any of this sort of food, which, on tasting, I found so good that I soon finished it all, to the evident delight of my kind little Master; who having put some nice fresh grass in one corner of the room, laid me upon it; and being greatly overcome by the fatigues and anxieties of the day, I was soon fast asleep.
On awaking next morning, I discovered many strange and wonderful things, which the fatigue and fright of the preceding evening had hindered me from observing. Among others, a very large pot on the fire, black and ugly, which they called a Marmite, though I can assure you it was not at all like me, but they gave me the name of Pierrot, for, on hearing them talk of Marmite, I once or twice answered, thinking they meant me. I soon became very much attached to my little master, who treated me with the greatest kindness, sharing with me his bread and milk; in return for which, I amused him by my gambols and mischievous pranks: he soon taught me to jump over a stick, to make a bow, to dance, and several other little tricks. When he went up the mountains, on which occasions I was left at home with the old dame, his mother, I laid very quietly all day in one corner of the kitchen chimney; but when evening approached, I climbed up a wall, which he always passed, there to await his arrival, and when I saw him, uttering a cry of delight, I used to jump on his shoulder, and, purring with pleasure, ride home in this manner. I was allowed to wander about wherever I chose, for being very content and happy in my new abode, I had no wish to leave it, and did not, I fear, much desire to return to my parents, whose dull and monotonous way of living I could never have borne, after the gaiety and attentions I enjoyed in the valley; for, though I say it myself, little José was the envy of all the village for having so nice an animal as his little Pierrot; and many were the caresses and endearing epithets I received from all the little villagers; but my young master always declared he would never part with me, and he kept his word most faithfully; for though two English travellers, wishing to have me, offered him a large sum of money, (I believe a guinea) if he would sell me; he resolutely refused, although the money would have been very acceptable, for he and his mother were both very poor. This scene, of which I was myself a witness, greatly increased my attachment to him, and I passed three of the happiest months of my life under this hospitable roof; but, alas! I was not allowed to go through life without misfortunes any more than my neighbours, for one evening, on little José’s returning with me after having been absent all day, the old dame, to our great horror and dismay, said that her sister Marie had called to beg José would give his Marmotte to her little son Simon, who was very ill, as she thought it would amuse him.
My dear little friends, I cannot find words strong enough to express my wretchedness—my despair at this agonizing event. I jumped into the arms of my little Master on his turning a wistful look towards me, and burying my face in his neck, I wept most bitterly, and, overcome by my feelings, (for though a Marmotte, I can assure you my feelings are quite as deep as your own) soon fell fast asleep on José’s laying me on the ground in the chimney corner, saying, “Poor little thing! It looks as if it knew what we were saying.” I was awoke early the next morning by the old dame, who, having placed me in a nice wicker basket, covered me over with a clean cloth, carried me away without my again seeing my little Master, who, I doubt not, had refused to part with me. I can assure you my thoughts on this short journey were far from enviable; to be thus carried away from my dear little José and given to a stranger, who knew nothing about me, and who might perhaps treat me very cruelly.
Simon Pacchard was a poor sickly boy, the youngest of a large family, his mother’s pet, and consequently a spoiled child; he was delighted to have me, and almost smothered me with his caresses, but I was not at all reconciled to my change of master. The whole appearance of Marie Pacchard’s cottage was very different from that which I had just quitted; it wanted that air of neatness and cleanliness which is so charming in a cottage, as well as in a palace. Time did not at all reconcile me to it, and every day which I passed in my new habitation only served to render it more disagreeable: the children teased me, and often, after Simon had recovered sufficiently to accompany his mother when she went to work in the fields, I was left all day shut up in a dismally dark room, without any thing to eat.
My novelty no longer pleasing my master, he soon sought to amuse himself by tormenting me, and treating me very cruelly. I am sure if spoiled children knew how disagreeable they make themselves by behaving naughtily, and how it makes them disliked, they would never give way to their ill tempers, or peevish whims. Having one day found, by chance, his mother’s scissors, he caught hold of me, before I was aware of his intention, and cut off all my bushy whiskers, at the very great risk of putting out my eyes; for not at all liking this treatment, I struggled most violently, and, enraged at his cruelty, I turned suddenly round and bit his finger severely; this putting him into a great passion, he kicked and beat me until I fell exhausted and half dead on the floor.
It was several days before I recovered the effects of this inhuman conduct, for I was very much bruised, and so stiff and sore, I could not move; when, however, I was able to walk, I determined on quitting my miserable abode, and trying to find my way back to my dear José, who I was sure would be delighted to see me again. Accordingly, being an excellent climber, one morning when all the family had gone out, and left me as usual, shut up, I contrived to climb upon the window, which had been left open by chance: a very few moments sufficed me to descend the side of the wall, and when I once more found myself at liberty in the middle of the street, I recovered my spirits, and though it was very frightful to be all alone, I was still much happier than when in the power of wicked Simon.