Tom Thumb had many exciting adventures and narrow escapes, because he was so small. He used to drive his father’s horse by standing in the horse’s ear and calling out “Gee up!” and “Gee, whoa!” just like his father. When people saw horse and cart going along at a brisk pace, and heard the voice but saw no driver, you may be sure they were surprised.
One day two men saw him, and thought they might get rich if they could get Tom Thumb, take him to country fairs, and make him do funny things to amuse the crowds. They offered Little Thumb’s father a sum of gold for the tiny fellow, but the good man said: “I would not take any sum of money for my dear son.”
Then Tom whispered in his father’s ear: “Dear father, take the money and let them have me. I can easily get away and return home.”
Now, if Tom’s father had known what dangers were before the little fellow he never would have consented; but it sounded so easy that he took the gold, and the men took Tom.
Tom rode on the brim of his new master’s hat for a long time, thinking how he might escape. Finally he saw a field-mouse’s nest over a hedge, and he said: “Master, I am cold and stiff; put me down that I may run about and get warm.”
Not suspecting anything, the man put him on the ground. What was his surprise and anger when Little Tom darted off through the hedge. Calling to him to come back, the master with difficulty climbed over the bushes and started searching for his small runaway. He looked behind stones, under clumps of grass, in little furrows, but never thought of the nest of the field-mouse.
Little Tom stayed very still long after the angry voice had died away in the distance. When he came forth it was dark, and he did not know which way to go. He was still trying to make up his mind, when he overheard two robbers on the other side of the hedge.
The first robber said: “There is plenty of gold and silver in the rector’s house, but his doors are locked and his windows barred.”
“Yes,” said the other one, “and if we break in we shall wake up the servants.”