After running a great way, I heard a violent noise, which alarmed me very much. I could not think what it was, but approaching nearer and nearer, it proved to be a company of gipsies, making merry as they were travelling. I took great care to avoid them, as I knew, if I had once got into their hands, I should not have got away very easily; so I climbed a tree and sat very quiet. I came down as soon as they were gone, and ran till I came to the city of London, which was not above half a mile from where I lived; for Mrs. Dixon's house was at Islington, at least very near it. Here I had no very great chance of hiding myself, so resolved to run up one of the houses, and get in at the first window I found open, and trust to the temper of some little boy or girl, rather than starve. The house I chanced to ascend belonged to Alderman Bumble. I happened to enter the window of Miss Henrietta Bumble's chamber; so I crept into her cap, which was lying in a chair, and lay till she wanted to put it on. I chanced to lay in such a manner, that she distinguished me as she lay in bed; and bouncing out, she took me up and ran down stairs undressed. The alderman and his lady were waiting breakfast for her. As soon as she entered, the alderman started up and said, "Bless me, Henny, what can you want here in such a figure;" "OPapa," said she, "here is the prettiest squirrel (but I should have told you I had found means to wash off the ink I had received in my last abode,) and where do you think I found him—lying in my cap, as snug as it was possible." "Well, my love," said the alderman, "run up and dress yourself, and then come and tell us about your squirrel." Henny then ran up stairs, tied me to the bed-post, and began to dress. When she had done, she untied me, and carried me down stairs. "Now," said the alderman, "you look something more like a human creature: let us hear your story." "Well then," said Henrietta, "this is the case: I was just going to get up, when I saw this pretty squirrel in my cap; and how it came there, I am sure I cannot tell. He never offered to stir, but lay very quiet till I took him out. Do let me have a cage for him." "Well, my dear," replied her mamma, "you shall have a cage for him, and a very nice one too." "Look'ye," said the alderman, "she shall not have a cage: it would be throwing money away." "I say she shall have a cage," said the lady, "as sure as my name is Sukey Bumble, while I have a crown in my pocket." "Well," said the alderman, "I see I must yield: so I am to get you money to spend in cages. Henny, my love, (continued he,) let me look at it." Henny, however, kept it in her hand, in which she was seconded by her mother, who said, "That's right, my girl, do not part with it." Henrietta was standing so near the alderman, he thought, with a little effort he might snatch it from her; but being very bad with the gout, he overbalanced himself, and down he came. Mrs. Bumble with great difficulty raised him, which, as soon as she had done, he hobbled up to Henrietta, took me from her by force, and barbarously cut off near half an inch of my tail with a pair scissars. Henrietta burst into tears, Mrs. Bumble began scolding him, when a servant came in, whom she desired to go to Crooked-lane, and procure one of the very best cages that could be got. The Alderman stormed; his lady raved; and Henrietta cried. Mrs. Bumble said she would be minded, and giving the man a guinea, told him, if it came to more, to pay it. "What," continued she, "would you have an alderman's lady send for a sixpenny wicker cage, to keep a squirrel in. No, by no means in the world; and you ought to be ashamed of yourself to have maimed a poor defenceless creature, only because you fell out of the chair." As there were a great many questions and answers, I think it would be best to give them to you in the manner they were delivered by the parties.

Alderman. Why now, was not the squirrel the cause of my fall. Did I not, in attempting to get the squirrel, fall off my chair? and therefore, was not the squirrel the cause of my fall.

Lady. Suppose it was: but what business had you to try to get the squirrel, and then to revenge yourself in such a shameful manner. I wish to my heart he had bit you.

Alderman. I am much obliged to you, however, for the wish, my dear; but of the two, I would rather he had let it alone.

Henrietta. I am sure it would have served you right.

Alderman. Come here Henrietta, (pinching her ears) so you think it would have served me right, do you? I like every body to be served right, and I think I am now serving you right.

Henrietta. Oh!

Alderman. Pray, Miss, mind what you say another time, or you will get into disgrace, depend upon it.

The servant coming in at this instant, put a stop to what Mrs. Bumble was going to say. She had opened her mouth in the greatest rage, but the servant giving her a shilling, as change out of the guinea, and giving Henrietta the cage, she was forced to shut it. I had now the sad fortune to be put into a cage, exactly resembling that in which I lived at Mrs. Howard's. I had no sooner entered my new habitation, than I was set to work, and kept at it almost an hour; at which time the alderman pulled Henrietta away by force. A coach stopping at the door, hindered any dispute that might have arisen from the treatment of the alderman; for out jumped four young ladies, and two young gentlemen, who had been invited to spend the evening. Their names were, John and Emily Shepherd, James and Caroline Churchill, Eliza Careful, and Fanny Fairchild. The usual compliments being over, the following conversation ensued.