"I do not want to make you cry too much, but I will tell you of the
miseries the captive victims underwent in the course of one single
day, and then you will be able to judge for yourselves what a life
they led together.
"One of their heaviest miseries happened every evening. It was the
misery of GOING TO BED. Perhaps now you may think it sounds odd that
going to bed should be called a misery. But you shall hear how it
was.
"In the evening, when all the doors were safely locked and bolted, so
that no one could get away, the little Victims were summoned down-
stairs, and brought into a room where some of the keepers were sure
to be sitting in the greatest luxury. There was generally a warm
fire on the hearth, and a beautiful lamp on the table, which shed an
agreeable light around, and made everything look so pretty and gay,
the hearts of the poor innocent Victims always rose at the sight.
"Sometimes there would be a huge visitor or two present, who would
now and then take the Victims on their knees, and say all manner of
entertaining things to them. Or there would be nice games for them
to play at. Or the keepers themselves would kiss them, and call them
kind names, as if they really loved them. How nice all this sounds,
does it not? And it would have been nice, if the keepers would but
have let it last for ever. But that was just the one thing they
never would do, and the consequence was, that, whatever pleasure they
might have had, the wretched Victims always ended by being
dissatisfied and sad.
"And how could it be otherwise? Just when they were at the height of
enjoyment, just when everything was most delightful, a horrible knock
was sure to be heard at the door, the meaning of which they all knew
but too well. It was the knock which summoned them to bed; and at
such a moment you cannot wonder that going to bed was felt to be a
misfortune.
"Had there been a single one among them who was sleepy, or tired, or
ready for bed, there would have been some excuse for the keepers; but
as it was, there was none, for the little Victims never knew what it
was to feel tired or weary on those occasions, and were always
carried forcibly away before that feeling came on.
"Of course, when the knock was heard, they would begin to cry, and
say that it was very hard, and that they didn't WANT to go to bed,
and one went so far once as to add that she WOULDN'T go to bed.
"But it was all in vain. The little Victims might as well have
attempted to melt a stone wall as those hard-hearted beings who had
the charge of them.
"And now, my dears," observed Aunt Judy, stopping in her account,
"this is of all others the exact moment at which you ought to show
your sympathy with the sufferers, and groan."
The little ones groaned accordingly, but in a very feeble manner.
Aunt Judy shook her head.
"That groan is not half hearty enough for such a misery. Don't you
think, if you tried hard, you could groan a little louder?"
They did try, and succeeded a little better, but cast furtive glances
at each other immediately after.
"Were the beds very uncomfortable ones, Aunt Judy?" inquired No. 8,
in a subdued voice.
"You shall judge for yourself," was the answer. "They were raised
off the floor upon legs, so that no wind from under the door could
get at them; and on the flat bottom called the bed-stock, there was
placed a thick strong bag called a mattress, which was stuffed with
some soft material which made it springy and pleasant to touch or lie
down upon. The shape of it was a long square, or what may be called
a rectangular parallelogram. I strongly advise you all to learn that
word, for it is rather an amusing idea as one steps into bed, to
think that one is going to sleep upon a parallelogram."
Nos. 3 and 4 were here unable to contain themselves, but broke into a
peal of laughter. The little ones stared.
"Well," resumed Aunt Judy, "for my part, I think it's a very nice
thing to learn the ins and outs of one's own life; to consider how
one's bed is made, and the why and wherefore of its shape and
position. It is a great pity to get so accustomed to things as not
to know their value till we lose them! But to proceed.
"On the top of this parallelogramatic mattress was laid a soft
blanket. On the top of that blanket, two white sheets. On the top
of the sheets, two or more warm blankets, and on the top of the
blankets, a spotted cover called a counterpane.
"Now it was between the sheets that each little Victim was laid, and
such were the receptacles to which they were unwillingly consigned,
night after night of their lives!
"But I have not yet told you half the troubles of this dreadful
'going to bed.' A good fire with a large tub before it, and towels
hung over the fender, was always the first sight which met the
tearful eyes of the little Victims as they entered the nursery after
being torn from the joys of the room down-stairs. And then, lo and
behold! a new misery began, for, whether owing to the fatigue of
getting up-stairs, or that their feelings had been so much hurt, they
generally discovered at this moment that they were one and all so
excessively tired, they didn't know what to do;--of all things, did
not choose to be washed--and insisted, each of them, on being put to
bed first! But let them say what they would, and cry afresh as they
pleased, and even snap and snarl at each other like so many small
terriers, those cruel keepers of theirs never would grant their
requests; never would put any of them to bed dirty, and always
declared that it was impossible to put each of them to bed first!
Imagine now the feelings of those who had to wait round the fire
while the others were attended to! Imagine the weariness, the
disgust, before the whole party was finished, and put by for the
night!"
Aunt Judy paused, but no one spoke.
"What!" cried she suddenly, "will nobody groan? Then I must groan
myself!" which she did, and a most unearthly noise she made; so much
so, that two or three of the little ones turned round to look at the
swelling red curtains, just to make sure the howl did not proceed
from thence.