If the boat had not floated up to the land , I think I should have swam there , -- I was so anxious to see what was going on ; for there was a great racket on the island , and such a remarkable collection of creatures , it was impossible to help staring . As soon as we landed , three other gentlemen came to welcome the ones I had saved , and seemed very glad to see them . They appeared to have just landed from a tub in which was a drum , rub-a-dub-dubbing all by itself . One of the new men had a white frock on , and carried a large knife ; the second had dough on his hands , flour on his coat , and a hot-looking face ; the third was very greasy , had a bundle of candles under his arm , and a ball of wicking half out of his pocket . The six shook hands , and walked away together , talking about a fair ; and left me to take care of myself . I walked on through a pleasant meadow , where a pretty little girl was looking sadly up at a row of sheep 's tails hung on a tree . I also saw a little boy in blue , asleep by a haycock ; and another boy taking aim at a cock-sparrow , who clapped his wings and flew away . Presently I saw two more little girls : one sat by a fire warming her toes ; and , when I asked what her name was , she said pleasantly : `` Polly Flinders , ma'am . '' The other one sat on a tuft of grass , eating something that looked very nice ; but , all of a sudden , she dropped her bowl , and ran away , looking very much frightened . `` What 's the matter with her ? '' I asked of a gay young frog who came tripping along with his hat under his arm . `` Miss Muffit is a fashionable lady , and afraid of spiders , madam ; also of frogs . '' And he puffed himself angrily up , till his eyes quite goggled in his head . `` And , pray , who are you , sir ? '' I asked , staring at his white vest , green coat , and fine cravat . `` Excuse me , if I do n't give my name , ma'am . My false friend , the rat , got me into a sad scrape once ; and Rowley insists upon it that a duck destroyed me , which is all gammon , ma'am , -- all gammon . '' With that , the frog skipped away ; and I turned into a narrow lane , which seemed to lead toward some music . I had not gone far , when I heard the rumbling of a wheelbarrow , and saw a little man wheeling a little woman along . The little man looked very hot and tired ; but the little woman looked very nice , in a smart bonnet and shawl , and kept looking at a new gold ring on her finger , as she rode along under her little umbrella .
I was wondering who they were , when down went the XXXXX ; and the little lady screamed so dismally that I ran away , lest I should get into trouble , -- being a stranger .
Muffit Rowley cock-sparrow fire gammon haycock second spiders tuft wheelbarrow