Tom had never opened his lips ; so he was very much taken aback indeed . `` Yes ; every one tells me exactly what they have done wrong ; and that without knowing it themselves . So there is no use trying to hide anything from me . Now go , and be a good boy , and I will put no more pebbles in your mouth , if you put none in other creatures ' . '' `` I did not know there was any harm in it , '' said Tom . `` Then you know now . People continually say that to me : but I tell them , if you do n't know that fire burns , that is no reason that it should not burn you ; and if you do n't know that dirt breeds fever , that is no reason why the fevers should not kill you . The lobster did not know that there was any harm in getting into the lobster - pot ; but it caught him all the same . '' `` Dear me , '' thought Tom , `` she knows everything ! '' And so she did , indeed . `` And so , if you do not know that things are wrong that is no reason why you should not be punished for them ; though not as much , not as much , my little man '' -LRB- and the lady looked very kindly , after all -RRB- , `` as if you did know . '' `` Well , you are a little hard on a poor lad , '' said Tom . `` Not at all ; I am the best friend you ever had in all your life . But I will tell you ; I can not help punishing people when they do wrong . I like it no more than they do ; I am often very , very sorry for them , poor things : but I can not help it . If I tried not to do it , I should do it all the same . For I work by machinery , just like an engine ; and am full of wheels and springs inside ; and am wound up very carefully , so that I can not help going . '' `` Was it long ago since they wound you up ? '' asked Tom . For he thought , the cunning little fellow , `` She will run down some day : or they may forget to wind her up , as old Grimes used to forget to wind up his watch when he came in from the public-house ; and then I shall be safe . ''
`` I was wound up once and XXXXX all , so long ago , that I forget all about it . ''
If after by for in like on since so though