Classic from the year 2008 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: -, - (-), course: -, - entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: The kettle began it! Don't tell me what Mrs. Peerybingle said. Iknow better. Mrs. Peerybingle may leave it on record to the end oftime that she couldn't say which of them began it; but, I say thekettle did. I ought to know, I hope! The kettle began it, full fiveminutes by the little waxy-faced Dutch clock in the corner, beforethe Cricket uttered a chirp.As if the clock hadn't finished striking, and the convulsive littleHaymaker at the top of it, jerking away right and left with a scythein front of a Moorish Palace, hadn't mowed down half an acre ofimaginary grass before the Cricket joined in at all!Why, I am not naturally positive. Every one knows that. I wouldn'tset my own opinion against the opinion of Mrs. Peerybingle, unlessI were quite sure, on any account whatever. Nothing should induceme. But, this is a question of act. And the fact is, that the kettlebegan it, at least five minutes before the Cricket gave any sign ofbeing in existence. Contradict me, and I'll say ten.Let me narrate exactly how it happened. I should have proceeded todo so in my very first word, but for this plain consideration-if Iam to tell a story I must begin at the beginning; and how is itpossible to begin at the beginning, without beginning at the kettle?It appeared as if there were a sort of match, or trial of skill, youmust understand, between the kettle and the Cricket. And this iswhat led to it, and how it came about. [...]

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