This is a modern-English version of The Tale of Ginger and Pickles, originally written by Potter, Beatrix.
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and grammar—to ensure clarity for contemporary readers, while preserving the original spirit and nuance. If
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THE TALE OF
GINGER AND PICKLES
THE TALE OF
GINGER AND PICKLES
DEDICATED
WITH VERY KIND REGARDS TO OLD MR. JOHN TAYLOR,
WHO "THINKS HE MIGHT PASS AS A DORMOUSE!"
(THREE YEARS IN BED AND NEVER A GRUMBLE!)
DEDICATED
WITH WARM REGARDS TO OLD MR. JOHN TAYLOR,
WHO "THINKS HE COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR A DORMOUSE!"
(THREE YEARS IN BED AND NEVER A COMPLAINT!)
THE TALE OF
GINGER & PICKLES
BY
BEATRIX POTTER
Author of
"The Tale of Peter Rabbit," &c.
Author of
"The Tale of Peter Rabbit," etc.
FREDERICK WARNE
FREDERICK WARNE
1909 by Frederick Warne & Co.
1909 by Frederick Warne & Co.
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
William Clowes Limited, Beccles and London
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
William Clowes Limited, Beccles and London
THE TALE OF
GINGER AND PICKLES
Once upon a time there was a village shop. The name over the window was "Ginger and Pickles."
Once upon a time, there was a village shop. The name above the window was "Ginger and Pickles."
It was a little small shop just the right size for Dolls—Lucinda and Jane Doll-cook always bought their groceries at Ginger and Pickles.
It was a small little shop just the right size for dolls—Lucinda and Jane Doll-Cook always bought their groceries at Ginger and Pickles.
The counter inside was a convenient height for rabbits. Ginger and Pickles sold red spotty pocket-handkerchiefs at a penny three farthings.
The counter inside was just the right height for rabbits. Ginger and Pickles sold red spotted handkerchiefs for one penny and three farthings.
They also sold sugar, and snuff and galoshes.
They also sold sugar, snuff, and galoshes.
In fact, although it was such a small shop it sold nearly everything—except a few things that you want in a hurry—like bootlaces, hair-pins and mutton chops.
In fact, even though it was such a small shop, it sold almost everything—except for a few items you might need quickly—like bootlaces, hairpins, and lamb chops.
Ginger and Pickles were the people who kept the shop. Ginger was a yellow tom-cat, and Pickles was a terrier.
Ginger and Pickles were the ones who ran the shop. Ginger was a yellow tomcat, and Pickles was a terrier.
The rabbits were always a little bit afraid of Pickles.
The rabbits were always a bit scared of Pickles.
The shop was also patronized by mice—only the mice were rather afraid of Ginger.
The shop was also visited by mice—but the mice were pretty scared of Ginger.
Ginger usually requested Pickles to serve them, because he said it made his mouth water.
Ginger usually asked Pickles to serve them, because he said it made his mouth water.
"I cannot bear," said he, "to see them going out at the door carrying their little parcels."
"I can't stand," he said, "watching them leave through the door with their little bags."
"I have the same feeling about rats," replied Pickles, "but it would never do to eat our own customers; they would leave us and go to Tabitha Twitchit's."
"I feel the same way about rats," Pickles replied, "but we can't eat our own customers; otherwise, they'll leave us and go to Tabitha Twitchit's."
"On the contrary, they would go nowhere," replied Ginger gloomily.
"Actually, they wouldn’t go anywhere," Ginger replied gloomily.
(Tabitha Twitchit kept the only other shop in the village. She did not give credit.)
(Tabitha Twitchit ran the only other shop in the village. She didn’t offer credit.)
Ginger and Pickles gave unlimited credit.
Ginger and Pickles offered unlimited credit.
Now the meaning of "credit" is this—when a customer buys a bar of soap, instead of the customer pulling out a purse and paying for it—she says she will pay another time.
Now the meaning of "credit" is this—when a customer buys a bar of soap, instead of the customer pulling out a wallet and paying for it—she says she will pay later.
And Pickles makes a low bow and says, "With pleasure, madam," and it is written down in a book.
And Pickles gives a slight bow and says, "With pleasure, ma'am," and it's recorded in a book.
The customers come again and again, and buy quantities, in spite of being afraid of Ginger and Pickles.
The customers return repeatedly and purchase in large amounts, even though they are afraid of Ginger and Pickles.
But there is no money in what is called the "till."
But there is no money in what is referred to as the "till."
The customers came in crowds every day and bought quantities, especially the toffee customers. But there was always no money; they never paid for as much as a pennyworth of peppermints.
The customers showed up in droves every day and purchased a lot, especially the toffee buyers. But there was never any money; they never paid for even a single penny's worth of peppermints.
But the sales were enormous, ten times as large as Tabitha Twitchit's.
But the sales were huge, ten times bigger than Tabitha Twitchit's.
As there was always no money, Ginger and Pickles were obliged to eat their own goods.
As there was never any money, Ginger and Pickles had to eat their own stuff.
Pickles ate biscuits and Ginger ate a dried haddock.
Pickles ate cookies and Ginger ate dried cod.
They ate them by candle-light after the shop was closed.
They ate them by candlelight after the store was closed.
When it came to Jan. 1st there was still no money, and Pickles was unable to buy a dog licence.
When January 1st arrived, there was still no money, and Pickles couldn't buy a dog license.
"It is very unpleasant, I am afraid of the police," said Pickles.
"It’s really uncomfortable, I’m scared of the police," said Pickles.
"It is your own fault for being a terrier; I do not require a licence, and neither does Kep, the Collie dog."
"It’s your own fault for being a terrier; I don’t need a license, and neither does Kep, the Collie."
"It is very uncomfortable, I am afraid I shall be summoned. I have tried in vain to get a licence upon credit at the Post Office;" said Pickles. "The place is full of policemen. I met one as I was coming home."
"It’s really uncomfortable. I’m afraid I’m going to get called in. I’ve tried unsuccessfully to get a license on credit at the Post Office," said Pickles. "The place is packed with police officers. I ran into one on my way home."
"Let us send in the bill again to Samuel Whiskers, Ginger, he owes 22/9 for bacon."
"Let’s send the bill again to Samuel Whiskers, Ginger, he owes £1.14 for bacon."
"I do not believe that he intends to pay at all," replied Ginger.
"I really don't think he plans to pay anything," Ginger replied.
"And I feel sure that Anna Maria pockets things—Where are all the cream crackers?"
"And I'm pretty sure Anna Maria is hiding things—Where did all the cream crackers go?"
"You have eaten them yourself," replied Ginger.
"You've eaten them yourself," Ginger replied.
Ginger and Pickles retired into the back parlour.
Ginger and Pickles went to the back room.
They did accounts. They added up sums and sums, and sums.
They did the math. They added up totals and totals, and totals.
"Samuel Whiskers has run up a bill as long as his tail; he has had an ounce and three-quarters of snuff since October."
"Samuel Whiskers has racked up a bill as long as his tail; he has had an ounce and three-quarters of snuff since October."
"What is seven pounds of butter at 1/3, and a stick of sealing wax and four matches?"
"What is seven pounds of butter at 1/3, a stick of sealing wax, and four matches?"
"Send in all the bills again to everybody 'with compts,'" replied Ginger.
"Send all the bills back to everyone 'with comps,'" replied Ginger.
After a time they heard a noise in the shop, as if something had been pushed in at the door. They came out of the back parlour. There was an envelope lying on the counter, and a policeman writing in a note-book!
After a while, they heard a noise in the shop, like something had been pushed in at the door. They came out of the back room. There was an envelope on the counter, and a police officer writing in a notebook!
Pickles nearly had a fit, he barked and he barked and made little rushes.
Pickles almost lost it; he barked and barked and made little dashes.
"Bite him, Pickles! bite him!" spluttered Ginger behind a sugar-barrel, "he's only a German doll!"
"Bite him, Pickles! Bite him!" sputtered Ginger from behind a sugar barrel, "he's just a German doll!"
The policeman went on writing in his notebook; twice he put his pencil in his mouth, and once he dipped it in the treacle.
The cop kept writing in his notebook; he put his pencil in his mouth twice and dipped it in the syrup once.
Pickles barked till he was hoarse. But still the policeman took no notice. He had bead eyes, and his helmet was sewed on with stitches.
Pickles barked until he was hoarse. But still, the policeman didn't pay any attention. He had beady eyes, and his helmet was stitched on.
At length on his last little rush—Pickles found that the shop was empty. The policeman had disappeared.
At last, during his final little sprint, Pickles discovered that the shop was empty. The policeman was gone.
But the envelope remained.
But the envelope stayed.
"Do you think that he has gone to fetch a real live policeman? I am afraid it is a summons," said Pickles.
"Do you think he really went to get a live policeman? I'm worried it’s a summons," said Pickles.
"No," replied Ginger, who had opened the envelope, "it is the rates and taxes, £3 19 11-3/4."
"No," replied Ginger, who had opened the envelope, "it’s the bills and taxes, £3 19 11-3/4."
"This is the last straw," said Pickles, "let us close the shop."
"This is the last straw," said Pickles, "let's close the shop."
They put up the shutters, and left. But they have not removed from the neighbourhood. In fact some people wish they had gone further.
They closed the shutters and left. But they haven't really disappeared from the neighborhood. In fact, some people wish they had gone even further.
Ginger is living in the warren. I do not know what occupation he pursues; he looks stout and comfortable.
Ginger is living in the burrow. I’m not sure what job he has; he looks healthy and content.
Pickles is at present a gamekeeper.
Pickles is now a gamekeeper.
The closing of the shop caused great inconvenience. Tabitha Twitchit immediately raised the price of everything a half-penny; and she continued to refuse to give credit.
The closing of the shop caused a lot of hassle. Tabitha Twitchit quickly raised the price of everything by half a penny, and she kept refusing to give credit.
Of course there are the tradesmen's carts—the butcher, the fish-man and Timothy Baker.
Of course, there are the tradesmen's carts—the butcher, the fishmonger, and Timothy Baker.
But a person cannot live on "seed wigs" and sponge-cake and butter-buns—not even when the sponge-cake is as good as Timothy's!
But a person can't survive on "seed wigs," sponge cake, and butter buns—not even if the sponge cake is as amazing as Timothy's!
After a time Mr. John Dormouse and his daughter began to sell peppermints and candles.
After a while, Mr. John Dormouse and his daughter started selling peppermints and candles.
But they did not keep "self-fitting sixes"; and it takes five mice to carry one seven inch candle.
But they didn't keep "self-fitting sixes," and it takes five mice to carry one seven-inch candle.
Besides—the candles which they sell behave very strangely in warm weather.
Besides, the candles they sell act very strangely in warm weather.
And Miss Dormouse refused to take back the ends when they were brought back to her with complaints.
And Miss Dormouse wouldn’t take back the ends when they were returned to her with complaints.
And when Mr. John Dormouse was complained to, he stayed in bed, and would say nothing but "very snug;" which is not the way to carry on a retail business.
And when Mr. John Dormouse was complained to, he stayed in bed and would only say "very snug," which isn't how you run a retail business.
So everybody was pleased when Sally Henny Penny sent out a printed poster to say that she was going to re-open the shop—Henny's Opening Sale! Grand co-operative Jumble! Penny's penny prices! Come buy, come try, come buy!"
So everyone was excited when Sally Henny Penny sent out a printed poster announcing that she was going to reopen the shop—Henny's Opening Sale! Huge co-operative Jumble! Penny's penny prices! Come buy, come try, come buy!"
The poster really was most 'ticing.
The poster was super eye-catching.
There was a rush upon the opening day. The shop was crammed with customers, and there were crowds of mice upon the biscuit canisters.
There was a mad rush on opening day. The shop was packed with customers, and there were swarms of mice on the biscuit canisters.
Sally Henny Penny gets rather flustered when she tries to count out change, and she insists on being paid cash; but she is quite harmless.
Sally Henny Penny gets pretty flustered when she tries to count change, and she insists on being paid in cash; but she is completely harmless.
And she has laid in a remarkable assortment of bargains.
And she has stocked up on an impressive variety of deals.
There is something to please everybody.
There’s something for everyone.
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