I knew there was a reason that Hunca Munca, the lovely little mouse from Beatrix Potter's THE TALE OF TWO BAD MICE, was one of my favorite characters from her books. This little tale was to see a love story begin to unfold between Beatrix and her publisher Norman Warne.
They had worked closely on her previous little books and had gotten to know each other through talking of their respective arts - publishing and writing/illustrating. Norman instinctively understood her quirky and enchanting way with telling children's tales and always gave her advice that made them even better. Their love started with a shared and joyful interest on other things outside themselves. This is the BEST beginning to any kind of romance
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Norman was also an expert carpenter. He had made a lovely Edwardian doll house for his nieces complete with furniture and all the amenities - plastic food, dishes etc. Beatrix had seen it once at his home before he had brought it to his nieces. When dreaming up her tale of two mice taking over the dollhouse and finding it not as ideal as they would have hoped, Beatrix wanted to make some illustrations of the rooms in Norman’s dollhouse. He was enthusiastic and arranged a time and date for her to come for a visit at his sister's house so she could draw and paint to her heart's content. But Beatrix's mother, suspecting that these two had grown too fond of each other, made excuse and withheld the carriage and expressed her passive aggressive disapproval of being friends with men of "trade". Beatrix was crushed and would have dropped the subject at any other time like she usually did with her mother....but this time Beatrix was in love.
She hated conflict and often would not stand up to her mother's capricious ways. But she loved Norman and did not want him to think she did not want to take him up on his delightful invitation. She was so anxious about this situation and spent a good week trying to let Norman know that she wanted to come so badly while, as a dutiful daughter, also trying not to let him know that her mother was the culprit. She shed some very hot tears over this. And Norman picked up on the hints. With his sensitive and intuitive nature he let Beatrix know he understood. He took pictures of every angle of the little house, he sent her little packages in the mail that contained all the food, dishes, and little chairs and tables. He put her mind and her heart at ease and gave her more than hearts or flowers could. He gave her the joy of her art and the chance to fulfill one of her lovely projects in a way that would utterly appeal to her quirky little heart - little packages in the mail. To me that is true love. Norman understood Beatrix and loved her so intuitively. It is a lovely thing
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We might not think of all those little episodes on the road to our own 'falling in love' if we have been lucky enough to find our beloveds. All the little thoughtful things they did. The things they remembered. The little tasks they did in secret to lighten our load or to let us know they loved us in all our quirky ways. I can attest that THOSE are the things that will be remembered about the one we dearly love. All the little day to day things that make the heart grow soft and grateful.
So now Hunca Munca will be even more of an honored mouse in my mind. She was, in a way, the little matchmaker of a budding and beautiful romance between Beatrix and her Norman. Hunca Munca would be so pleased.
I do not feel inclined at this time to have a paid substack. But if we were together in a cafe discussing all these thoughts, I would not be opposed to you buying me a cup of coffee - with cream, of course. In that spirit, if any of my posts resonate with you and you feel so inclined, you can donate here: buymeacoffee.com/denise_trull