Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-12-28
4 LITTLE STORY FOR LITTLE READERS

Twas winter night. The cola WIND
whistled loud and shrill, and the cold
moonlight fell on all around
! But the old kitchen was warm. A fire
! blazed on the hearth and lighted up the
7 brass andirons and bright tins wonder.
4 fully, streak of pale moonlight lay
across the floor, and merry little cricket
was singing OH the hearth while the old
clock beat time for him.
Tick, tick tick, sing said the clock,
and the cricket began. He sang of the
/ beautiful summertime and of the warm,
! glowing meadow.
! A Mouse put his head out of a hole
Don't let lne interrupt you, said he
"flullo - said the Cricket I'VE are
waiting for you. Come through the moon
/ light for good luck
Nv hat good luck can there be for
/ three-leggcd mouse - said the new
conner, rs he limped in and took seat
/ before the fire,
40, don't be unhappy" said the Cricl>-
ct. at will grow again
! Never . said the Mouse.
Somebody viii mend it, said the Ia
/ BILE. II have had two legs broken off
I short and mended again
! Impossible, " said the Mouse. Il wish
/ that old Trap was
MY dear fellow, interrupted the Trap,
don't be unreasonable I've nothing
/ against you. 1t was only in the way Of
my business.
/ as it your business To nip of my lcg?"
said the Mouse, in a passion,
at IS my business 70 catch You if |
can" said the Trap. That's what am
here for
Il wish YOU were lot here, them said
the Mouse 1T was very pleasant before
YOU came
1T was, indeed said the Cricket.
! "You used to come and see Ms every
night, and dance and frisk about rs lively
as cricket, almost
MY dancing days are over" said the
poor Mouse.
80. dear no Don't be down heart
ed" said the Andirons Here, blaze
away, you Fire, and make it look cheer
full"
You'll find something to eat in the
crack under the table" said the Broom,
"Somc split peas and a raisin. Cook tried
to make me sweep them away, but |
wouldn't"
AN old Broom knows where the
crumbs~are,' said the Cricket.
you are very right said the Mouse,
as he went under the table and brought
out the feast.
Perfectly delicious said he, as he
/ nibblcd away. :" II is long time since /
have tasted a split pea
Have some cheese ?" said the Trap
"For shame p cried the Broom. "An-
other. word and III sweep you away"
So the Trap said no more.
Come" said the Cricket, NOW tell
us more about old times"
Where did leave OFF, asked the
4 Mouse.
"she didn't ike CATS replied the
! Cricket
"Oyes. Polly didn't like cats" re-
1 sumcd the Mouse She threw water at
/ them, and drove them away whenever
4 they came near the house. So we were
! safe from them. She lost the trap She
/ said she couldn't tell whatever had be
/ come of it, and that loss was our gain.
( When she went out Of nm evening, she
always left the doors open so we could
! come in from the shed aud go straight into
/ the pantry and help ourselves to cheese
and pies and everything good"
Catch Jane leaving the door open y
/ said the Broom.
/ NO said the Mouse. "If you want
! 10 go in mar, you must gnaw Il hole, and
| by the time you get it gnawcd, they fill il
J
! up the one | have made behind tn door"
| "Not if | can help it, said the Broom,
That's where stand, you know, and
try TO hide IT,"
| "Thank YOU" said the Mouse. 81 have
wme friends"
| 81 should think So" said the Cricket
| "She always left the bread-box open a
| little, - continued the Mouse, 80 that we
could 90 easily In and out Of it, We
| never nibbled whole loaf or n whole
| pie. Take what was cut That was the
| rule"
II wish had been here then" said the
1 Cricket
"Ah, well" sighed the Mouse, lit was
not all pleasant. Accidents happened
! Once a cousin Of mine fell into q deep
pan Of milk, and with all that we
could do We couldn't get him out
ran round the edge Of the
pan as many as fifty times, and came near
slipping in myself, but it did no good
We had to leave him there, with his
whiskcrs and the tips of his ears sticking
up through the cream. Twas sad"
so dearl If you had only had one of
my straws he could have chung to it, said
the Broom.
Perhaps So" replied the Mouse, as
he opened his eyes. Another time. q
friend Of mine fell into pitcher and
couldn't get out, and we could do nothing
for him. He was taken prisoner, and we
never saw him again"
90, horrorsp' exclaimed the Cricket
And, though Polly was so kind to us
in some ways" continued the Mouse, "shc
didn't really seem to like US. I've known
her to scream and jump upon the table
| if one Of us ran out on the floor"
"And so have /, y said the Table, ito
my sorrow"
"Come, come" said the Clock, as he
struck twelve. ut is time to go to sleep.
I'm going to take nap myself, now
have come to the small hours, 80 good
| night
GOOD night, then" said the Mouse.