Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-01-30
THE MOUSE AND HIS FRIENDS.
A Lille story for Little Readers.
BY ANNIE MOORE.
PROM Our Young Folks.

Twas = winter night. The cold
wind whistled loud and shrill, and
the cold moonlight fell on all around.
But the old kitchen was warm. A
bright fire blazed on the hearth and
lighted up the brass andirons and
bright tin wonderfully, q streak of
pale moonlight lay across the floor,
and merry little cricket was sing
ing on the hearth while the old clock
beat time for him.
Tick, tick, tick, sing" said the
clock, and the cricket began. lie
sang Of the beautiful summer time,
and of tho warm glowing meadow
F a mouse put his head out of hole.
i" Don't let me interrupt you," said
ne.
Hullo I" said the cricket. We
are waiting for you. Come through
the moonlight for good luck"
What luck can there be for a
three>legged mouse ?" said the new
conner. a. he limped in and took a
seat by the fire.
20, don't be unhappy" said the
Cricket. "1t will grow again
Never!" said the mouse
Somebody will mend it, said the
Table. II have had two legs broken
off short and mended again"
Impossible" said the Mouse, u
wish that old Trap was"
any dear fellow" interrupted the
Trap, don't be unreasonable. I've
nothing against you: 1t was only IN
the way Of business"
l. il your business to nip off my
leg p said the Mouse in a passion.
:" 1t is my business to catch you if
1 can" said the Trap. "That's what
| am here for"
| wish you were not here, then, ,"
said the Mouse. at was very pleas
ant before you came"
1t was, indeed" said the Criok-
ct "You used to come ana see US
every night, and dance and frisk
about as lively as o criket, almost"
Ny dancing days are over" said
the poor Mouse.
40 dear no Don't be down-heart-
ed, " said the Andirons. "Here, blaze
away, you Fire, and make il look
cheerful"
YouIl find something to eat in
the crack under the table, said the
Broom. Some split peas md 2
raisin. Cook tried 70 mske me sweep
them away, but ! wouldn't"
An old Broom knows whore the
crumbs are, said the Cricket.
You arc right, said the Mouse,
a. he went under the table and
brought out the feast.
Perfectly delicious" said he, as
be nibbled away. at is a long time
since | have tasted a split pea
Have some cheese 2" said tho
Trap.
"For shame" cried the Broom
" Another word and I'll sweep yon
away" SO the Trap said no more.
Come" said the Cricket, now
tell us more about old times"
Where did l leave Off" asked
the Mouse.
She didn't like cats" replied the
Cricket,
90 yes. Polly didn't like cats,
resumed the Mouse. "She threw
water at them, and drove them away
whenever they came near the house.
So we were safe from them. She lost
the trap. She said she couldn't tell
whatever had become of it, and that
loss was our gain. When she went
out of an evening, she always left
the doors open SO we could come in
from the shed and go straight into
the pantry and help ourselves to
cheese and pies and everything
good"
"Catch Jane leaving the door
open said the broom.
NO." said the Mouse. IF you
want 10 60 in nO,0, you must guaw 3
hole, and by the time you get it
gnawed, they fill it up. / am ex-
pecting every day they Il stop up the
one / have made behind the door.
Not if l can help it,, said the
Broom. That's where / stand, you
know. and | try to hide it"
Thank you" said the Mouse. Il
have some friends"
81 should think So" said the
Cricket.
"She always left thu bread-box
open little" continued the Mouse,
$50 that we could go easily in and
out of it. We neuer nibled whole
loaf or q whole pie. Take what was
cut. That was the rule"
II wish | had been there then,
said the Cricket.
All, WELL" said the Mouse, at
was not all pleasant. Accidents hap
pened. Once a cousin Of mine fell
into 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 whiskers and the tips
of his cars sticking up through the
cream. Twas sad"
40 dear! If You had only had
one of my straws he could have
chung to it, said the Cricket.
Perhaps SO, replied the Mouse,
as be opened his eyes. "Another
time friend of mine fell intoa pitch
er, and couldn't get out, and we
could do nothing for him. He was
taken prisoner, and we never saw
him again.
Ohorrors !" exclaimed the Crick-
ct.
AN though Polly was so kind to
us in some ways" continued the
Mouse she didn't reslly seem to like
us. pge known her TO scream and
Jump up on the table If one of US ran
ont on the floor"
"And so have /" said the Table,
ito my sorrow"
Come, come" said the Clock, as
he struck twalvo ait IL time TO 90