The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-12-24
miscellaneous.
The Three Little Mice.
A FAIRY TALE FOR THE CHILDREN.


1t was Christmas Eve. In poor little
room baby lay playing in its cradle. 1t
was sucking away at crust of bread he held
in his hand, and every now and then he gave
q cry for his mother, who was out gathering
wood to make bright blaze for Christmas
day. His toes were beginning to feel cold !;
so he drew them up nearer to his chin, and
finally got one into his mouth, when he bit it
by mistake, at which he gave scream, and
dropped his crust upon the floor At this
moment three little shadows fell upon the
pine floor where the freight flckered, and
soon there crept from small hole delicate
mouse. She had beautiful grey coat of fur
an elegant long, tapering tail, two bright lit
tic beads of eyes and the handsomest whisk-
ers in the world She was followed by two
Others who also advanced into the freight
where the three of them stood upon their
hind legs and held up their paws to warm at
the hot fire.
at really is terribly cold to night" said the
first mouse.
"Indeed it is" said the second.
"Tm all of a SILVER, and hungry too" said
the third, whereat both these mice began to
tremble and tears stood in their eyes.
"Oh, nonsense" said the first mouse,
"whats the use of crying over it, dry your
eyes and let us have dance"
Her two sisters wiped their eyes with the
tips of their tails, and joining hands danced a
rustic reel and chased up and down until
they were out of breath.
"Oh," cried the first mouse spying the
crust of bread, "see what I've found here is
splendid supper for u.s.
When they had finished the crust they be-
gan to feel cold again, and the first mouse
called to the others to get into the baby
cradle; so they all climbed up on the rockers,
ran over the quilt and got close to the child,
who reached out his chubby little hand to pat
them, saying, "Mousie, mousie." One of
them sat down on the baby's feet, another
| got close to his head, and the third cuddled
into his fat neck, where it picked the crumbs
sticking to his lips.
| Soon the child's mother came in, bringing
an armful of sticks, an oaten cake, and a
pail ofmlk. When she picked up the baby
the three little mice scampered away, but
when they reached the floor they stood in n
row on their hind legs, and making her a
bow, the first mouse said:
"Good woman, because have eaten your
child's food, promise you he shall never sui.
fer from hunger"
The second one added, because have
rested myself on your child's feet, promise
you he shall never be tired"
The third one concluded because have
warmed myself in your child's hair, prom.
Use you he shall never be cold, and lock OF
his hair shall cure anybody of the whooping
cough" ~
"That is all very fine" said the good wo
man, "but it seems to me it's great thing fol
such little people to promise"
"You will see" cried the three little mice
as they scampered away.
Before sunrise the next morning the goot
woman was awakened by the noise of thu
bagpipes, and on opening the door ther,
stood large black cat playing reel, to thu
music of which three little mice danced
Each of them was dressed in short pinl
frock and held aloft in its paws ribbon
scarf, with which they performed the shaw
dance.
"What's all this about ?" asked the woman
1--WE have come" said the first mouse, t
make Christmas gift to your baby. YOU
must come with us to the village, where W,
will make your fortune.
. Then the good woman wrapped up he
boy in warm cloak and led the way to tn
nearest town, where the strange company al
tracted great attention. To see q cat playin!
on the bagpipes and the three mice perform
ing the shawl dance was really something
quite unusual. The good woman and he
baby, who were supposed to be proprietor
of the show, received great many pennies
and often some large coins, and encourage,
by their success they moved on from town T.
town until they reached the Capital.
"Why, why; what's all thisP" said th
Beadle, as he came forward, with his grea
gold -headed cane, to collect the license
The good woman, instructed by the frs
mouse, replied "that it was the celebrate
troupe of Senior Pussycatiano and the SEN
oritas Mousiecatitinis, and that they crave
, permission to dance before His Majesty tn
King"