Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-25
THE aoU5E TURNED KERMIT.

In winter, when my grandmother sat spinning
Close in the corner by the chimney-sde,
To many tale, still ending, still beginning,
She made me list with eyes and mouth full wide,
Wondering at all the mousIrous Thugs she told,
Things quite as mcnstrous as herself was old.
She told me how the frogs aud mice went fighting
And every word and deed Of wolves and foxeS
OF ghosts aud witches in dead night delighting,
OF fairy spirits runlmlgug in boxes
Aud this in h.r oYu strain Of fear III Joy,
While stood by, happy, fri ghtoned boy.
One night, quite sulky not word she utter'd,
Spinning away mute as any fin,
Except that now acd then she growrl and mutter'd
At last begged and prayed, till, to my WISH
Sh3 cleared her pipes, spat thrice, coughed for a
while,
And thus began with something like a smile
" Once on time there was mouse" quoth she,
I" Who, sick of worldly tears aud laughter grew
Eaamour'd Of a saiDted privacy;
To all terrestrial things he babe adieu,
And entered, fsr from mouse or cat, or ulan,
thick valid cheese, the best of ParmeSan.
"And, good soul, knowing that the root of evil
Is idleneSs, that bane Vt heavenly grace.
Our hermit labOred hard against the devil,
Unweariedly in that same sacred place.
Where further in he toiled and further yet
With teeth for holy nihbling sharply set.
- His skin jacket soon became dstended,
And his plump sides uld vie with any fri4I's:
Happy the piOus who, by Heaven befrianded
Reap the full harvest Of their just desires
And happier they, whom an eternal vow
Shuts from the world, who live--we know not how
Just at that time, driven to the very brink
OF dire destruction, was the mousal nation
Corn was lock'd up. fast, close, without chink,
no nope appeared TO save them from starvation;
For who could dare grinaikiu'S whiskerd chaps,
And long cAwed paws, in search Of random scraps
"Then was a solemn deputation sent
From one and al! TO every neighbOring house,
Zach with bag upon his shoulder went
And last they came unto our hermit mouse,
Where, squeakinZ out chorus at his door
They beggd him t. take pity the poo.
'' o my dear children said the auchorite,
On mortal happiness and transient cares
No more bend my thoughts, no more delight
In sublunary, worldly, vain affairs;
These things have | torsworn, and must though
loath,
Reprove your striving thus against my 9th
"'Poor, helpless as am, what can tol
solitary tenant OF these walls;
What can more than breathe my prayers for Won
and Heaven oft listens when the pious lis
Go, my dear children, leave me here TO pray,
Co. go, and take your empty bags away"
Ho! grandmother" cred l, "this matches well
This mouse OF yours 50 snug within his cheese,
With many monk a. snug within his cell
Swollen up with plenty and life of ease,
Who takes but cannot give to a poor sinner
Prociaims fast and hurTies home To dinner"
All, hold your tongue " the good old dame
screamed out,
" You iackauapesi who laugh. you thus to pirate
How ts't you dare TO SANDER the devout?
Men in 80 blessed 50 sanctifed state
Oh, wretched world All, hold your wicked tongue
Alas that SIN should be in one so young
g If e'er you talk so naughtily again,
lprOmise you twill be bitter day
SO spoke my grandmother. nor spoke in vain:
She !ook'd fierce I'd not word to say
And still I'm silent as hope to thrive,
Fer many grandmothers are yet alive.