The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-21
Mr.. Thompson and the Field Mice.

Mr.. Thompson lay under the hedge by
the wheat field. He had left the house
because the piazza was crowded with
summer boarders, and the chatter of the
young ladies disturbed his thoughts, he
said. What he was thinking about he
did not tell, but he carried with him
large book called the Natural History of
Rodentia, and had his finger upon the
article on Field.Mice.
He read for q few moments after he
had settled himself comfortably in the
shade of the hedge; then he shut the
book, and gazing out over the swaying
field of golden grain, he murmured to
himself; Field.Micel They must be
curious little animals. They do not seem
to do any harm. wonder what they live
on?"
"Wheat," piped small voice near his
foot.
"What t? " said Mr.. Thompson, some.
what startled.
wheat" repeated the small voice.
Mr.. Thompson looked down. There
close by his foot sat the cunningest little
mouse you could imagine. He was but
very little over an inch long, and he had
very bright eyes and very long curly
tail, and he sat on his hind legs and
winked knowingly at Mr.. Thompson.
"Wheat-we live on wheat" he re-
peated, with shrill little giggle at Mr..
Thompson's surprise.
Mr.. Thompson stared at the tiny crea-
ture in amazement, then asked,
"What do you live on after the wheat
is gone ?"
"Corn," squeaked the mouse.
"But corn don't last always" objected
Mr.. Thompson. "What do you do in
the winter ?"
"Sleep," replied the field.mouse, cheer.
fully. awe go underground and sleep.
Now there is our cousin the big field
mouse; he lays up store of eatables for
the winter. And as for our other cousin,
the house-mouse, don't believe he sleeps
at all.'
81 don't believe he Does" said Mr..
Thompson, shaking his head, as he
thought of the sleepless nights he had
passed while the mice were holding high
carnival in the walls. "Where do you
live I? " he asked.
"Over here in the wheat Come over
and see," answered the mouse. "Not
that way" he added, laughing, as Mr.
Thompson started to rise.
The mouse ran up Mr.. thompson
arm, and sat on his head. 1t seemed as
if he weighed ton, and Mr.. Thompson
slowly began to grow smaller and smaller
His alpaca duster was Just the right color
for the mouse's back and his white vest
did not change in hue, though it was Of
soft fur, instead of cotton duck. MIR
Thompson looked at himself approvingly
He really made very handsome mouse
and he switched his long tail jauntily, az
hesfollowed his new-found friend. They
treaded their way in and out among tn,
wheat stalks, which seemed like large tree
now, till at last the mouse paused, and said
"There is my house up there"
Abont eighteen inches from the GROUND
three or four wheat stalks were brough
together, and between them there hung
ball of dried grass and long horse-hairs
about as big as base ball, curiousl.
woven together, making solid nest
The mouse ran lightly up the stalk, ant
MIR. Thompson followed. On one side o
the ball there was a small hole. Int
this the mouse went, and Mr.. Thompson
followed. Inside was Mrs. Mouse ant
six children. Mr.. Thompson stayed il
the nest but moment, for it wa
small, and the apartment was crowded
After coming down and complimentin,
the mouse upon the beauty of his dwell
ing and its inmates, he sat down and pre-
pared to question his companion.
you spoke of your cousin, the larg
field-mouse. Does he live in the sam
way ?" he asked.
"No," replied the mouse; che lives o.
the ground. He makes his nest of grass
but as he is so much larger than am, h
could not run up the wheat stalk as i dc
| have another cousin, the short-taile
or black mouse, but we are not YER
proud of him. He lives in the ground a
the year round, aud steals anything b