The Red Cloud chief., 1885-07-17
a GOOD
The True Story Of a Mouse's Care for Her
Helpless Little Ones.

WHICH the type II set Tor the JhTtsftnn
tnton-arc a half dozen mice. which
are SD domesticated that they run be-
tween the feet Of the compositors and
pick mp the crumbs which are strewn
on h loor. The compositors made a
daily practice Of throwing parts of their
lunches TO them, and they became %
tame that they would come up TO the
mems hands, and eat bread thcrcfrom.
They climb up on tee cases. and walk
over the types, crawl up the men's
coats, which hang on PEGS on the wall,
get INTO the pockets, and inspect things
generally. | have taken one from the
sleeve of my ~ovcrcoat, allowed it to
stand ON my hand, run up my ann ana
Jump from INV shoulder on 10 the case
without IT showing the least fear or
concern for its safety.
But IL is not :hc tamcncss Of these
mice ] am gong Ia tell about. IL is of
the intelligence displayed by the mother
when they were mere meetings, Young
and tender, and not able "a help them
selves; and il il but n short while since
tii'N h'lF III NEitb u bttipit~s Nsdlf.
Standing behind, and convenient TO,
the stove are about two dozen drawers.
or what printers call a cabinet" used
for holding advertising plates, en-
CRAVINGS. etc, which have appeared i'm
the paper. In the nearest one of these
draw,hs. ID the stove. which has been
kept comfortably warm in the sevcrcst
cold Eclthcr. these mice were born.
H$ving had occasion 10 open the
draJcr one morning. 10 my aStonish-
mchf | saw Some paper scraps IN one
cu-bcr move. as if something within
weIt, trying To get out, "A croton- water
iuk. perhaps. The paper was such a.
had been thrown on the floor of the
COMPOSING room. and was cu: up into
r.ty small pieces ! lifted some of il
tofinvc>iigafc. and there in the corner.
iiJa very coy and warm little nest,
WIRE nine little nice not than a
dEiy old. They were blind. not Yet hav-
ihg opened their eyes. and they had not
oven one little hair on them. Perfectly
wee. small. helpless little mice; so
Young they could not vet stand. but
they all culdled together in their nest
Ia keep each other warm. while the
good little mother was u toiling for
some food TO give them.
Knowing that occasion would ncccssi-
tate the opening of the drawer many
times, and consequently disturb the
quiet and rest of 81 u and helpless
"A family. | decided Ia mo them TO
:: place where they would be- safe from
disturbance. | procured a cigar-boX.
filled il with scraps of paper similar To
those in which the young mice wcrc
housed. nailed the cover on tightly. cut
a hole in the side. and taking the little
mice one III "A time. carefully deposited
them in the box. which | then placed
directly under the drawer in which they
were born. and awaited DEVELOPMENTS
In "A few moments the mother came
10 the drawer. and. finding her children
all zone with Il sad heart she instituted
a search. She s%campered hither and
thithcr. seemingly very much downcast.
"a she supposed her family We're all
kidnapped. However. it took her only
a short time Ia find out their new
house. She did not one bit pleased
with the change; for no sooner had she
discovered them than she returned To
the drawer. shook up the old nest. car
ricd sorlc fresh scraps from the floor
t. il, and then returned to the cigar
box. During this time. nearly all the
men ceased working and watched the
cagerncSs with which the mother mouse
worked. In less than ten minutes every
one of the young mice were taken from
the box and carried back 10 the drawer,
where they were placed in their old
hest. which was newly made up. In
the very same way in which the cat
takes hold of her kittens did the proud
mother mouse take hold of hers-by
the back of the neck.
SO much curiosity existed among the
workmen that. in order to satisfy hem
selves in regard 10 the instinct. or rath-
cr intelligence. displayed by the mother
mouse. each one went to the drawer to
see for himself. that, seeing. he might
believe. Of course the old mouse must
have become enraged at such intrusion
into her privacy, for she there and then
resolved TO provide some other place
for a home for her children. where they
would not be disturbed and where they
might grow up in peace and quietnesS.
Down into the cellar she went with all
speed and did not again appear for ut
least half an hour. When she did re-
turn il must have been with Il joyful
heart. having chosen a site to which
she could remove her family and where
they would be away from any disturb
,ng Influences.
One after another she took ty the
back of the neck. jumped from the
drawer and ran along the wall TO an
opening in the floor. through which she
disappeared. Ii took her but a few
minutes 10 safely deposit each one. when
she would return for another. until all
were gone and nothing left but the old
hest in the drawer.
After that the parent mice regularly
came from the cellar TO the composing
room, and gathered the crumbs for
their children. until they were able to
forage and provide for themselves.
Now they are full grown. healthy mice.
and ramb!e around the composing-room
without apparently any nce for their
safety.
just think what amount of worry.
carr. anxiety and trouble that little
mother mouse underwent in order 10
secure her children from all harm
Who can tell what amount of suffering
this little creature underwent, what
restiessness she bore. and all that she
might aga:n possess her offspring. and
watch over them in their helpleSsness,
and feed aud rear them! She was a