The Penn's Grove record., 1885-04-18

"Husni horses mustn't TAXI cried
Phil stamping = chubby foot; ''gg on
"Oh, pslaW!' and back went the
bliuders-or rather old sunbonnet -
which covered .he e%quine's head I'm
tired of being horse; let'sgo see Burt
and Rosie. the girl. bounded away As
uimbly as Billy, the horse had done
followed by Phil, whose curiosity was
reused at last.
Butt, who had thrown himself on The
grass. pointed to something beside HIM
and said, as they drew near:
Did YOU ever see a p~rcttier sight!
''Ghe something was a nest lined
with soft fur. in which were five tiny.
brown mice, not even as big As those
cream chocolate ones we buy, Dut as
lively rs kittens.
"Oh," cried Rosie, "heid-mice, aren't
they2" d.,
Not exactly, for they burrow &ad
live in the ground; these are harvest
mice, and make nests like the olidS,
only lined with fur instead OF moss, ana
hidden in tall grass instead oil trees.
I've looked for one all summer, but
never should have found 1t, only as !
lay here half asleep something ran over
my hand, and Lad just a glimpse oil
the mother mouse. Then | knew the
nest could not be far away, and u
It"
"Whata arc you going to do with 'emf
asked Phil.
s'Put 'em In a wee, wee cage, with a
wheel no bIgger'n that joining bis
fingers at the tips. "ItW be just like a
squirrel house, only not a tenth as
large. You may come and see 1t, II
you'd ike. I've got it alp ready
~ don't believe they'll live without
their mother" said Rosie.
"Ohl yes they will. I'm only gong
to take two and leave the rest-might
as well as to let the moving machine
cut 'em down next week. Sometimes
farmers stack these nests away WEh
their grain and harvest them IN the
barn without ever knowing it."
All this time he was pulling grass to
line the crown of his hat, in which he
now placed the two babies, covering
them with a wad of eotton-battlng
which he took from his pocket.
How little they are!' cried Phil.
yes; when full grown they are only
two inches long-think of thatI'
When they reached Burt's home he
brought out the cunning house and held
{ up on one hand.
isn't it immense2' he asked. II
made 1t myself"
"No," said Rosie grdvely, not under
standing the slang, tits very, very
small, but it's pretty, though"
So it was, and ingenious too, being a
very light frame covered with fine wire
netting. One end was left open into
the wheel-house, which was higherthan
the lodging room, but not so long, and
the whole thing wasn't much larger
than q cigar box.
The new tenants were slowed away
on the bed of c0ttOn batting in one cor
ner, and then Rosie persisted IN drag
cling Phil away, though he resisted at
every step, for she knew that they ought
not to stay longer without permission.
All that evening he talked about those
cunning mice, and when morning came
could not rest till he had gained per-
mission to go and see them.
"Oh, aren't they sweet2' he cried,
getting close to the cage, his heart III
his eyes and his hanis in his pockets. /
"What would you sell 'em for, Burtf'
''Nothing," laughed the latter; they
cost me too much time and trouble"
'I've got a silver quarter with a hole
through it." he yentured with keen
anxiety, for if this offer failed he felt
that he was bankrupt.
Burt laughed agaln-so carelessly.
"Oh! keep your quarters; 1 don't want
TIP and Phil felt that his castle had in-
deed tumbled about his ears.
A efo- p,Vrf BaH roma aUav ha still
stood there gazing. /
"Ohl if 1 only had 'eml'' he sighed
%longlngly,
Nobody was near, and he gently lift
ed the cage, looked all around, then set
it down again.
II can lift it, he said. 81 could carry
1t awayl'
He lifted it again, and took a step
forWard-then another, his childishface
showing clearly the fight going on
within the little soul; and thus, step by
step, he carried it home.
1--WE got a present" he said, enter
ing the sitting-room with a nervous
air.
''Micel' cried his mother, while 7
Rosie exclaimed, ibid Burt really give
them to your [ wouldn't have thought
it. But you a never take care of
them"
II can too, Rosie Latta," and Phil
began at once to expatIate on their
beauties till he grew almost happy.
But
.sTbe best laid schemes o. mlee aud men
Gang aft a-gley-'.
man now that the latter's plans failed
as they did.
There was a loud, startling ring at
the door, and Burt came raging in, very
warm and flushed, and telling his story
all in a breath. 1t was a straight story,
though, and only needed one glance at
Phil to convince his mother of its truth,
From the short, red socks curling down
from his round white legs, to the long
brown lashes curling up from his whittier
cheeks, he was a most AFFECT little
figure.
If the mothers heart had not been so
sore with her darling's sin, she must
have laughed at that comically sad
little figure. AS it was, she only sad
two words: 'Oh, Phil ~ and with one
cry he threw himself into her arms and
burst Into a passion of tears and expla-
nations. At this Burt melted.
Don't cry, Phil" he said, 'Ill get
yos some more-indeed 1 will. Mice
are plenty"
sit amt that" sobbed Phil, 'I-I
don't - want - 'em. It's-Oh, DEAR
dearI it's bein' a thief"
But this is the last time, Phil, my
boy, isn't itP" questioned mother, and
from the shelter of her loving arms
came a decided yes ma'am, the-very
-lastl Ii I'd only run home when the
thought of taking them FIRST came into
my head, I'd have been all right"
China.
According to the data obtained by a