The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-03-12
AN UNFORTUNATE FAMILY.

Pinky, Winky and Kinky. Queer
names, were they not? Yet | suppose
that Pinky, Winky and Kinky were
quite as happy as if their names had
had been Tom, Dick and Harry Per-
haps happier, for Toms, Dicks and
Harrys may be found in every town;
but, Pinkys, Winkys and Kinkys-
where?
They lived-Pinky, Winky and Kinky
in queer little home. A safe, warm,
snug little nest, hidden far away out of
sight in a dark corner of the old attic
A nest! The attic! What! Mice?
Pinky, Winky and Kinky were mice?
Yes. Nice, fat, sleek little mice were
they, indeed. And Tom, Dick and
Harry would have been funny names
for three little mice; would they not?
Pinky, Winky and Kinky suited them
much better; at least their parents
thought so, and, as for Pinky, Winky
and Kinky, what did they care for
names? What they wanted was a good
time.
And how happy they were in their
dear little home. And how Papa and
Mamma Mouse had worked to make it
nice and soft and warm, with wee bits
of cottonwood, stray feathers, shreds of
cloth, bits of string, tiny punches of
hair, odds and ends, truly; vet they
had pulled it about and picked it to
pieces, and made it all up again so
cleverly that it was so dainty and COM
Portable a little nest as mouse could
wish. Here Pinky, Winky and Kinky ate
and slept and played. And how they
did play, to be sure! What runs they
had, what races they had up and down
the rough, inner walls of the house.
How they scrambled, how they scurried,
how they squeaked with Joy at the wild
sport. And how much noise they made.
But, alas! alasi a sad fate was in
store for Pinky, Winky and Kinky.
And oh! how much sadder it seems
when one thinks that, perhaps, they
might have lived to ripe old age if only
they had done as they were hidden to
do. And it came upon them in this
way: One bright moonlight evening,
when Piuky, Winky and Kinky had
played all the long day and had gone
to bed, oh! SO tired and sleepy, Papa
Mouse said: II think I'll take a run
abroad this fine evening; there's a
grand spread below, Pm told. There'll
be rare pickings, | expect. SO I'll go
down and have a peep at it myself, and
may be I'll bring up something nice for
relish for you, mamma.
''Yes; go by all means. 1t will do
you good after being in all day, and the
children so noisy. But never mind me.
There's plenty of corn in the house.
Try to get something nice for yourself,
my dear"
$50 Papa Mouse ran off gayly, while
she-the poor, anxious mamma-made
sure that her little ones were asleep, and
then curled herself up and went to sleep
likewise.
What had happened? What was the
matter? Why was mamma poking
them so roughly? Why was she wax
ing them? Listen! What was she say
ing? Oh, dear! And Pinky, Winky
and Kinky rubbed their sleepy little
eyes and tried hard to make them stay
open.
'Listen to me, children. 1t is the
middle of the night and your papa is
not yet home. Now, I'm going out to
find him; but shan't be gone long,
and don't want one of you to stir from
the house till | get back. I'll give you
a nice breakfast; but if you want any
thing to eat before then you II find plen-
ty of corn"
They promised to obey her A nice
breakfast. Think of it! What would
she bring themP CrumbsP Cheese;
What? And while they wondered and
puzzled, 10! they fell fast asleep.
''Hillo! Wake up! Wake upr'
stop biting me so hard, Kinky!''
20! Kinky! Don't!''
wake up, wake up, Pinky! Wake
up, say, Winky! Here it is broad
daylight, and nobody home and moth
ing to eat"
"Why, where is mamma?''
where is papa?'
Pinky and Winky started up instant
ly, and looked around in bewildereC
way. How funDyr they said
where can they be? Mamma sale
she'd bring us breakfast. What shall
we do? Where can she be?''
High time for breakfast, should
think, said Kinky. "rm starvingn
$50 am L. agreed Pinky.
Perhaps they're hiding" suggested
Winky.
So the three ran in and out of ever
hole and corner, every secret hiding
place, and peered into all the old anC
dustr and cobwebby trunks and boxes
that were slowed away in the large at
tic chamber; but nowhere could the,
find papa or mamma. Then they crep
back to bed again, scarce knowing
what they did; for this was q terrible
experience. No papa, no mamma
What was going to become of them
They looked sadly at each other; the,
felt ready to cry, in their despair. Sud
denly Kinky started up. Il know
where they aren he exclaimed. ..
wasn't asleep. | just pretended / was
/ heard mana last nioCbf ThatSc iuc