The Hazlehurst signal., 1885-10-08
THE CoNcEITEo MOUSE.
In Spite OF Ills Brag and Cunning, Ie
Was Caught Mt Last.

|
In Spite OF Ills Brag and Cunning, ie
Was Caught Mt Last.
He was very curious little mouse,
indeed, and had his home In the wall OF
q farmers kitchen.
Now can't begin to tell you all tho
mischief this little mouse did. He had
gnawcd holes through the doors Of the
cupboard. and poked his nose time and
again into the cream bowl, and eaten
great pieces out of the new cheese, and
knocked over u beautiful glass preserve
dish and shiycrcd it to atoms; but,
worst of all, he had nibblcd great holes
in two Of Mother Spraguc's ilhc linen
tablc.cloths. oh. he was, indeed. u
naughty, naughty little mouse, and he
| quite gloricd in the mischief he did.
They had set traps time and again for
him, but without avail, for he was n
mos, cunning little mouse, and some.
how kept clear of them all. Even the
delicious smell OF cheese had failed to
cnticc him within those queer-looking
little wires. He knew well enough that
danger and death were there.
Miss Puss. too. with all her cunning.
was unable to catch the frisky little
mouse. She had tried time and again,
by strategy as well rs open warfare,
bu. each alike had failed. Just when
she thought she had her sharp claws
upon him. away would scampcr the lit
tie mouse. stopping just long enough
to glance dtiiantly back at Miss Puss,
with look in his sharp bcady little
black eyes which seemed to say: "There!
I've cheated you this time, old mouscr!
you see you are not half rs sharp as you
thought you were."
In short, they had set so many traps
and formed SO many plans, the farmer,
his wife and the scrvant.grl. by which
To catch the little mouse. and had never
vet succeeded, that he was in high glec
over their repeated failures, and so well
pleased with himself in consequence,
that he had grown to be very con.
cctcd little mouse, as well as n most
cunning one.
Very often he would talk to himself
after this manner: "Thcy will nerer
catch me, this Is certain. am too
wise n little mouse not to see through
all their movements. They might rs
well save themselves the trouble of set
ting those traps, for all tho good it'll
do 'cm. wonder II they really think
AIN silly enough to poke my nose into
one of those holes just to get nibblc
ut that scrap Of cheese, and be chokcd
to death for my pains, when can gnaw
my way into the cupboard and cat rs
much of that whole iino cheese Us /
want. without any danger to myself
No, indeed. 1t is all too plain that /
am too cunning for them. too wise n
little mouse by far, ever to be caught in
q trap"
However. something happened one
day that proved tho little mouse was
not nearly so .wiso as hc thought he
was.
Some fresh oysters were brought into
the kitchen. In preparing them for
supper tho girl happened to overlook
ono Of them, and Il was left lying In n
cornor OF the hearth with its shell partly
open.
That night, when every one had
gone to bed. and all was silent within
tho kitchen. this cautious little mouse
thought he might venture forth on n
raid. Very soon he came to where tho
oyster was lying so still upon the
hearth.
"Han" said he, cautiously approach.
ing 1t, and bending his sharp little eyes
near it, so rs to take u good look at 1t,
"what Is this, now? Another trap.
perhaps: but no; II doesn't look ut all
like ono. There is nothing suspicious
looking about II, it is true; but still II
Is best to be cautious, therefore I'll
take q closer view Of it."
So tho little mouse bent down his
head till his little twinkling eyes wero
close beside tho oyster. and then he
pccrcd In through the half.open shell.
The oyster lay very quie: within. and
looked so nice and cool and fresh that
1t quito set tho little mouse frantic with
the desire to feast upon the new dainty.
"Oh. dear me!'' said he, licking his
whiskcrs. chow nice 1t smells! and ]
am sure II must taste even better than
1t looks. What feast | am going to
have, to bc sure! and such laugh to
myself over the sour looks Of the
scrvant-girl in the morning. who was.
no doubt, saving this delicious morsel
for herself!"
So saying, this wise little mouse, who
had never yet been caught in q trap,
r iii.