Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-07-09

even one little hair on them. fer1ectixj
wee. small. helpless little mice; 90
Young they could not yet stand puS
they al cuddled together in their nest
To Keep each other warm. while tina
good little mother was out tolllng for
some food to give them.
Knowing that occasion would necessi:
tate the opening of the drawer manT
times. and consequently disturb the
Quiet and rest of so young and helpless
a family, decided to remove them TO
a place where they would be safe from
disturbance. I procured cigar-box,
filed it with scraps of paper similar 20
those in which the young mice were
housed, nailed the cover on tightly. CUT
a hole in the side, and, taking the Httle'
mice one at time, carefully deposite0
them in the box, which l then placed
directly under the drawer in which they
were born, and awaited developments.
In a few moments the mother came
to the drawer, and, finding her children
all gone, with sad heart she instituted
a search. She scampered hhher and
thither, seemingly very much downcast,
as she supposed her family were an
kidnapped However, it took her only
q short time to find out their new
house. She did not seem 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
ried some fresh scraps from the noor
to it, and then returned to the cigar
box. During this time, nearly all the
men ceased working and watched the
eaeerness with which the mother mouse
worked. In less than ten minutes every
So rp,iao fQ kan from.
the box and carried back to the drawer,
where they were placed in their old,
nest, 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 them
selves in regard to the instinct, or rath-
er 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 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 at
least half an hour. When she did re-
turn it must have been with joyful
heart, having chosen a site to which
she could remove her family and where
they would be away from any disturb
ing influences.
One after another she took by the
back of the neck, jumped from the
drawer and ran along the wall to an
opening in the floor, through which she
disappeared. 1t took her but few
minutes to safely deposit each one, when
were gone and nothing left but the old
nest 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 ramble around the composing-room
without apparently any concern for their
safety.
just think what amount of wofry,
care, anxiety and trouble that little
mother mouse underwent in order to
secure her children from all harm!,
Who can tell what amount of suffering
this little creature underwent what
restlessness she bore, and all that she
might again possess her offspring, and
watch over them in their he1plessness,
and feed and rear them! She was
good mother, and no doubt she and her
children, now that they are grown up,
live happily together, and assist each
other. She is no doubt pleased in see,
ing her motherly influence descend to
her children in their good education
their tameness, and their being so much,
better behaved than other mice. Chris
tiaza Union.