Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-07-31
A MOTHER.

II. DTtUGs III ~. L. lluSUSnQSA
A FAITHFUL MOTHER.
The True Story of a MOuse's Care for Her
Helpless Little Ones.
In the composing-room-the room in
which the type is set for the Christian
Union-are a half dozen mice, which
are so domesticated that they run be-
tween the feet of the compositors and
pick up the crumbs which are strewn
on the floor. The compositors made a
daily practice of throwing parts of their
lunches to them, and they became so
tame that they would come up to the
mems hands, and eat bread therefrom.
They climb up on the cases. and walk
over the types. crawl up the mems
coats, which hang on pegs on the wall,
get into the pockets, and inspect things
generally. l have taken one from the
sleeve Of my %overcoat. allowed it to
stand on my hand, run up my arm and
Jump from my shoulder on to the case
without it showing the least fear or
concern for it's safety.
But it is not the tameness of these
mice l am going to tell about. 1t is of
the intelligence displayed by the mother
when they were mere meetings, young
and tender, and not able to help them
selves; and it is but a short while since
they were in such q helpless state.
Standing behind, and convenient to,
the stove are about .swo dozen drawers,
or what printers call a cabinet" used
for holding advertising plates, en-
cravings, etc, which have appeared in
the paper. In the nearest one of these
drawers to the stove, which has been
kept comfortably warm in the severest
cold weather, these mice were born.
Having, thac occasion to open the
drawer one morning, to my astonish-
ment l saw some paper scraps in one
corner move, as if something within
were trying to get out, a croton-water
bug, perhaps. The paper vas such as
had been thrown on the floor of the
composing room, and was cut up into
very small pieces. 1 lifted some of it
to investigate. and there in the corner,
in . very cozy and warm little nest,
were nine little mice not more than a
day old. They were blind; not yet hav-
ing opened their eyes, and they had not
even one little hair on them. Perfectly
wee, small, helpless little mice; so
young they could not yet stand, but
they all cuddled together in their nest
to keep each other warm. while the
good little mother was out toiling for
some food to give them.
Knowing that occasion would necessi-
tate the opening of the drawer many
times, and consequently disturb the
quiet and rest of SO young and helpless
a family, l decided to remove them to
a place where they would be safe from
disturbance. l procured a cigar-box,
filled it with scraps Of paper similar to
those in which the young mice were
housed, nailed the cover on tightly. cut
a hole in the side, and, taking the little
mice n at a time, carefully deposited
them in the box, which I then placed
directly under the drawer in which they
were born, and awaited developments.
In q few moments the mother came
to the drawer, and, finding her children
all gone, with a sad heart she instituted
a search. She scampered hither and
thither, seemingly very much downcast,
as she supposed her family were az.
kidnapped. However, it took her only
a short time to find out their new
house. She did not seem one bit pleased
with the change; for nc sooner had she
discovered them than she returned to
the drawer. shook up the old nest, car
ried some fresh scraps from the floor
to it, and tAen returned to the cigar
box. During this time, nearly all the
men ceased working and watched the
eagerness with which the mother mouse
worked. In less than ten minutes every
nj OF the young mice were taken 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
workmcn that, in order to satisfy them
selves in regard to the instinct, or rath-
err 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
AueO liz pA1SoSJ, WI oAO ouCAO SIuu llcu
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 at
least nalf an hour. When she did re-
turn it must have been with a 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 a few
minutes to safely deposit each one, when
she would return for another, until all
were gone and nothing left but the old
nest in the drawer.
After that tho parent mice regularly
came from the cellar to tho composing
room, and gathered the crumbs for