The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-20
A Wise Little Mouse.

Carleton Howard
He was very curious little mouse, indeed,
and had his'home in the wall of a farmers
kitchen.
Now, 1 can't begin to tell you all the mischief
this little mouse did He had gnawed 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 a beautiful glass preserve dish
and shivered it to atoms; but, worst of all, he
had nibbled great holes in two of Mother
Spraguo's fine linen table cloths. Oh, he was
indeed naughty, naughty little mouse, and he
quite glOried in the mischief he did.
They had set traps time and time again for
him, but without avail, for he was a most cum
ming little mouse, and somehow kept clear of
them all. Even the delicious smell of cheese
had failed to entice him within those queer
looking little wires. He knew we'll enough that
danger and death were there.
Miss Puss, too, with all her cunning, was un-
able to catch this frisky little mouse She had
tried time and again, by strategy as well as open
warfare but each alike had failed. Just when
she thought she had her sharp claws upon him.
away would scamper the little mouse, stopping
just long enough to glance defantly back at Miss
Puss, with a look in his sharp. beady little black
eyes which seemed to say, 'There I've cheated
you this time old mouser! You see you are not
half as sharp as you thought you were.n
In short, they Lad set many traps and
formed so many plans the farmer, bis wife and
the servant girl, by which to catch the little
was in high gee over their repeated failures
and so well pleased with himself in consequence
that he had grown to be very conceited little
mouse, well as most cunning one
Very often he would talk to himself after this
manner: 'They will never catch me; this is
certain. I am too wise a little mouse not to see
through all their movements. They might as
we'll save themselves the trouble of setting those
traps for all the good it'll do 'em. | wonder if
they really think I'm silly enough to poke nv
into of hOlaS inst m nil, ia
at that scrap of cheese and be choked to death
for my pains, when | can gnaw my way into the
cupboard and eat as much of that whole fine
cheese as l want without any danger to myself
No. indeed. 1t is all too plain that | am too cum
ming for them; too wise little mouse by far
ever to be caught in a trap"
However, something happened one day that
proved the little mouse was not nearly so wise
as he thought he was.
Some fresh oysters were brought into the
kitchen. In preparing them for supper the girl
happened to overlook one OF them, and it was
left lying in corner Of the hearth, with its
shell partly open.
That night when everyone had gone to bed
and all was silent within the kitchen, this eau
tious little mouse thought he might venture
forth on a raid. Very soon he came to where
the oyster was lying so still upon the hearth.
''Ha" said he, cautiously approaching it and
bending his sharp little eyes it as to take
a good look at it. what is this, now2 Another
trap, perhaps; but. no; it doesn't look at all like
one. There is nothing suspicious looking about
it, it is true; but still it is best to be cautious;
therefore I'll take a closer view of itn
So the little mouse bent down his head till his
little twinkling eyes close beside the oyster
and then he peered in through the haif-open
she'll The oyster lay very quiet within, ard
looked so nice, and cool, and fresh that it quite
set the little mouse frantic with the desire to
feast upon the new dainty.
''Oh, dear me-" said he licking his whiskers
show nice it smells! and l am sure it must taste
even better than it looks What a feast am
going to have to be sure! and such laugh to
myself over the sour looks of the servantgirl, in
the morning, who was no doubt, saving this de-
lcious morsel for herself"
So saying this wise little mouse who had never
yet been caught in trap. and who Dragged to
himself continually in consequence poked his
sharp little nose through the halfopened shell of
the oyster.
Now, if / had been there would have whis-
pered: BE very careful, little Mr.. Mouse, for
with all your cunning and boasting you may get
yourself in a fix yet"
And it was just as you have doubtless suspect
ed-the oyster was alive! and no sooner had the
little mouse poked his nose into the opening than
it closed with a sudden spring, and 10! the little
mouse was caught at lastl
Now l daresay, if he had been given the time
to think over it all, his one thought would have
been that he was not such very wise little
mouse after all.
Little boy, little girl. am very much afraid
there are some Of yeu just like this wise 81 little