Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-09-10
A WISE LITTLE MOUSE.

In Spite of His Brag and Cunning, He
Was Caught at 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 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 beautiful glass preserve
dish and shivered it to atoms; but,
worst of all, he had nibbled great holes
in two of Mother Sprague's fine linen
table-cloths Oh, he was, indeed, a
naughty, naughty little mouse, and he
quite gIoried IN The mischief he did.
They had set traps time and again for
him, but without avail, for he was a
most cunning little mouse, and some
how kept clear of them all. Even the
delicious smell of cheese had failed to
entice him within those queer-looking
little wires. He knew wei enough that
danger and death were there.
was unable to catch the 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 lit
tie mouse, stopping just long enough
to glance detiantly back at Miss Puss,
with a look in mis- 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 We're.
In short, they had set SO MANY traps
and formed SO many plans, the farmer,
his wife and the servant-glrl, by which
to catch the little mouse, and had never
yet succeeded, that he was in high glee
over their repeated failures, and SO well
pleased with himself in consequence,
that be had grown to be a very con-
ceited little mouse, as well as most
cunning one.
Very often he would talk to himself
after this manner: They will sever
catch me, this is certain. l am too
wise little mouse not to see through
all their movements. They might as
we'll save themselves the trouble of set
ting those traps, for all the good it'll
do 'em. wonder if they realty think
L am silly enough to poke my nose into
one of those holes just to get nibble
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 line cheese as
want, without any danger to myself.
No, indeed. 1t is all too plain that
am too cunning for them, too wise a
little mouse by tar, ever to be caught in
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 tol
supper the girl happened to overlook
one of them, and it was left lying in a
corner OF the hearth with its smell partly
open.
That night, whenl every one had
gone to bed, and all was silent within
the kitchen, this cautious 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 approach
ing it, and bending his sharp little eyes
near it, so as to take a good look at it,
..what is this, now? 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 il
is best to be cautious, therefore I'll
take closer view of it. :"
So the little mouse bent down his
head till his little twinkling eyes were
close beside the oyster, and then he
peered in through the half-open shell.
The oyster lay very quiet within. and
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, .'how nice it smells! and
am sure it must taste even better than
it looks. What feast l am going to
have, to be sure! and such laugh to
myself over the sour looks OF the
servant-girl in the morning. who was,
no doubt, saving this delicious morsel
tor 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 half-opened shell Of
the oyster.
Now if had been there, would have
whispered: BE very careful, little MIR
Mouse, for, with ali your cunning and
boasting, you may get yourself into &
fix yet.
And it was just as you have doubtless
suspected-the oyster sOas alice! and nc
sooner had the little mouse poked his
nose into the opening than it CLOSED
with sudden spring, and 10! the little
mouse was caught at last!
Now dare say. if he had been giver
the time to think over it all, his one
thought would have been that he wa.
not such very wise little mouse aftel
all.
Little boy, little girl 1 am very much
afraid there are some of you just LIKE
this wise ca little mouse. Oh yes, yor
are quite sure you have wit enough t.
keep out of danger. You are too sharp
SO you think, eUer to be caught in
trap. Take care! The oyster lookee
very tempting and harmless to the lit
tie mouse, but within lay danger
death. Carleton Howard, IN Harper
Young People.
BEN'S SICKNESS.