Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-09-18
LOST TENANTS.
They Left Without as Much as Bidding
"G0od.By"

"GO0d-By."
During the weeks of confinement
to his room enforced upon the editor of
the TINES recently, many of the long,
cruel hours of suffering were some
what enlivened by a family of mice. |
After the wounded man recovered an
appetite his meals were brought to
this Office. The basket containing
the remnants would be left from
one meal to the next and it was not
long before it was evident that the
force of the TIMES had increased in
numbers. The first new conner was
stately old gentleman mouse, who eau
tiously tipped from his round door
way under sofa, and silently moved
toward the middle of the front room,
keeping q keen eye on all around
This was repeated several times.
After day or so lady friend &C.
companied him on his tours of obser-
walton. 1t was evident the couple
"smelled" snack, if not a mouse"
Day after day they would come forth
and hunt about the room. Finally
they found the basket on book shelf.
1t was amusing to lie still and watch
how ingeniously they managed to get
to the food high up on the shelving.
Tine wore on. One evening some
lady friends brought few niceties to
the editor, and almost as soon as their
backs were turned, out came Mr.. and
Mrs. Mouse and family Of four little
ones.
The old people had been petted
and fed and had grown very gentle ;
never seeming to DO disturbed when
none but the sick man was in the
room. In fact it was evident they
knew and considered him part of the
furniture. On the Grst visit of the
little people, they were very shy, but
like all children, grew familiar when
they found they were sure to ge.
goodies"
For weeks these six and the TIMES
man passed pleasant hours together -
he recovering, they growing and fat
tening. Except when other people
came in, these family visits were pro-
longed indefinitely. Did crumb o.
cake fall near the bedside, there wa.
sure to be race for 1t, joined in b.
all who were near by.
But these good times could no
last always. When the sick man wa
sufficiently convalescent, he arose ant
dressed himself early one morning
and took his place near the east win
} dow to behold the first sunrise he hac
witnessed for long weary weeks
! Presently the old gentleman of tn
t Mouse family came trotting in a
usual. When he espied the strang
\ and unknown figure seated along hi
l well-used pathway, he turned and in
e continently fled. Presently he peep
P ed cautiously from his doorway unde
the sofa, as he had done the first da
he came.
e Not satisfied with appearances, b
S turned and summoned his cold lady,
d who came and stood beside him, lool
e ing as much like a curious woman I
8 a mouse could look. She left, as II
e TIMES man supposed, for the childre
h of the household, who soon Aocked
5, the doorway and gazed in silent an
o seeming wonder at the transformatio
that had taken place, since they we
70 skipping playfully about the chan
IS Der, in the lamplight just before Il
g day broke. OF sudden, frighten'
er it may be by the sick mans moveme
il as he tossed some crumbs OF cake
ward them, the family fled.
n THIS was about week ago. Tn
Is, have not been back since. II an
IS. body has found family of six mi
he lately, they belong to this Office at
as other animals have done heto
o. went off without paying their re-
h, However, they can stay. Such te
ants are not wanted any more.