Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-09-24
Sglnmth's Column.
Miss Mousey's Musicale.

| mouse! nave ana we'll remember
one that treated me to a sweet sere-
made every night that 1 could almost
have believed canary-bird was con-
fined within my bedroom walls.
| Some wisacres pretend to say that
these musical rodents are afflicted
with neuralgia, and that in their agony
they utter the sounds we term 'ssing-
ing :" but if this be true, Miss Mousey
Melody, who belonged to the musical
variety, bravely concealed her suffer-
ings, and was Wanted far and wide
as the most charming prima-donna in
Mousedom. Great, too, were her adj
vantages, for her coy little home was
next door to the room of Professor
Solfado, the famous violinist, so she
had the benefit of all his instructions
to his pupils as well as listening by
by the hour while he practiced and
composed and tore his hair-often far
into the night, and to the extreme dis
gust of his sleep-loving fellow board
ers. So it was that the octave of
mice were so fortunate as to receive
invitations to a grand musicale, to be
given by Miss Mousey on certain
evening when the Professor would be
away from home, felt highly honored
thereby, and were looked upon with
envy by all their less favored compan-
ions, who however took especial pains
to remark that 'sThe finest music in
the world would not tempt them to
risk encountering Mistress Grimalkin
and her frisky young daughter, Pussy
Greeneyes."
"All sour grapes p shifted old DR..
Whiskers, 'sfor the cats are all shut
in the cellar every night by9 o'clock )"
and he, Madam Longtail, two
country cousins named Field, Rodey
Feartrap, Miss Churchmouse, Scratchy
Sharpnose, and little Scrabble Bright
eyes were all on hand at eleven sharp,
in their best bib and tucker, their hair
brushed to an astonishing state of
smoothness, and their nails manicured
in the most approved style. They
were received by Miss Mousey, re-
| splendent in hat and feathers and
scarlet sash and jacket, and by her
conducted to the Professors apart
| ment, where books and music lay
scattered about in careless confusion,
and where delicious odor of toasted
cheese pervaded the air, as promise
of good things to come after the
ssfeast of music and the flow of soul, p"
and which fairly made the mouth OF
the little Churchmouse water with an
ticipation. s'Ah, this is delightful,
truly delightful % exclaimed Madam
Longtail, nodding her head, adorned
with knitted cap procured from the
celebrated ''Ragbag & Co." expressly
for the occasion, and waving her
hands in the most ecstatic manner.
''Most as good as a Harvest
Home" chuckled the Field mice,
and then all settled themselves COM
fortably on pile of huge folios, to
listen to Miss Mousey, who opened
the ball by warbling beautiful oper
attic air, entitled CLEAR me gnaw,
Ma with so many trills and quavers
and crescendos that it was truly sup
prising. The company applauded
uproariously, and the clapping of tiny
paws and the shrill cries of "Encore !!
encore p brought Miss Melody back
in hurry, beaming and bowling, to
give them simple ballad, ''When
I was a Mousekin small" which was
also enchanting. Next, DR.. Whisk-
ers prepared to perform a violin solo
on the Professors beloved Stradiva-
RUS, although the bow was so heavy
Rodey Feartrap and Scratchy Sharp
nose had to assist him in drawing it
across the strings. Squeaky-te-squeak
it went on the high notes, and after
} considerable see-sawing by the trio,
which sent shivers skipping up and
down the listeners spine, the Doctor
announced that this was ''Solfado's"
latest composition, Monastery
Bells" a piece which should have
greatly pleased Miss Churchmouse,
she being of religious turn of mind,
and which would undoubtedly have
done so had she not just then been
skirmlshing in the background and
nibbling at book of fables; for the
smell of the cheese made her raven
n ously hungry, and she was accustom-
ed to a diet of hymnals. ''Now will
t not the two Mr.. Fields favor us with
e a country ditty?" suggested Scrabble
!, Brighteyes to Miss Mousey, and as
n the brothers were too gallant to refuse
r a request from the ladies, they at once
, mounted the rostrum and Justify roared
d out 'tComing through the Rye" and
n "Give me Three Grains of Corn, ,
y the sentiment of the last being par
ticularly appreciated by the lean little
e rodent behind Esop's Fables. Mad
u am Longtail then good-naturedl,
scrambled up onto the piano stool ant
N played ''The Four-Foot Lanciers," t.
which the young folks danced ant
lie capered in the gayest manner, Will
DR.. Whiskers led off with the hostess
$, quite unconscious that within the al
1T cove, in the Professors bed, Mistres
Grimalkin and her plump kitten ha
curled themselves up snugly for tn
night, having for once escaped tn
Argus eye of Dame Housewife.