The Bossier banner., 1892-02-18
A TIPSY MOUSE.
The Singular Conduct of a Queer Little

We first became acquainted on a |
rainy night in October. | was sitting
at my fire when l heard faint rustling
In some paper that had dropped be-
side my chair, and glancing down, I
saw the bright eyes of little mouse. l
say little mouse, for this one was so
small that it was evidently not fully
grown, and as soon saw was not yet
| afraid of man.
It sat quietly watching me for full
minute, when quietly extending my
arm caught it in my hand l reached
| for the plate of cakes at my elbow,
crumbled a morsel, and put it before
my tiny captive. 1t was trembling
| little, but presently, reassured, it began
| to nibble at the cake, pausing every
now and then to glance at me with its
bright, dark eyes.
Then, having further refreshed it by
drop of water proffered on a large
pens point, l placed my little prisoner
in a temporary stronghold formed of an
ink-stand, paper weight and stamp
box, from which it sat watching me
without the slightest appearance of
uneasiness or desire to escape.
My loneliness cheered even by the
presence of this scrap of life, resumed
my writing, pausing every now and
then to speak to my guest. 1t was with
real regret that felt must release the
| little creature when my work was I'm
ished. and it had another feast of cake.
| heard the clocks warning that it grew
late With a parting smooth Of its
satiny skin with my finger put it on
the floor and watched it steal away un-
der the wainscoting of the room, and
saw what had escaped my observation
before, that the mouse was lame in one
limb.
Of course l never expected to see it
again. but on the following night was
glad to see it come creeping back about
my feet, when placed it once more on
nv table This time, feeling rather
ashamed that had offered it the indig'
nifty before, made no attempt to hold
it in prison, but allowed it to wander
about the books and papers as it would,
which it did in so gentle and unobtrus-
, i've way as not to disturb me or the
articles with which the table was
strewn.
Mo pen seemed to greatly excite its
wonder, and as it hurried over the
paper, jamie, as l named my mouse
, would sit close to the sheet watching
! the letters form beneath the mysteri
Gus, swiftly travelling engine.
All that winter jamie and l kept eacl
other company every night, two boo1
companions, who never bored each 9th
er with conversation and yet were thu
better for the companionship. We ha'
+ many jolly midnight feast together
a when jamie sat upon the edge of m,
a plate, accepting such morsels as / prot
Y fered her. but never guilty of the rude
: ness of appropriating even crumb un
e invited On one occasion, however
n there occurred sad mishap. Ny land
i lady had brought me up slice of tn
e dish known as "Tipsy-Squire," which
n as probably you are aware, has sauc
:, made of wine or brandy. Not KNOWN
t. this, and too busy myself to taste it jus
a then, gave Janey few crumbs an
II went on with my work.
e Presently was alarmed and puzzle
s. to see my quiet little friend endeavo
b ing to stand on her head. Not succeed
S. ing in this, she tore about the tabl'
&C pausing every now and then to perforl
a dance and throw half somerset.
,e 1t finally dawned upon me what wi
1t the matter, when, l am ashamed to sa.
Or / laughed loud and long. This SCENE
I'd to attract Janie's attention, for ST
1t stopped short in her frenzy and can
,e creeping to my hand, in which she la
10 herself, and turned her eyes piteousl
n as if to say: II know I've been unlad
r. like. OH what is the matter wit
lie me?"
of made her bed of some jeweler
re cotton, and there she slept her into1
n cation away.
in Poor little jamie! Her fate is u
ly known to me. One night in early spril
IN | looked for her in vain, and mai
lg nights after would glance up from n
" writing at the faintest rustic in t
IN room, only to find that the wind w
ed the cause, or the falling of an ember
nv fire. She came no more. an
as though l had no particular cause
:" suspect him, | conceived an aversion
ly the household cat, and always look
re away whenever he sat and licked
chops before me- me-Philadelphia Tim