Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-28

uOIuluS. All tucy uO 10 " Stcop oAAo
let the mice come In as they please
SO that the very hair Is not safe on
our heads" So he got up and in his
anger drove the cats away.
The next night, when the master
went to sleep. there were no cats to
watch the magic stone. Quietly the
mouse crept in again and gnawed at
the red ribbon until it was SO weak
that it broke, and the stone fell to the
floor. The little mouse then pushed 1t
out through the crack under the door.
In this she might not have succeeded,
for it got caught under the door, but
she called the monkey, and he pulled
it out for her. Then they departed
carrying the wonderful stone down to
the water. -. .-
How asked the monkey, shall we
get at the chest now"
| "Oh," answered the bear, that Is
quite easy. You, my dear monkey,
shall get upon my back, holding fast
with your hands. You must carry the
stone in your mouth; and you, friend
mouse, can sit in my right ear, while
swim to the chest" s-..
So the monkey got upon the bears
back, and the mouse ran up and sal
down in the bears right ear He had
not gone very far before he began to
feel uneasy. He spoke to the monkey
several times, but the monkey made
no reply. a .....#.. .. A.
do you hear me, friend monkey?
he said at last. why do you not an
swer me? Have you NO manners?"
The monkey did not wish to speak
but he could hold his tongue no longer
so letting the stone roll into the river
he replied to the bear. ,-s.,
you stupid fellow" he said, did
you not know that could not talk to
you with the stone in my mouth ?
Now 1t is gone for good"
II am very sorry said the bear,
"but don't be angry, for we shall soon
find it again." Then the bear began
to call to all living creatures In the
water-to the frogs, the fishes and the
turtles
There is dreadful enemy coming
to kill you ALL" he said, when they
had gathered around him; but if you
will bring us some stones as quickly
as you can, we will build fort to save
you" E
All the animals we're greatly fright
ened at these words, and hurried to
bring the stones as fast as they could
It was very amusing to see the diff
ferent animals coming with the stones.
Some Of them brought little stones
and some big stones. After few
minutes, an old fat frog came bring
ing the wonderful stone in her mouth.
It was quite heavy for her.
When the bear saw it, he was very
glad. Taking the stone, he thanked
the animals for what they had done,
and told them to have no fear.
81 will see," he said, that no enemy
does you HARM
Then the three faithful beasts set
out for the chest. After much hard
work, they broke the lid open with
the aid of stones. They had come just
in time to save the man. He had
drunk the, last drop of water and had
eaten the last bit of bread. Indeed, he
was almost starved.
The bear gave the magic stone to
the man, who took it with great JOY.
He at once wished himself back in his
castle with the gardens and stables.
Immediately he found himself there,
with his three friends. He never
thought again of selling the magic
stone The mouse, the monkey, and
the bear, who had been SO faithful,
lived with him and enjoyed all the
blessings of a happy life.-Adapted
from Grimm.