The Washington times., 1913-06-24
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
THE DENTIST MOUSE.

mother: what makes II &c
hard to Rnaw q hole In this
wall? I have worked on II all
night and have not made even the lit.
test bit Of a hole. I am 30 tired
can hardly crawl"
Il should think you would be. you
silly boy" replied his mother. Don't
you know that Is q steel wall you have
been working on? Some day you will
break your teeth and have to 80 to the
old mouse dentist up In the barn"
II am not afraid Of him." replied
Willie Mouse. "and guess 1 can Enaw
through that wall. too. even IL It ID
steel never saw anything / could
not get through IL wanted to-"
You better change your mind about
that wall, then" said his mother. be-
cause Il cannot be done. You cannot
gnaw steel or iron or anything like
that. Now you take my advice and
stick to softer things"
There isn't any fun working on soft
things" replied Willie Mouse from his
bed In the corner IT am going to rest
q little while and then try that wall
again."
"You are a foolish, headstrone boy"
said his mother as she left the table. II
know where there 10 a big cheese. You
better come with me-"
But Willie did not answer. He was
asleep and dreaming of that steel wall
which he had gnawed full of holes and
all the mice In the neighborhood were
standing around him cheering him be-
cause of his wonderful work.
A noise near his hole awakened him
with jump. for he thought he saw
big cat looking at him through one Of
the holes he had made in the steel wall.
Huh said Willy Mouse. sitting up
and rubbing his eyes; Il reckon must
have been dreaming. l ate too much OF
that fruit cake in the pantry last night.
well. I must not waste time. I want
to surprise mother and have hole In
that wall by the time she returns"
But on his way to the wall he ran
across a small box, which smelled OF
cake.
THAT looks easy" he said: "I may as
we'll have something to eat before l be-
gin work"
When Willy Mouse tried to bite
through the box he found. to his sur
prise, that II was not so easy. The box
looked like pasteboard; the color was
20 soft and brown, but II was hard. and,
snaw as he would, he could not break
through.
"It ts not as hard as that wall" said
Willie Mouse. Il won't giIH II up III
try a corner. Corners are easy to &c,
at
But. alas, for Willie Mouse. He made
a grab for the corner of the box, and
snap went one OF his teeth.
Willie put his paw up, and sure
enough, there was a piece of his tooth
broken of "oh, dear. oh dear. he
began TO cry. II know I shall starve
now. cannot eat without my front
teeth What shall l do?"
He ran home as fast as he could with
the piece of his tooth in one paw and
the ether front paw held over his
mouth. for he felt sure all his teeth
would fall out II he did not hold on.
What is the natter" asked his
mother when she saw him.
"Oh. dear. oh. dear! l broke my tooth
and / know I will starve now," he re-
Piled.
II told you not to enaw at that stee|
wall said his mother You will have
to go TO cid Dentist Mouse up in the
barn
1T wasn't the WALL said Willie
Mouse: at was very soft-looking box
but it wasn't soft at ALL" said Willie
Mouse. "Will IL hurt much?'' he asked
Not much" said his mother. II dc
net think he will take ou: the part In
your mouth He will very likely pu,
the broken piece back"
Il suppose he will drive In a nail TO
hold H." said Willie Mouse, squeaking
very loud.
Hush this instant" said his mother
You will have all the cats in the
neighborhood here and then You will
not need your teeth fixed. can tell you -
Old Dentist Mouse looked at Willie
over his glasses. and then at the broken
piece.
Very bad: very bad he said. II will
have to get some glue and put II back.
but you cannot eat anything for a whole
day and night-it must get perfectly
hard first"
Willie Mouse opened his mouth very
wide and old dentist Mouse put In a
spoonful of glue and then placed the
broken piece on the place where II had
been before.
Willie Mouse tried to get away, for
the glue was al over his n2Yth. and 1t