Norwich bulletin., 1913-06-14
THE LIFE OF A MOUSE


 thing, and are quiet and retiring and eat but little.
 There's another pointl the little we
 eat Is grudgingly given. Everything In the pantry is covered up so closely 1t Is hard sometimes even for mouse
 te find what he wants. I am sure the few crumbs we take would never be missed, but it is made as difficult | as possible, and we feel discouraged at the results. I often have to run ever quite surface to obtain what need.
 We are safest at night, I find. One of my cousins appeared in the day. time not long since, and never re- turned to us. From the sounds we concluded that he was chased about until he was cornered and murdered. For whatt just for trying to hide in an old shoe. Why shouldn't he live in a shoe, if he chose?
 We are not always safe at night. A story is told in monsedom of one who ran about the pantry shelf in search Of food Into the same room, came a young man for a lunch. Aft CT being out when he should have been in bed. Feeling in the desk for what he wanted. he came too near the mouse, who crept for safety into what seemed a good retreat. It proved to be the coat sleeve on the young mans arm. and he seized the poor, poor mouse as he reached the arm pit to prevent his escape. We are easily killed and the poor fellow died from suffocation.
 Another of my friends was mistak- en for a roll of lint. and thrown into the stove and burned to death. We certainly are cruelty treated Traps are set for us, and baited with cheese. Now we like cheese, but so much has been told us of the dangers of traps, that even cheese will not tempt me. Then, somehow we know when any of our cousins have been caught in . trap and will not go into them. We know those wires will choke us while we get the cheese they offer us.
 No, I am sure they will never get me in trap. I like other things better than cheese, too. I like my freedom there. I tried my teeth once on the bindings of some books. Not that I wanted the leather but the paste which held it in place, seemed good to me. Some of my friends like paper, and have been known to drag off bank notes to line their nests. But people accuse us of many things which we never do I know of it's being said that we set fire to a house by drag ging matches into our nests and caus ing them to burn Almost all those folks who complain of us play with matches. Why shouldn't we do the same? But that is base islander. We can see in the dark without matches, and I know there have never have been any in our nest.
 There are not so many in our home as there were, for several of our num- Der to do as they were told, and evil dently ran into danger and never re- turned. I am an obedient child, and willing to follow the advice of my nld GIT I n traps, and live to good old age.
 AS a reward of merit, ought to find something good tonight on my rounds. Eurekai I believe I have found it even while I am talking of it. Where did those dainty pumpkin seeds come leave them in such fashion in a wire box on the floor. That cannot be a trap, for all ever heard of were round pieces of wood with holes to choke mice in. and this box has nothing to catch me by the throat. I do love seeds above all things, and the foolish people who left them there deserve to lose some for their care lessness. I am going to help myself. There is no danger. So here goes! I came through that open door easily, and now for a feasti How good they tasteI I am afraid there will be few left for those greedy mortaIs, but I must stop ana run out or they VIII find me here.
 What, I cannot get out! What shall [ dol This must be a trap after all! My mother never told me of one like his. They must be new kind. and she had never seen one like it. Alas! i my sad fate! I wonder what they will 10 with me when they find me. Those seeds have made me very drowsy, so think I'll just take a nap for a few minutes To think I am trapped after i all! AN IDLER.