The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-07-09
Bedtime Stories
For Little Folks
THE cRIckET's SONG.

up in the corner out of the wind and
tried to spread her wings over them.
But even when they were out of the
wind it was cold, and the poor little
crickets kept crying that they were
so cold they did not know what to do.
ooh, mother dear" said little John
ny Cricket, isn't there some place to
20 where we can be warm?"
"And I'm so hungry" walled little
Mary Cricket, who was the baby.
MY dears," said old Mother Cricket,
in a sad voice, Il am afraid that there
is no place to go. If we go in the
house the dog will hurt us. And as
for something to eat, l haven't been
able to find something all day long.
And old Mother Cricket was so unhap-
by that she cried.
Now. you must understand that at
the time all this happened crlckets
were not the cheerful little insects
thew are nowadays. No, indeed; they
were very sad little things, and, what
is more, they never sang a song like
all proper crickets do now
After old Mother Cricket had
stopped crying the little crickets tried
hard TO forget that they were cold
and hungry and to go to sleep. But
their mother could feel them shlVer-
ing and knew that they were hungry
and if made her very miserable.
'If | could only do something Tor
them" she said to herself.
Did you speak to me?' asked a
polite voice.
ooh. goodness mel" exclaimed old
Mother Cricket, very much frightened
for she could see nobody.
Don't be afraid; it's only me, the
house cat" And then Mother Cricket
could dimly make out the figure OF a
biq black cat that had come up to the
porch.
ooh, please go away. am not 90
inc anv harm here. Truly l am not
said poor Mother Cricket, thinking
that the house cat would chase hel
away.
j "rm not going to hurt you. ! VII
HELM you if you xiii let me- said ths
cat Listen" she added, IF you VII
| tell me your troubles, perhaps l can
help
At first old Mother Cricket wax
afraid that the cat was just trying te
cot chance to gobble her and he'
nrociors babies up, but as nothlns
bannened for some time she began u
feel less afraid.
I'm cold" she told the house cat
"And nv babies are cold and hunsry
And 7 don't know what to do. AM
old Mother Cricket began to cry ai
over again. .1r,x,
&c that all?" asked the cat why
am com fix that. l am going TO CT!
~ he let indoors soon. You can ooni'
IN with me. And as for food there i
lots of it in the house"
"Ah, dear me, no." exclaimed ol'
,,othor Cricket. THAT would neVe
, do The dog would be sure 10 eat Il"
babies up" ao
Nonsense" said the cat. Inc uo'
:. .froid of me and / will see thaI ~
don't eat you up. There is a nice ii'''
1oIo in the wall by the CRATE that yo'
49, 1.-Two in too. Better come along
That is what the cat told old Mo'he
Cricket Then she lifted her heau an'
called "Meo-o-o-oow, meo-o-ow'
rSoro was a pause, and then tn
door opened a little. &c
"Come on in, Beauty" said a SUI
nd &c the cat went in a glr
,;cked her up and started 10 pei NJ,
Rut the door was left open enous'
for old Mother Cricket and her lou
hobies to get in. In a minute Inc 81
49, the cat down and then the q"
came can back to the little family
Come with me" he sald' anu ~
40 wav to the dining ROOM "hei'
thore was a warm fire burning IN III
rate She showed the cricket 'n'
hole and after old Mother Cricket ii''
insta,led her little ones the cat 90
them some supper Just about I'M
time the house dog came around an'
started to go to the hole Du' ~"
arched her back and her FUR s'oou "
so straight that the house dog 'ufn Nc
ona went away. And he never oo''
ored old Mother Cricket again.
But the best part of the story Is ye
90 come. Old Mother Cricket an
her little family had such NICE NOM
that old Mother Cricket decided sn