Norwich bulletin., 1915-09-04
THE CAREERS Of VICTOR

Z
was convaIescent after a severe i'll
ness. and 1t was the last night when a
nurse was necessary. The night had
the softness OF Indian summer. but as
both windows open were too much for
door little ajar. The door ajar gave
entrance to this unique experience.
The next morning as 1 lay there
alone movement of the muslin cur
running up them. Very composedly 1
called for a trap to be set in the room
and as soon as the house was fairly
estir my small visitor disappeared, pre-
sumably under the wardrobe, and we
saw him no more during the day.
In the eveping as sat propped UP
with pillows, while mother prepared my
bed for the night, Sir Mouse came out
from his hiding place, shyly, with many
dodge back, like a timid child. He
shifted at the trap set near. but de-
clined to enter its open door. Think
ing the bait might not be sufficiently
attractive. ! sent for fresh cheese and
soon went to bed, calm in the assur-
ance that the adventurer would fulfill
his manifest destiny before morning.
Little did 1 dream what a dance he
would lead me.
There was medicine to be taken and
a low light was left burning. Some
thing woke me from a much needed
S1c6P-d SOIn6In1IIS OH Tue DeQ-dnQ
with a hasty movement of my foot un-
der the cover Sir Mouse tumbled to
1 the floor. ! must insist that / was
| rot afraid but, honestly, would you
/ like to think that a mouse might be
fr1sking on your headboard, ready to
| drop on your calmly sleeping face?
There was not much more rest for
! me, though that night was not a cir
i cumstance to the two which followed.
i On the second day mother procured
/ rat poison and at eventide my carpet
/ was spread as a tempting board. Vari-
i GUS brown papers were the dishes
i which held meat or bread, seasoned
4 literally with this deadly relish. II
/ was difficult to see how my intrusive
i guest could walk the place and not
| yield to this gastronomic feast. But
/ he did, though indeed he spent not
much time upon the floor. He amused
/ himself by again dancing on the foot
! of my bed, climbing to the top of my
j curtains and once he fell from the cur
i tain pole to the floor, at least ten feet
Il but didn't dash his brains out either
| or apparently have need of surgical
! aid. He pranced round the rim of my
i wash bowl and balanced himself on g
/ rod where some towels were hanging
i How l prayed that he might fall into
i the water jar which stood beneath!
but no acborat was more agile or OF
i steadier nerve than he. He bobbed VI
j serenely from every untoward accident
Each morning he departed to hill
4 nook under the wardrobe like a true
i actor who will not exhibit his genius
in the garish light of day.
i BY the third night 1 was desperate
knowing there was nothing for it bu
to watch the little torment the livelonl
], night. The hours dragged wearil!
Il enough. was very weak and covetoui
l sible to the brilliancy of the perform
i ance which was for my sole benefit
Indeed, so far from waning this sta
increased in briuiancy with each sue
/ cessive night till was really in a stat
of expectation as to what he would at
4 tempt next.
The doctor had ordered wine for m
and a bottle of sherry stood on tn
table at my bedside An inspiration
came. I am a temperance woman
the last thing / would dream of doinl
would be to put the bottle to m,
neighbours lips, but by any reasoning
was a mouse my neighbor?
Is there not a motto, "All is fair i
kwar " Certainly l meant war on thi
4 marauder who was robbing me Of tina
priceless possession. sleep.
Scarcely able to stand, got out @
: bed feebly, took the trap and drenche
: it with wine. Perhaps 1t would lur
l him to his death as, alas, ii had lure
many another. Placing the trap o
i, the rug where could watch it, I creI
i back to bed. Sir Mouse was quickl
E attracted by the fragrant odor and
, shifted at the trap.
How eagerly looked to see him pok
i his nose inside the gaping gate! Ho'
3 savagely I listened to hear it sna
? down on his necki But he simpI
: would not be caught. Apparently h
liked what wine had trickled down o
the outside, but he was DO fly to wal
: into this spiders parlor
: Then another. a baser. plan present