The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-06-23
BEDTIME STORIES
FOR LITTLE
FOLKS
THE MOUSE AND THE RING.

cheese.
These she put into her pocket and,
tying up her few possessions in a bun
die. she started off to try to earn her
living, not knowing where she would
go.
When she was a short way from
the house she heard someone calling
Nina, Nina, take me with you
Nina turned around and saw run
ming toward her mouse.
When the mouse came up to her it
said: Take me with you and you
will not be sorry If you leave me in
the house | will starve.'
You will starve, perhaps, if you go
with me-" said Nina, 'for | have only
few crusts in my pocket and piece
of cheese, but if you like you may hop
into my pocket and come along"
So the mouse hoped into Nina S
pocket and they went on together to-
ward the city.
When it came time to eat her din
ner Nina sat down on the roadside
and took from her pocket the crust
and cheese. The mouse hoped out
and sat up beside her, waiting for
his share.
Il suppose ] may as well give you
part of my dinner she said. ut
can't last long. anyway, and then we
will both starve."
Take me with you and you shall
not starve," said the mouse when
Nina had finished eating.
So Nina told the mouse to hop into
her pocket again. and she walked on
She had not gone far when she saw
beautiful black horse standing beside
a rock, and the rider on his knees ]
looking intently at something which |
Nina thought was on the rock.
But when she got up to them she |
found that the man was looking into |
very much disturbed.
Are you in trouble, sir?" asked |
Nina; you look very unhappy.
"Oh, l am in great trouble" said I
the man. 81 have dropped into this
crack in the rock ring which was
given to me by a witch and which
keeps off all trouble; now | know
what will happen for | cannot reach
it. | will give to anyone who Will re-
cover the ring bag of gold, but who
would be able to get into place as
small as this; no one. | am sure"
Tell him | will get his ring" whis-
pered the mouse to Nina.
my good sir. | happen to have
mouse in my pocket that will do any
thing ask. and if you wish | will ask
it to get your ring" ,
"Oh. if you can do this for me-
said the man, "the gold shall be yours.
and YOU shall have fine house to live
in besides
So Nina told the mouse to hop out
of her pocket and run into the crack !
in the rock and in a minute it came I
out with the ring in its mouth. i
Come with me to my castle" said
the man. land the gold shall be yours a
and | will give you house which is r
not far from my castle; you shall h
never want for anything, for without v
this ring my life would not have been
worth living. | have had so many
enemies"
Nina went with the man to his cas- n
lie. and he gave her the gold and then
ne showed her the house which was to
be hers. but he told her she would II
nave to get rid of the mouse. because II
I would eat all the corn and grain II
n his storehouses.
When the mouse heard this it
Jumped out of Mina's pocket and ran
ID on the shoulder of the man. who
vas JUST putith6 tho ''hS va 49, Hi
,er. which so frightened him that he
ropped the ring. ii
Quick as thought the mouse HI
umped to the ground and, taking the iii
ing i'm his mouth, off he ran with it III
Nina called to the mouse to bring III
ack the ring. and the man offered III
,ore gold if the ring was returned III
ut the mouse did not come back. Hi
Suddenly an old witch appeared be- III
ore them, and the man began to HI
'emble. HI
"You have lost the ring for good
lis time" said the witch. "You are
,st and so am /. The prince has iii
,me into his own again. III
AS she finished speaking the sky be-
anne dark and a terrible noise was III
card, which shook the very earth be-
cath Mina's feet. but in an instant III
ceased and 1t was light again. Ill
"You have saved me-" said someone iii
c.