Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1922-05-19
Little Stories For Bedtime
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS
RUNAWAY MITE BECOMES LOST
BY THORNTON w. BUI

Mite, the littlest and smartest and
most head strong of the four children
of Danny and Nanny Meadow Mouse,
had run away. Yes, sir, he had run
away from home. For some time he
had planned to do it, and now he
actually had done It, 1t wasn't be-
cause he was unhappy at home. 1t
wasn't because he wasn't loved by
his father and mother and brothers
and sisters The fact is he was so
small and cute and smart that he was
very much loved by all of them. The
reason he had run away was simply
because he wanted to see the Great
World, and he believed himself so
smart that he could do it without
getting into danger. You see, he had
a very good opinion of himself had
little Mite. such a good opinion of
himself that he thought he knew
more than Danny Meadow Mouse and
used to turn his head to hide a smile
when Danny would tell how danger
Gus it would be for one of them to
so much as peep out from the shelter
of the pile of old cornstalks in the
middle of which was their home.
II don't believe it is dangerous at
ALL" said Mite. Il guess I'm smart
enough to keep out Of danger, any
way. And If I should find trouble
all I've got to do is to turn around
and scamper home again
SO he had watched his chance. and
when no one was looking he had
slipped out along one Of Danny s
private little paths. He scampered
along it as fast as ever he could.
fearing that he would be seen and
called back. He took the first path
that branched off and followed this
until this branched, and here he
turned off again. BY this time he
was quite sure that no one had seen
him, and So of course. that no one
was following him, and he began to
enjoy his freedom. 1t was very de-
lightful and cool down there, with
walls of grass stems on either SIDE,
and with a green roof where the
grasses met above the little path and
through which the merry little sun
beams crept here and there.
Every few minutes Mite stopped to
sample tender, young. juicy grasses,
and once, to his great delight he
found a strawberry. Later he caught
sight of fat cricket just disappear
ing around a turn in the path, and
with a little squeak of excitement
he started after ii. But when he got
around the little turn in the path the
cricket was nowhere to be seen. Mite
hunted until he was tired. Then he
sat down to rest.
Il guess" thought he. ''it is about
time I started back home Right
then and there he received the first
of many rights which were to be his
before he should again see the dear
old home under the pile of old corn
stalks on the edge of Farmer Browns
cornfield. Yes. sir. he received a
fright, a very great fright. He didn't
know where home was, He. Mite
Meadow Mouse, who was so smart
and clever had lost himself the very
first thing He had come along so
many paths that he couldn't remem-
Der which was which.
Right away little Mite did the very
thing that most people do when they
find that they are lost-he began TO
run as hard as ever he could. All he
could think of was getting home,
and he acted as if he thought that
Just running would get him there.
Now, of course. it would have got
him there tiff he had been running
in the right direction But he WASH t.,
and so the faster he ran the further
ne got from Hoiie. AHd 40 iic iNt.i
little Mite cried. Yes, sir. he cried.
He suddenly felt very. very small and
so dreadfully lonely. Those dangers
he had so foolishly laughed at now
seemed very real and near. Jolly,
round. bright Mr.. Sun had hidden be-
hind a cloud, and so no merry little
sunbeams frightened the little path.
And at last the little path ended.
Little Mite sat down and cried. He
Just couldn't help it. II wish | had