Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-12-15


build, and unless you have tried 1t
yourself you have no idea what lot
of hard work and skill it takes to
build a first-class monse-nest. Mrs.
Deermouse said she was at least
thankful they did not have to count
the grass stems they cut with their
sharp little teeth, or the trips they
made to carry them to the nest. Mr..
Deermouse replied that the mere
thought of doing so made him dizzy.
Later on when there were five little
mice to care for-what hurrying and
scurrying for seeds! 1t seemed as if
those children were always hungry,
and how glad they were when their
mother told them they were big
enough to go with her to the fields
one at time, of course.
Ollie was the first to go and he
came home feeling very important in
deed, and worried his mother dread
fully by Boosting that now he was
smart enough to go alone every day.
Dickies turn came last Of all. He
had never dreamed that the world
was so big or contained so many
noises He was glad when his moth
er said it was time to go home and
you may be sure he didn't tease his
mother to let him go out alone for he
thought his home was the best place
and wished he might never have to
leave it again.
That reminds me that / must tell
you something about the Deermouse
home. Long years ago several big
stones had fallen together in such a
way that they made a roomy cave with
an entrance just big enough for mice
All the other mice in the clearing en-
wed the Deerm0use family tn ell
splendid stone mansion" So you see
it is no wonder that Dickie loved his
home so well.
But when fall came all the Deer
mouse children were settled in snug
little nests of their own. Mr.. and
Mrs. Deermouse had taken great care
in helping each little DeermOuse Sc.
lect the location for his new home
that is all except Ollie. Ollie said
he had lived under an old stone long
enough and built his home where he
could "see something" Alas for poor
Ollie, a prowling skunk spied his
nest and Ollie was snapped up in a
trice.
Mrs. DeermOuse was greatly dis
tressed by the accident for naughty
Ollie had been very dear to her. She
declared she could not, and would
not, abide longer in that neighbOr
hood where every stick and stone re
hinder her Of her poor unfortunate
child.
Mr. Deermouse argued that no
where else would they be as safe; thai
they would have to leave their bis
store of seeds and it was late to gath
er more, but the more he argued the
more determined was Mrs. DeermOust
to move so at last he was obliged tt
go out and hunt new lodgings.
Well, after alf-aday's search Mr.
Deermouse came home and told Mrs
Deermouse that if she was still deter
mined to move, he had found fine
place. "Of course" he added, there
is no place quite like this home"
Now that she had had time to thinl
it over Mrs. Deermouse was rather re
luctant to leave her old home. How
ever, she said nothing about that ant
they decided to move to their new
home at once. When Dickie heard o.
it he begged his parents to allow hin
to go with them and share their home
for the winter. Mrs. Deermouse wa
delighted and Mr.. Deermouse said III
would probably be useful in gather
ing material for the new nest.
The new home was as unlike th'
old as possible, but Mrs. Deermous'
expressed herself as well pleased will
it. Almost ON the edge of the clear
ing an old pine stub had been lef
standing. It was about twenty fee
high and from the top it had spill
about half way down, and one sid
had fallen off leaving a ledge pro
tected from the north and east winds
On this ledge they decided to built
their nest.
Mr.. DeermOuse felt that he was in
deed very fortunate in finding such
good location vacant. They went t.
work at once to gather grass and 9th
er material for their nest. Dicki
worked harder than he ever had be
fore and it was not many days unit
they were once more well prepared
for the long winter fast approaching
With such snug safe nest and thei
big store of seeds they told each othe
that they really expected to enjoy tn
winter for snow and cold would no
trouble them in the least.
"And the best part of it isl sal
Dickie, that no horrid skunk ca
reach us here.
And so the little family in the oil
pine stub looked forward to peace
full, quiet winter after the arduous
anxious summer.
But there is an old saying whic
You and / have heard Though tn
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