Nellie M. Leonard

“ The nasty, thieving, little beast! If there's a creature I can't abide, it's a mouse, to be sure!'
"I'm not a nasty little beast, am I, Mammy? I have a nice warm bath every Saturday night."
"Every Saturday night, the whole six of you," agreed Mother Graymouse wagging her head proudly. "And what could a body ask more of a neat mother mouse with a big family?"
"The Giants have a bath every morning," said Limpy-toes. "Granny
Whiskers says so, and of course Granny knows."
"A bath every morning!" cried Silver Ears. "Just think of that."
"Just imagine it!" drawled Buster. ”

“ Buster waved his paw wildly.
"Something good to eat, Mammy," he answered, smacking his fat little chops.
"I fear, Buster, that I must make a dunce cap for you," said his mother, trying hard not to smile.
"An enemy is a trap that pinches off toes," answered Limpy-toes.
"That cross old Norah is an enemy," decided Silver Ears. "But Ruth
Giant is not an enemy."
[Illustration: "That cross old Norah."]
"Maybe not; maybe not," returned Mother Graymouse. "But I mistrust all the other Giants. So take care, my dears.
"An enemy is anything that will harm us. Traps are our enemies. ”

“ Next morning when all the little Graymouses were eating their breakfast food, Mother Graymouse announced soberly, "My dears, we are going to move."
"Out into the country?" cried Silver Ears and Buster at once.
"Out into the barn."
"Oh, dear!" wailed five little mice.
"Boo-hoo!" cried Baby Squealer.
"Listen, dearies," argued Mammy patiently. "Our lives are no longer safe in this attic. Our enemies are cruel. We must go. But Grand-daddy and Uncle Squeaky will go with us. You will have Dot, Scamper, Wink and Wiggle for playmates. Just think what fun you ten children will have together. ”

“ Silver Ears heard them whispering and giggling together, but she was busy making herself a blue velvet hood from some pieces that Mother Graymouse had found in an old trunk. So she never noticed when Tiny and Teenty slipped through a hole that led to the play-room.
"Oh, isn't it grand to come all by ourselves!" whispered Tiny.
"Isn't it grand!" echoed Teenty.
"Mammy Graymouse will think we are old enough to look out for ourselves if only we can find something nice to take home to her," went on Tiny. "Oh, see, Teenty, they haven't thrown away their Christmas tree, yet! I smell goodies. ”

“ Nimble-toes danced with delight when he saw the bag of rare goodies. Buster, however, thought that the minced turnip and seed salad was a great treat.
Baby Squealer never cried "Boo-hoo!" once all that long summer day.
He played with Baby Wee as smiling and happy as could be.
"The darling is always as good as gold when he is out doors," said
Mother Graymouse.
"I always said it was fresh air and sunshine that made Wee so healthy," agreed Ma Field-Mouse.
After dinner, Nimble-toes invited Limpy-toes, Silver Ears, Buster and the twins to go out and play with him. ”

“ I wish I'd had time to stuff some of that chicken and frosted cake into my pocket for you all. It was a splendid dinner party, if that old Tom hadn't been invited."
"Chicken, raspberry jam and frosted cake," repeated Buster in his slow, drawling voice. "Say, Silvy, don't you mind that scratch. I'd risk it for such a good feast. Do you suppose there's any left?"
"I forbid you all to enter that play-room again without asking my permission," commanded Mother Graymouse.
"Don't risk it, Buster," laughed Silver Ears. "Why, you never would have reached that hole. You are too fat to run fast. ”

“ Limpy-toes.
"He must like to work so hard," drawled Buster.
"Oh, it's jolly fun!" cried Tiny.
"It's jolly fun," echoed her twin Teenty.
"Maybe it is," said Mother Graymouse, "but I'd like to chew a hole in those toys that would let out all the noise. With their racket and Squealer's howling, I'm almost crazy. Here, Silver Ears, sit by the cradle and amuse the baby. I must try to find something for our supper. Buster, I want you to help the twins set the dishes on the table while I am gone. Don't shirk now. Even if Limpy-toes is so lame, he helps me far more than you do. ”

“ But oh, my dear Betsey, of all my ten children, Wee and Nimble-toes were the only ones to escape. Sniff! sniff! sniff!"
"Sniff! sniff!" cried Mother Graymouse.
"Well, we mice must make the best of things," added Mrs. Field-Mouse more cheerfully. "Our new home is snug and sheltered and not nearly as damp as the old one. There is an abundance of sweet corn and other juicy vegetables in the Giant's garden, and a big oak tree near by to supply us with all the acorns we shall need for next winter. ”

“ Spice cake's very nice;
Heigh oh! Merry oh!
We are happy mice."
"A voice just like his poor Daddy's," sighed Mother Graymouse, "and so he is a comfort, too."
"Then there was a pair of twins," resumed Uncle Squeaky. "The two of 'em wouldn't make one good sized mouse. But it did not take much stuff for their dresses and they could steal through the tiniest, teentiest holes, which was often very handy for the whole family."
How they all clapped for Tiny and Teenty!
"Hush!" cautioned Mother Graymouse. "If we make too much noise, the
Giant may be angry and turn us out of our cosy home." ”

“ Buster hid behind the doll's dresser and waited. At last he got impatient.
"She will eat 'em all up and I know they are real good," he fussed. "Mammy will come home and call me pretty soon. Oh, why doesn't somebody call Ruth Giant down-stairs? I wonder if she would think I was Silver Ears and toss me some candy? It can't be poison, for she is eating it her own self."
At last, such a long at last, Buster thought, Ruth closed her book and went away. How Buster did hurry to get his greedy little paws into that box of chocolates! ”

“ When Mother Graymouse called upon Granny Whiskers, she found her in great trouble.
"The cookies are shut tight in pails. The cheese and meat are covered. The only food in sight is set around on the pantry shelves in traps. The Giants mean to starve us out. Such terrible times as have befallen us!" she moaned.
Uncle Squeaky was of the same opinion. Mr. Giant had been very angry when he found the pumpkin play-house that Wink and Wiggle had made. ”

“ So beware, my dears.
"Cats are our enemies. You have all seen that cruel old Thomas Cat, the black imp, with brass eyes that shine in the dark like automobile lamps. His teeth are sharp and strong; his claws are like ugly needles. Never take any chances when he is around, my dears.
"The Giants are our worst enemies. They set the traps to catch us; they keep the cat to eat us. Often they try to poison us. That is the reason, Silvy, why you must never eat Ruth Giant's cake until I have seen it.
"Your poor Daddy ate a cracker one day, which was spread with salmon and rat poison. ”

“ Then he began to cough and splutter and choke until Mammy grew frightened.
Uncle Squeaky appeared upon the scene just then.
"Stop that, you young rascal!" he laughed. "That is a very poor imitation of a cough. What you need is neither oil nor vinegar, but a good dose of salt. You are altogether too fresh for a youngster."
Buster stopped choking at once. Soon he began to feel better. Then he called Silver Ears.
"There's ten more chocolates hidden in the toe of the Giant's boot,
Silvy," he whispered weakly. "Bring 'em out and eat 'em for supper.
I'm not hungry for candy any more." ”

“ He paused solemnly.
"And so we must make new resolutions," smiled Silver Ears.
"Very good," agreed Uncle Squeaky. "Suppose you begin."
"I will obey my mother," said Silver Ears.
"I will try to take poor Daddy's place," said Limpy-toes.
"I will mind the baby," said Tiny.
"I will mind baby, too," said Teenty.
"Your turn, Buster," reminded Uncle Squeaky.
"I will try to wake up mornings," said Buster.
"And not eat so much, my boy. And do a little more work; it is good exercise," advised Uncle Squeaky in a rather severe tone.
"Now that is fine. Good little mice are always obedient and helpful. ”

“ It seemed a very short time before it began to grow dark.
"We must start home now," said Silver Ears. "We promised Mammy."
"Good mice always keep their promises," said Uncle Squeaky as he filled their pockets with dried pumpkin seeds and raisins.
When Mother Graymouse, with Squealer and the twins, returned from making Granny Whiskers an afternoon call, she found Silver Ears and Buster setting the tea-table.
"Where is Limpy-toes?" she asked.
"He was here only a few minutes ago," said Silver Ears.
Supper was ready and still Limpy-toes was missing. Mother Graymouse grew uneasy. ”

“ Even the biggest hole was ever so much too small.
Silver Ears sat down and scratched her head thoughtfully. "How shall we ever manage to get it home?" she asked.
"I know," planned Buster. "Let's eat it right here. That is a nice easy way."
"Oh, no," said Silver Ears. "The Giants might come back, or old Tom. Besides, I want Limpy-toes and Squealer and Mammy to share our goodies. We will untie the string and take out the candies. Buster and Tiny must go through the hole and Teenty and I will push the candies through, one piece at a time." ”

“ Uncle Squeaky knows a snug place in the hay loft where we can live in safety. There's plenty of grain in the barrels and the store is still across the street. We older folk may even venture into the Giant's pantry now and then. ”

“ Some traps look like wire cages with a nice smelly bit of toasted cheese inside. But the silly mouse who enters the cage will only be let out when there is a cruel cat waiting outside to pounce upon him. There are many kinds of traps, but they are all wicked enemies. ”

“ So Silver Ears waited and listened.
"Let's play dinner-party, Dorothy," Ruth was saying. "I like to play dinner-party on rainy days. It is ever so cosy. We must dress the dolls in their prettiest gowns."
The two girls worked busily away putting dainty white dresses upon their flaxen-haired dolls. Silver Ears listened with great interest. She learned that the dark-eyed doll with the red sash was Pansy; Daisy wore a blue ribbon to match her eyes ”