going, and
would have blown my mice to California if I had not stopped them. As it
was, it was nearly daybreak when we reached Glenwood. The seven Winds
were so weary that they did not trouble themselves about the cloud after
the children had got out of it, but bidding the little ones farewell,
they fell fast asleep in the bed of lilies under the window; and I also
departed, while my pets called after me, thanking me for "the most
delightful of all the delightful nights!"

CHAPTER XVII.

GOOD-BYE.

[Illustration]

WELL, it was not long after this that my four mice went back to the
Mouse-trap, for Puffy was quite well again, and begged that she might
not be left alone a moment longer than was necessary. So one happy day
the little mouse, still pale and thin, but beaming with delight, clasped
her twin in her arms, on the old stone steps, while the other mice
danced about them. Mrs. Posset cried over her Downy; Tomty came up from
the garden with his pockets full of apples for his pets; Gruff and Grim
and Grab barked their noisy welcome; while good Uncle Jack smiled on
them all, and was well-pleased to have all his little ones around him
again in the dear old Mouse-trap.

And here, though it is really melancholy to think of, I must leave my
five mice. There are many and many more things that I should like to
tell you about them, but we must wait till another time for all that.
The fact is that Mr. Estes, the gentleman who is going to be so very
kind as to put all these stories into a book for me, (for neither my dog
nor I could possibly do that for ourselves, and I don't know of any
book-binding star in the whole firmament,) says he really cannot
undertake to print any more of my nonsense at present, as he has many
grave and learned books to publish. It is my private opinion that there
is often as much moonshine in grave and learned books as there is in
children's stories; but perhaps I am not a good judge, for I see more or
less moonshine in everything.

However that may be, the fact remains that I must say good-bye for the
present to the Five Mice in the Mouse-trap, and to you, Patchko and
Tinka, Jimmy and Jenny, Alice and Amy, and all the rest of you. Be good
children, now! don't forget to shut the door after you when you go out
of a room; don't forget to shut your eyes when you go to sleep; and
above all, don't forget your old friend,

_THE MAN IN THE MOON_

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