MOUSE TO THE COUNTRY
"Mother, may I go into the country to-day? You said I might go some
day. I am big enough now to go out alone. Do let me go," said Frisky, a
young mouse, to his mother.
"Well, child, I can not be with you always. I suppose there must be a
first time for you to go out alone. I dread to have you go, but if you
will promise to run home if a cat comes near you, I will let you go,"
said Mrs. Gray, the mother.
"I will run, mother, if I see a cat. You know how fast I can go. I
should like to see any cat catch me. I shall not be gone long. Good-by,
mother," and off went Frisky.
Mrs. Gray watched him until he was out of sight. "I wish I had gone
with him," she said. "He does not know the world as I do. I fear some
harm will come to him," and she looked very much worried as she turned
to go into her house. She tried to sleep, for she was very tired; but
when she dozed she dreamed, and her dreams were all bad ones.
At last she went back to the door and looked for Frisky. He was coming,
leaping along in a great hurry. He began talking to his mother before
he reached her.
"Oh, mother," he said, "I met two big creatures on the other side of
the pasture.
"One of them was very fine looking. She had very gentle ways. She
stepped about so quietly that one could scarcely hear her. Her dress
was of soft gray fur, much like yours, mother, and she wore whiskers
like yours. I knew you would like to see her, so I was just going to
invite her home with me when a terrible-looking creature came right
toward me.
"He walked as if he were too good to step on the ground. His legs were
naked, his toes were long, and his toe nails were strong and sharp. His
dress was not so soft as yours. It was black and white. His mouth
looked like a trap. I tell you, mother, I should hate to get caught in
that trap. On top of his head was something that wobbled as he walked.
He straightened himself up, raised his arms and screamed. Such a
scream! It nearly frightened me to death. He isn't coming, is he,
mother? Do let me run into the house."
"My son," said his mother, stopping Frisky as he tried to pass her, "I
shall not let you go out alone again until you know more.
"That animal which you liked so well and wished to invite to our house
is a cat. It is the very one no doubt that killed all of your brothers
and sisters when they were quite small. She would have killed you too
at the same time if a dog had not come along a
|