[Illustration: Johnny Goes to Bed.]
"I don't think that is very nice poetry," your Aunt Amy said when Mrs.
Mouser had come to the end of the verses. "It is too ridiculous."
"That may be; but I have heard some of your friends, like Mr. Turtle,
for example, tell you even worse than that," and Mrs. Mouser spoke quite
sharply. "Now if you want a really pretty little story, that hasn't got
much fun in it, I can tell you one about two mice, and it must be true,
because I had it from a cat friend of mine who was on the spot."
THE STORY OF SQUEAKY MOUSE.
Your Aunt Amy said to Mrs. Mouser that she would be very much pleased to
hear it, and, telling the story as if she did not entirely approve of it
herself, Mrs. Mouser began:
"Mother Mouse had two little daughters, Meeky and Squeaky. Meeky was a
good little mouse, and did everything her mother told her. Squeaky was
very brave and daring, but she was the torment of everybody's life.
"One day Mother Mouse was too ill to go out and do her own marketing.
"'I wish you children would go and get me a little lump of cheese,' she
moaned.
"Away scampered the two little mice to a high shelf they knew of; their
mother had warned them against traps and cats, so they were careful not
to linger on the pantry floor. When they found the cheese, Meeky began
at once rolling up a little lump to take home to her mother, but Squeaky
filled her mouth as full as it would hold, and ran up and down the
shelf, making a great clatter.
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