Juliet Sutherland, S. R. Ellison, Ted Garvin, and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team
That Wicked Thomas Cat is prowling about and I had to be careful
The little Graymouse children greeted Uncle Squeaky gleefully
"I might manage to tell one more Story," he chuckled
There was a pretty daughter who loved Bright Ribbons
The door flew open and in ran Ruth and Robert Giant
How shall we ever manage to get it home?
"That cross old Norah"
Buster folded his paws in his lap and sang very sweetly
"How nice the Apples smell," said Buster
"My poor, dear Limpy-toes," she sobbed
"Tell us all about it?" they begged
It was a hot summer day
Grand-daddy Whiskers with a pan of warm biscuits under his arm
The only food in sight is set around on the pantry shelves in traps
A busy little procession marched to the barn
"Jolly little mice are we"
[Illustration]
Mother Graymouse, with her family lived in a cosy attic which was assnug and comfortable as any good mouse could wish.
Her children were named Limpy-toes, Silver Ears, Buster, Teenty andTiny, and Baby Squealer. Although they had many faults, upon thewhole they were good children and made a happy family.
On pleasant mornings, the sun shone in bright and warm through thedainty cobweb curtains of their east window. In the summer-time,robins and orioles sang sweetly among the green branches of the mapletree which shaded the west window. Even when it stormed, MotherGraymouse and her little ones enjoyed the patter, patter of therain-drops upon the roof and window-panes. They were thankful forsuch a good home.
The house in which they lived belonged to a family of giants. Therewas Mr. Giant, his wife, and two little Giants. The little girl was apretty child named Ruth, with blue eyes and long yellow curls. Herbrother, Robert, looked almost exactly like her, except that hisyellow curls were shorter, he wore bigger boots that made more noise,and instead of playing with dolls and tea-sets he liked balls andbats and air-rifles.
After Mr. Giant had fitted up half of the attic for his children'splay-room, life was much jollier for the little Graymouses. The steamheat from the play-room came through the cracks and made their homeas warm as toast.
Limpy-toes and Silver Ears worked busily away until there were threeholes through which they could steal softly in and watch Ruth andRobert at their play.
Since Christ