```The children had a playmate gay,
````I'm sure you would never guess
```Who was the little man in gray
````That took his turn with the rest.=
```For, when they played at hide-and-seek,
````He'd cover himself with hay
```And lie quite still; and then, when found,
````Would scamper fast away.=
```But back he'd come, with eyes so bright,
````And try his luck again;
```And if they did not care to look,
````But let him hide in vain,=
```He didn't like it, not a bit!
````He'd rustle in the straw,
```And give a sharp, quick cry, "Quee, quee!"
````And show a tiny paw.=
```My story is short, but true, I say.
````Who was the children's pet?
```A wee field-mousie, bright and gay,
````They never will forget=
--MRS. MARY JOHNSON
[Illustration: 0136]