THERE was once a little Lady-Mouse that lived in a field. She was all
alone in the world, a little old maid, and she very much wanted a
friend. But every creature turned up his nose at the poor little Mouse,
and not a friend could she get; until at last a Clod of earth took pity
upon her. Then the Mouse and the Clod became firm friends, and went
about everywhere together. The Mouse walked upon her four legs, and the
Clod rolled along like a cricket ball.
One day the Mouse wanted a bathe; and nothing would serve, but the Clod
must go bathe along with her. In vain the Clod protested that she did
not like water; that she had never washed in her life; that she could
not swim: Miss Mousie would take no denial, and said severely, that if
the Clod had never washed before, it was high time to begin. So at
length the Clod was persuaded, and into the river they went. Mousie went
in first, and the Clod rolled in afterwards; but no sooner had the poor
Clod rolled into the river, than what was Miss Mousie's horror to see
her melt away in the water, and disappear.
Mousie was now friendless again, and loudly complained to the River that
he had stolen away her favourite Clod.
"I am very sorry," the River said; "I really couldn't help melting a
thing so soft. I can't give you back your Clod, but I will give you a
Fish instead."
This comforted Mousie, and she took her Fish and went home. Then she put
the Fish on the top of a post, to dry. Down swooped a big Kite, and flew
away with the Fish.
"O my poor Fish," wailed Miss Mousie, "to be taken away before we had a
word together." Then she went to the Post, and demanded her Fish back
again. "I gave him to you," said Mousie, "and you are responsible for
him."
Said the Post, "I am very sorry that I cannot give you back your Fish,
but I will give you some Wood."
Mousie was grateful for this kindness on the part of the Post. So she
took a piece of Wood in exchange for the Fish.
Mousie and the Wood went off to buy some sweets at the Confectioner's.
While Mousie was eating the sweets, the Confectioner's wife burnt the
Wood in the fire.
Mousie finished the sweets, and when she turned round to look for her
Wood, lo and behold it was gone. With tears in her eyes she begged the
Confectioner's wife to give her back the Wood, but the Confectioner's
wife said--
"I am very sorry I cannot give you back the Wood, because it is burnt;
but I will give you some Cakes instead."
This made Miss Mousie happy again, and she took the Cakes. Then she paid
a visit to the Shepherd's pen; and while she was talking to the
Shepherd, a Goat ate up her cakes.
"Give me back my Cakes, Mr. Shepherd," said Mousie, not seeing the Cakes
anywhere.
"I'm very sorry I can't do that," answered the Shepherd, "because I am
afraid one of my goats has eaten them; but if you like, you may have a
Kid instead."
This was better and better. Mousie was charmed with her Kid and led it
off to the music-shop, where she had to pay a bill. While the man was
writing a receipt to the bill, his wife killed the Kid, and began to
roast it for dinner. Mousie looked round, and wanted to know where her
Kid was?
"I rather think," said the Music-man, "that the nice odour of roast meat
which tickles your nostrils, comes from that Kid. I'm sorry I can't give
you the Kid back, but you may have the best drum in my shop."
Mousie did not like the Drum so well as her Kid; but needs must, and she
picked out a drum, and went away with it on her shoulder. By-and-by she
came to a place where women were beating rice, to get the grains away
from the husk. She hung up her Drum on a peg, while she watched the
women husking the rice. Bang! flap! a woman drove her pestle right
through the Drum.
Poor Mousie. It seemed as if her misfortunes would never end. When she
asked the woman for her Drum again, there it was, burst. The tears ran
down her cheeks.
"We are very sorry," the women all said, "that we cannot give you back
your Drum; but you can have a Girl instead, if you like."
This brought smiles to Miss Mousie's sad face, and
she dried her tears. The women gave her a nice Girl,
and Mousie took the Girl home. They set up house
together, and planted a crop of corn. The corn ripened,
and they went out to cut it. Miss Mouse was a
wee mousie, and was quite hidden among the
stalks of the corn. While the Girl was
cutting the corn with a sickle, she did
not see poor little Mousie, so she
cut her in two, and that
was the end
of her.
[Illustration]