GOOD-BYE.
[Illustration]
WELL, it was not long after this that my four mice went back to the
Mouse-trap, for Puffy was quite well again, and begged that she might
not be left alone a moment longer than was necessary. So one happy day
the little mouse, still pale and thin, but beaming with delight, clasped
her twin in her arms, on the old stone steps, while the other mice
danced about them. Mrs. Posset cried over her Downy; Tomty came up from
the garden with his pockets full of apples for his pets; Gruff and Grim
and Grab barked their noisy welcome; while good Uncle Jack smiled on
them all, and was well-pleased to have all his little ones around him
again in the dear old Mouse-trap.
And here, though it is really melancholy to think of, I must leave my
five mice. There are many and many more things that I should like to
tell you about them, but we must wait till another time for all that.
The fact is that Mr. Estes, the gentleman who is going to be so very
kind as to put all these stories into a book for me, (for neither my dog
nor I could possibly do that for ourselves, and I don't know of any
book-binding star in the whole firmament,) says he really cannot
undertake to print any more of my nonsense at present, as he has many
grave and learned books to publish. It is my private opinion that there
is often as much moonshine in grave and learned books as there is in
children's stories; but perhaps I am not a good judge, for I see more or
less moonshine in everything.
However that may be, the fact remains that I must say good-bye for the
present to the Five Mice in the Mouse-trap, and to you, Patchko and
Tinka, Jimmy and Jenny, Alice and Amy, and all the rest of you. Be good
children, now! don't forget to shut the door after you when you go out
of a room; don't forget to shut your eyes when you go to sleep; and
above all, don't forget your old friend,
_THE MAN IN THE MOON_
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Page 66, Illustration caption, "JOSE" changed to "JOSE" (JOSE OPENING
THE GATE.)
Page 81, "alway" changed to "always" (I always ride on)
Page 130, "Possett" changed to "Posset" (Mrs. Posset was not there)
Page 132, "pleasan" changed to "pleasant" (It was pleasant)
Page 141, "Pluffy" changed to "Puffy" (said Puffy with dignity)
Page 144, "liketo" changed to "like to" (should like to sing)
Page 151, "suid" changed to "said" ("To be sure!" said Uncle)
Page 173, "faries" changed to "fairies" (the three little fairies)
Page 197, word "in" removed from text. Original read (it in into
English)
Page 191, extra word "he" removed from text. Original read: (what do you
he think)
Page 205, lines were printed out of order. Every attempt was made to
correct the text for readability.
Originally text:
At this Polly sprang to her feet, with a cry of mingled fear and
anger; but the witch (for this certainly must have been a witch, if
Hobble-gobble!" She said this last word suddenly and sharply,
and Polly was quite startled; but fancy her alarm when a large black
cat crept out from beneath the red cloak, and sitting down on his mistress's
knee, looked up in her face with an air of unearthly sagacity,
ever there was one,) pointed her stick at her, and muttered some
strange words which sounded like "Buggara wuggera boogle jum,"
and poor Polly fell back in her chair, unable to move hand or foot.
There she sat, motionless, but perfectly conscious, watching this
Now reads:
At this Polly sprang to her feet, with a cry of mingled fear and
anger; but the witch (for this certainly must have been a witch, if
ever there was one,) pointed her stick at her, and muttered some
strange words which sounded like "Buggara wuggera boogle jum,
Hobble-gobble!" She said this last word suddenly and sharply,
and Polly was quite startled; but fancy her alarm when a large black
cat crept out from beneath the red cloak, and sitting down on his mistress's
knee, looked up in her face with an air of unearthly sagacity,
and poor Polly fell back in her chair, unable to move hand or foot.
There she sat, motionless, but perfectly conscious, watching this
Page 214, "conld" changed to "could" (and could not forgive)
"Jose" was changed to "Jose" eleven times.
Page 69, catch Master Jose
82, and even Jose
124, Jose, the brown donkey
125, Get up, Jose! ... But Jose .... poked Master Jose from
131, _Jose_ may have been playing .... Jose was not to be seen
Has Jose been rolling ... Then Jose went home
183, three dogs, and Jose
End of Project Gutenberg's Five Mice in a Mouse-trap, by Laura E. Richards