"Yes," said she. "I shall let you play all the rest of the day, but I
shall choose the games. The oldest five will play 'Mud Turtles in
winter,' the next five will play 'Frogs in winter,' and the youngest
five will play 'Snakes in winter.' The way to play these games is to lie
perfectly still in some dark place and not say a word."
The young Muskrats looked at each other sorrowfully. They thought it
sounded very much the same as being sent to bed for being naughty. They
did not dare say anything, for they knew that, although their mother was
gentle, as Muskrats are most of the time, she could be very severe. So
they went away quietly to play what she had told them they must. But it
was not much fun to play those games when all the others were having a
fine time in the sunshine.
There were nine of the young Muskrats who did not tease any after that.
Even the other six were more careful.