OUR STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 51, 26 February 1943, Page 6

OUR STORY

MISTY There was once a little mouse called who lived, with her family of eight in a hole underneath the dining room floor. She was such a.good little mother, and had been able to i'eed her family Avell until just lately, when the family above had. decided to keep- a cat. "I can't imagine why they want to keep such a terrible creature in the home,'' she said to her little ones. "Even the smell of old Tom terrifies me. I do declare I am afraid to poke my nose outside our hole. Oh dear! We were, so happy before he came." "But, mother!" squeaked the little 0116s, "we are so hungry, and we shall die if you don't get us something to eat.'' "Well, I know what I will do,'' said the worried little Misty. "I will get. up as soon as it is light tomorrow moriiing and pick up the crumbs in the dining room. The maids never sweep the floor very early, and the old cat Avon't be looking for mice when it is light." So the next morning she took her little basket, 4 told her children to be very good and quiet, while she was away, and climbed up the hole into the dining room. She hurried round the table, and under the chairs she found crumbs of cheese, biscuit, bread and, cake; but just as she had finished filling her basket, in strolled Mr Tom Cat looking tired and cross. Mistj r quickly scuttled across the room and, hid herself behind the grandfather clock, her heart going pit-a-pat so loudly that she was sure that Tom must have heard her. Bupt Tom was tired, and much to Misty's relief lie curled himself up on the hearthrug and went to sleep. He was so near her hole, though, that Misty had to pass very nea,r him in order to get home. As she was stealing .softly by she had another fright, for in came the maids to sweep the room. "Why, I do declare,'' gasped cook, '"'there is a mouse, and old. Tom is too lazy to catch it. I will tell the mistress to set a trap." Poor little Misty was more, terrified than ever, and rushed down the hole so quickly that she fell at the bottom, basket and all. When she had recovered she sat on her chair—which was really a cork—and while her children were enjoying their meal, she told them of her adventures. The mouse family had a line feed, but Misty said: "We must move into the next house, or 1 shan't have a single nerve left."