THE Scare Box

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 71, 17 December 1917, Page 12

THE Scare Box

A STORY FOR

j» .* j» CHILDREN

©NCE upon a time there lived in a holo in tlio pnntry wall a family of mice. There were the lather mouse and ilio mother mousa and threo little baby mice. They were called "Tim Velvet Family," bcause their fur looked like soft, gray velvet. One little mouse was named -"Sharp Eyes," only they nicknamed him "Sharpy" because ho could see everything even in the darkest closets and holes. One was named "Snifl'y," because, he could sniff and smell anything good to eat wherever it might bo hidden. And the tiniest little mouse was named "Squeaky." because ho had such a squeaky little voice. He was 'constantly singing "Ee-ee-oe." Now the mother mouse was very wise, and she taught her babies to scamper ami hide whenever they saw the old cat tiptoeing about; and she had also warned them to beware of the trai). The littlu mice promised: "Ee-ec-ee! Yes, mother; yes." And they promised to obey their mother. I could not begin to tell you about all the frolic.-, that those mice had together, but I will tell you about their Christmas party. Tivas tho niglit lieforo Christians, when all through the lieu*? Not a creature wus stirring 1 , not even a muu.se. The last touches had been put upon the tall Christmas tree in tho living room. Tho father and mother had gone upstairs. And the children were nestled all snug in i'" , ir beds. While vi 'ons of siifrnr plums danced throng!' their heads. But in the hole in the wall the Velvet family were all wide awake. "Ee-ec-ee," squeaked Squeaky. "Why can't wo creep into the big room and see tho tall Christmas tree? We bavo heard the children talking about that tree for days, and wo have never seen a Christmas tree." "Well," said father mouse, "I will go out first and look carefully about, and then I will let you kuow if it is safe for us all to go." So father mouse crept softly through the pantry, down the long 'hall, and into the living room. But the old cat was nowhere to be seen, for the houso people were afraid she might brush against tho tree and break something. So poor Mrs. Puss was spending her Christmas Evo down in the cellar. When father mouse could not find tho cat ho came back to the' pantry and called out: "The coast is clear! Come, children I" Then all the Velvet family came scrambling down from the hole in the wall, their whiskers fairly trembling in their eagerness, and when they saw tho wonderful tree they ran round and round about it, examining everything. "I smell something good to eat," said Sniffy. "Let us climb up into the tree and have some." So they climbed up into the tree and nibbled tho popcorn chains and iho candy canes, when suddenly Sharp Eyes called: "Come here, I see a mouse, I see a mouse, but ho doesn't belong to our furry family 1" "I should say not!" sniffed Sniffy; "he smells so good." "Why,, ho is good to eat," squeaked Squeaky, and they all began to eat the chocolate' mouse uutil "]3ang!" suddenly tho door was thrown open, and tho electric lights were turned ou. With a squeak of warning the Velvet Family came scrambling down through tho branches of tho tree, scampered pell-mell across the hall, through" tho pantry, and back to their home in safety. There were father mouse, mother mouse, Sharpy, and Sniffy, but what had become of poor Squeaky?. Now as Squeaky tried to climb down the tree ho fell heels over head down ( down, until he was caught in a funny square box. An ugly-looking man with black hair and black beard seemed to be hopping right out of the box, 'and when Squeaky 6aw tho lights turned on he thought it best to hido under tho skirts of this queer man. Ho heard voices. Tho house-people were talking. "Yes," said the children's father, "it would have been a shame to forget this train," and the father and motlier began to arrange tiny tracks and switchos. When all was in place tho motlier looked once more at the tree. "Why, look at that Jack-in-the-box 1" sho said. "It is hanging out. That would spoil all the fun; I must fix it back in place." Then she pushed the Jaok down in tho box and shut and looked tho lid. As Squeaky felt the springs closa tightly about him he squeaked one shrill""Ee" of fright. Tho father said: "I never heard such a perfect squeak. It is wonderful tho toys they mako for children." Then he turned out Ilia lights and followed his wifo upstairs. "I am in a trap," moaned poor littlo Squeaky, "and they didn't even give mo a mite of cheese to eat. I wonder if this queer man will ever let mo get out again; I want to go home.' 7 Then Squeaky cried himself to sleep. In the morning he heard shouts of "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" and the big tree trembled in all its branches as tho toys were, taken down one by one. Then such a noise was heard—drums beating, horns tooting, children shouting: "Oh, see my new train, how fast it goes ovor those tracks!" "See this dolly open and shut her eyes, and she says 'mamma, papa.' whenever I pull tho string." "Ee-ee," groaned poor Squeaky, '1 can squeak •mamma, papa,' that way, too, it only I could go.home to my mamma and papa." As if in answer *:o his wish Squeaky suddenly felt tho box lifted down from the tree. "Come here, Teddy," said tho children's mother, "and wo will havo somo fun wit-la our new scarp, box." Teddy leaned again." l his mother's knee, watching closei... "One—two—three!" the mother counted, as she opened tho lid. Out jumped the man with the black beard mid hair, and with a loud squeak ,f jnv out jumped Squeaky. "Ee-ec-ee I" /said Squeaky. "Eeel" ;aid the Jack-in-thc-Box. "Whee-co->el" yelled tho small boy in delight. 'Oil, Ec!" shrieked tho mother as sho hrew the box on tho floor, and, holding lor skirts up high, she climbed up on i chair, screaming: "A mouse! A lumse!" "Whore? whore?" they all shouted

in a. chorus. But little Squeaky whisked away so fast that iliev caught only a glimpso of his long tail as he dashed across tho long hall back to his pantry home in safety. Squeaky told father mouse and mother mouse tho wholo story, pun there was great rejoicing among the Velvet family over the return of Squeaky.