THE WISE MOUSE

New Zealand Tablet, 20 August 1908, Page 38

THE WISE MOUSE

The cat had watched the little hole In the barn for hours at a Lime every day, but the wise mouse had watched the cat, and so he had never been caught. , But • one night, when' the moon was hidden, the mouse sauntered out in search of food. It was' so dark that he did not see the cat, who sat behind a bush watching for him. In less time than it takes me to write it tne cat had seized the poor little trembling mouse. , " 'Now I shall eat you,' threatened" the cat, as he put the mouse down on the 'ground with one paw on his back, that he might not escape. ' Very well,' sighed the wise mouse, ' but will you firsi grant me one request?' ' Yes, 1 replied the cat, 'I will do that, as it is customary to grant last requests to people who are about to die. What is it?' ' I have often listened Jo your singing and greatly admired it. Will you please sing one song to me before you eat me?' ' With pleasure,' replied the cat, for he was very vain about his voice, So he straightened himself up and sang with all his might. He forgot about the wise mouse until he finished his song, and when he looked around for the applause he expected the mouse had vanished.