Three Little Mice
THREE LITTLE MICE.
1. I will tell you the story of three little mice,
If you will keep still and listen to me,
Who live in a cage that is cozy and nice,
And are just as cunning as cunning can be.
They look very wise, with their pretty red eyes,
That seem just exactly like little round beads;
They are white as the snow, and stand up in a row
Whenever we do not attend to their needs;—
2. Stand up in a row in a comical way,—
Now folding their forepaws as if saying, "please;"
Now rattling the lattice, as much as to say,
"We shall not stay here without more bread and
cheese,"
They are not at all shy, as you'll find, if you try
To make them run up in their chamber to bed;
If they do n't want to go, why, they won't go—ah! no,
Though you tap with your finger each queer little
head.
3. One day as I stood by the side of the cage,
Through the bars there protruded a funny, round tail;
Just for mischief I caught it, and soon; in a rage,
Its owner set up a most pitiful wail.
He looked in dismay,—there was something to pay,—
But what was the matter he could not make out;
What was holding him so, when he wanted to go
To see what his brothers upstairs were about?
4. But soon from the chamber the others rushed down,
Impatient to learn what the trouble might be;
I have not a doubt that each brow wore a frown,
Only frowns on their brows are not easy to see.
For a moment they gazed, perplexed and amazed;
Then began both together to—gnaw off the tail!
So, quick I released him,—do you think that it pleased
him?
And up the small staircase they fled like a gale.
Julia C. R. Dorr.
LESSON XXVII.
THE NEW YEAR. 1. One pleasant New-year morning, Edward rose, and washed and dressed himself
in haste. He wanted to be first to wish a happy New Year. 2. He looked in every room, and shouted the words of welcome. He ran into the
street, to repeat them to those he might meet. 3. When he came back, his father gave him two bright, new silver dollars. 4. His face lighted up as he took them. He had wished for a long time to buy some pretty books that he had seen at the bookstore.
5. He left the house with a light heart, intending to buy the books. 6. As he ran down the street, he saw a poor German family, the father, mother, and three children shivering with cold. 7. "I wish you a happy New Year," said Edward, as he was gayly passing on. The man shook his head. 8. "You do not belong to this country," said Edward. The man again shook his head, for he could not understand or speak our language. 9. But he pointed to his mouth, and to the children, as if to say, "These little ones have had nothing to eat for a long time." 10. Edward quickly understood that these poor people were in distress. He took out his dollars, and gave one to the man, and the other to his wife. 11. How their eyes sparkled with gratitude! They said something in their language, which doubtless meant, "We thank you a thousand times, and will remember you in our prayers." 12. When Edward came home, his father asked what books he had bought. He hung his head a moment, but quickly looked up.
13. "I have bought no books," said he, "I gave my money to some poor people, who seemed to be very hungry and wretched. 14. "I think I can wait for my books till next New Year. Oh, if you had seen how glad they were to receive the money!" 15. "My dear boy;" said his father, "here is a whole bundle of books. I give them to you, more as a reward for your goodness of heart than as a New-year gift. 16. "I saw you give the money to the poor German family. It was no small sum for a little boy to give cheerfully. 17. "Be thus ever ready to help the poor, and wretched, and distressed; and every year of your life will be to you a happy New Year." LESSON XXVIII.
THE CLOCK AND THE SUNDIAL. A FABLE. 1. One gloomy day, the clock on a church steeple, looking down on a sundial, said,
"How stupid it is in you to stand there all the while like a stock! 2. "You never tell the hour till a bright sun looks forth from the sky, and gives you leave. I go merrily round, day and night, in summer and winter the same, without asking his leave. 3. "I tell the people the time to rise, to go to dinner, and to come to church.
4. "Hark! I am going to strike now; one, two, three, four. There it is for you. How silly you look! You can say nothing." 5. The sun, at that moment, broke forth from behind a cloud, and showed, by the sundial, that the clock was half an hour behind the right time. 6. The boasting clock now held his tongue, and the dial only smiled at his folly. 7. MORAL.—Humble modesty is more often right than a proud and boasting spirit.