Part 16

10. The pig looked down to them through his "specs" as he heard the question in the tiny little squeaking voice, and he grunted a little as he replied:

11. "Yes, if you like to call me so," and the two friends went on.

12. In a little while they came up where the old cow was feeding; and White-paw, taking off his hat, said, "Please, are you a mouse?"

13. The old cow was too busy to answer such questions, but she shook her head in such a way that the travelers were glad to get off safe.

14. "There are great friendly mice, and great unfriendly mice, in the world!" said White-paw, as they went on their way.

15. Next they met a motherly old hen, who was busy in scratching up food for her chickens; and White-paw asked, "Please, ma'am, are you a mouse?" "We don't mind what folks call us," said the old hen, giving them a friendly wink.

16. As they went on they learned a great many things about the world; but as yet White-paw had not heard one word about a mouse-trap.

17. Having gone around the farm-yard, White-paw and his friend went through the gate toward the house. Here they met the dog, and asked the same question that they had asked before.

18. But the dog barked and snapped so that they could not make him hear, and they ran away in terror.

LESSON XXVIII.

WHAT WHITE-PAW SAW IN THE KITCHEN.

1. In their haste the two friends bolted into the kitchen of the farm-house, where an old tabby-cat lay dozing before the fire. But when they came in she arose to meet them.

2. "What a polite fat mouse!" thought White-paw. "Please, ma'am--" But pussy's eyes were fixed upon him with a horrid glare, and he could not go on.

3. Alas! his poor little friend! There was a cry and a crunching of bones, and White-paw just escaped through a hole into the pantry.

4. When he had in part got over his fright, he smelled toasted cheese--something he had heard of but never tasted. He sniffed about, and soon saw it in a little round hole.

5. By this time he was very hungry, and he reached out for the dainty morsel; but there was a sudden click, and he turned back--but too late! His tail and one of his legs were caught by the cruel teeth of a trap.

6. He pulled with all his might, but could not get away. He heard a little squeak, and an old mouse came limping up with only three legs.

7. "Pull hard, my son; better lose a leg and tail than your life. See! I was caught like you. How came you here?" he asked.

8. "I came to see the world, and 'tis a terrible place!" As White-paw spoke, he pulled himself free, but left one paw and the point of his tail in the trap.

9. The two hopped off together, and, after some friendly advice from the old mouse, White-paw limped away to his home, and soon found himself by his mother's side, where he could have his wounds dressed, and rest in peace.

LESSON XXIX.

WHITE-PAW'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT WORLD.

1. "My dear son, what is the world like?" asked Mrs. Mouse, after she had hugged White-paw, and set his supper before him.

2. "Oh, it's a grand place! There are great black mice, and great white ones, and great spotted ones, and great friendly mice with long noses, and great uncivil mice with horns.

3. "Then there are queer mice with only two legs, and some terrible mice that make a great noise." At this moment, Gaffer Graybeard came in, and White-paw said, "Sir, I've learned what a mouse-trap is." "Ah! then," said the sage, "you've not seen the world in vain."

THREE BLIND MICE.

Three blind mice! Three blind mice! See how they run! See how they run! They all ran after the farmer's wife; She cut off their tails with a carving-knife. Did you ever see such a thing in your life As three blind mice?

LESSON XXX.