203 



A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES. 



Once there had been six little brothers 

 and sisters, six little fluffy, plush-covered 

 creatures with tiny silken ears of which 

 Madam Field Mouse had been so proud 

 it had been only a delight to take long 

 trips over the farm for dainty tidbits, if 

 only for the pleasure of seeing their 

 bright black eyes sparkle as they speed- 

 ily devoured them. 



Once there had been six but now there 

 were only three. Yesterday morning 

 there had been four, and the morning be- 

 fore, five. Each night found one less to 

 snuggle down in the fluffy bed of corn 

 stalks, which Madam, their mother, had 

 carefully shredded lest there be found 

 something which should hurt their tender 

 little limbs. 



She looked about searchingly. Per- 

 haps they had not all yet arisen, and she 

 poked the nest over carefully; but her 

 search was unrewarded and she looked 

 sadly at Fluffy and Flossy and Flutter as 

 she prepared to depart on her daily jour- 

 ney, wondering which one she should 

 never see again. Finally she turned to 

 Mr. Field Mouse, who was daintily comb- 

 ing his long whiskers with his hind foot. 

 Mr. Field Mouse was very particular as 

 to his appearance, and never ventured 

 abroad unless his toilet had been properly 

 made. 



"I think, my dear, we must find a new 

 dwelling place," she said. "This corn 

 shock, although snug and having the ad- 

 vantage of containing an abundance of 

 homely food, is yet in danger of being 

 disturbed. I saw yesterday there were 

 boys at the other side of the field, tearing 

 down the shocks and pulling off the ears 

 of corn, and I greatly fear they will con- 

 tinue until our home will be destroyed 

 and our darling children eaten by the 

 cruel dog that sits by them, watching in- 



tently. I am sure he can be looking for 

 nothing but baby mice," and she looked 

 tenderly at Fluffy, who was listening in- 

 terestedly. 



But Mr. Field Mouse only continued to 

 comb, as if her remarks were not worthy 

 of consideration. 



She looked indignantly at him for a 

 moment, and continued in a louder, more 

 emphatic tone of voice: "Have you no- 

 ticed, Mr. Field Mouse, that only three 

 of our precious darlings are here ? Per- 

 haps you can tell me where Fatty has 

 gone; he was here yesterday morning. 

 You will remember I left them in your 

 charge while I went to fetch some buck- 

 wheat from the bin." 



He looked inquiringly about. "I have 

 not missed any of them, my dear. You 

 know I am not very good at arithmetic. 

 I only left them for a few moments, a very 

 few, while I went to fetch a bit of that 

 sugar-cane stacked up by the fence. The 

 juice is excellent and I felt faint," he said, 

 apologetically. "If you are not going out 

 this morning I think I should relish a lit- 

 tle more." He smacked his lips appre- 

 ciatively. 



"You are a gourmand, Mr. Field 

 Mouse," she said, severely, turning away 

 in disgust as he scampered off over the 

 stubble. 



"It is fortunate that I am able to take 

 care of myself and our children, too," she 

 mused, digging her way to the ground 

 and beginning to throw out the dirt with 

 her tiny paws. 



Soon a neat underground channel was 

 dug which led out into the open air, and 

 then Mrs. Field Mouse rested from her 

 labors and hungrily nibbled a bit of corn. 



"We can escape if worst comes tO' 

 worst, darlings," she said, reassuringly. 



When Mr. Field Mouse returned he 



