WILD MICE 123 



cleaned herself with great unconcern. I was 

 tempted to believe that she shammed dying. 



" The most interesting thing I ever saw her do 

 was to climb up on her glass of water, sit on the 

 rim, and put both little paws down and scoop up 

 a big double-handful of water and wash her face 

 and head. She made her face very wet, just 

 like a person washing his face. She ate sunflower 

 seeds, and often kept one eye shut a long time 

 on first waking up. After the apple-blossoms 

 came, I kept her box supplied with flowers, 

 such as apple-blossoms, cherry, spruce, maple, 

 and so on. Also I kept her box disinfected, 

 with plenty of good, fresh country dirt. But 

 she stuck to the old wool and feathers, and the 

 little piano-duster." 



The mouse continued hibernating at intervals 

 till May. One damp, chilly morning Miss Burt 

 thought she would add to her pet's coverings, the 

 creature seemed so cold to the touch. " Little 

 by little, much of her bedding of wool had been 

 removed, although she had a pretty good blanket 

 of it left, and the feather duster over her, which 

 she appropriated long ago. So I resolved to carry 

 some bits of flannel to school, and, when I went 

 to her box to give her the extra clothing, again 

 found her as you saw her, rolled up in a ball. 

 I covered her carefully, wrapped her all up, and 



