290 Trails to Woods and Waters 



" Where do you imagine the meadow mice 

 are now, Harry? " 



"I don't know," I replied. "I should 

 think they would have a hard time of it." 



"Not at all, not at all," replied Ben. 

 " They are as snug as ' a bug in a rug ' in 

 their endless winding tunnels under the grass 

 roots. The deep snow that looks so cold only 

 serves to keep them warm. 



" A meadow mouse doesn't have to keep to 

 four or five rooms in the winter, as you or I 

 do. He has got a dozen pantries and a dozen 

 dining-rooms in his tunnels underground, and 

 sitting-room and bedroom with each. He 

 can travel also if he has a mind to in his wind- 

 ing tunnels. 



" So all he has got to do is to eat, sleep and 

 be merry, while you and I have to saw and 

 split the wood and do a dozen other chores. 



" The field mouse and the wood mouse are 

 just as snug, and they go abroad more even 

 than their cousins of the meadows. 



" You will often see their dainty tracks in 

 the snow about the roots of a tree, or near 



