14 THE PLAGUE OF MICE. 



When I built a house in the country, fond as I am 

 of cats, I determined not to keep any there, because they 

 would destroy the birds' nests and drive my feathered 

 friends away, and I liked to watch and feed these from the 

 windows. Things went pleasantly for awhile. The birds 

 were fed, and paid for their keep with many and many a 

 song. There were the old ones and there the young, and 

 oft by the hour I watched them from the window ; and 

 they became so tame as scarcely caring to get out of my 

 way when I went outside with more food. But — there is 

 always a but — but one day, or rather evening, as I was 

 ^'looking on," a rat came out from the rocks, and then 

 another. Soon they began their repast on the remains 

 of the birds' food. Then in the twilight came mice, the 

 short-tailed and the long, scampering hither and thither. 

 This, too, was amusing. In the autumn I bought some 

 filberts, and put them into a closet upstairs, went to Lon- 

 don, returned, and thought I would sleep in the room 

 adjoining the closet. No such thing. As soon as the 

 light was out there was a sound of gnawing — curb — curb 

 — sweek ! — squeak — a rushing of tiny feet here, there, 

 and everywhere ; thump, bump — scriggle, scraggle — squeak 

 — overhead, above the ceiling, behind the skirting boards, 

 under the floor, and — in the closet. I lighted a candle, 

 opened the door, and looked into the repository for my 

 filberts. What a hustling, what a scuffling, what a scrambling. 

 There they were, mice in numbers ; they " made for " some 

 holes in the corners of the cupboard, got jammed, squeaked, 

 struggled, squabbled, pushed, their tails making circles; 

 push — push — squeak ! — more jostling, another effort or two 

 — squeak — squeak — gurgle — squeak — more struggling — and 

 they were gone. Gone ? Yes ! but not for long. As 

 soon as the light was out back they came. No ! oh, 

 dear no ! sleep ! no more sleep. Outside, I liked to 

 watch the mice; but when they climbed the ivy and got 

 inside, the pleasure entirely ceased. Nor was this all ; they 

 got into the vineries and spoilt the grapes, and the rats 

 killed the young ducks and chickens, and undermined the 



