FIELD MICE 



ish curiosity had prompted me to damage was 

 quickly repaired by the proud, energetic posses- 

 sors of the four little pink balls. And those 

 little mice ! In a surprisingly brief time the 

 little eyes opened and the pink bodies became 

 covered with soft gray coats like those of their 

 parents. They came forth into their small 

 world, bounded on all sides with wire. But 

 they never knew the limitations of their home, 

 having never known any other. They ran 

 about chasing their tails, or one another, and 

 seemed as happy as though whole fields of 

 wheat were their playground and home. It 

 was better for them here because they were free 

 from strife and free from dangers that make the 

 struggle for existence so hard for wild animals. 

 But who can tell that there was not an inborn 

 longing for independence and freedom? Who 

 can say that freedom from cares leads to better 

 appreciation of opportunities or pleasures ? Cer- 

 tain it was my little mice never encountered 

 enemies and so never knew the joys and excite- 

 ment of escaping. 



As time wore on all went well in the mouse- 

 home. The newcomers all seemed good-na- 



[HI] 



