36 



THE WISE OLD. MOUSE. 



and out again, and -finally- raund- behind the barn and out of sight. 

 I ran after them, determined to see who finally comes out victor in 

 the strife. But, alas ! when I come round behind the barn there 

 is no crust, and no sign of there ever having been one. The hens 

 are pecking about quietly, and Johnny, the rooster, is flapping his 

 wings and preparing to crow. They look at me, and make some 

 explanatory remarks, doubtless, relating to the strife and its result; 

 but I cannot understand them. And now, alas! and alas! I shall 

 never, never know who finally ate that crust of toast. 



THE WISE OLD MOUSE. 



A WISE old mouse went on tiptoe, into the kitchen, to see if Jane 

 had swept up all the crumbs. There, to his surprise, he met Buzz, 

 the cat. 



"Oho," cried the cat, "this is lucky! Now I shall have a fine 

 dinner." The mouse saw that he Avas caught. So he said, 



