THE MOUSE AXD THE OYSTER. 



69 



case. The trunk is a little tube, split from end to end that it may- 

 open easily. Inside of it is a perfect bundle of stings, which look 

 like needles. They are very sharp, with five points, and bent just 

 like crotchet-needles. When the gnat lights on your face or 

 hands in go those five needles. They carry with them a drop of 

 poison to your blood, which stings well. 



If you are ever stung let the naughty gnat draw the hooks out 

 very carefully. You will not feel the sting half as much as if the 

 insect left the five poison hooks in your flesh. 



THE MOUSE AND THE OYSTER. 



It was such a funny thing that happened! Papa brought some 

 oysters home in the shell one day, and placed them in the back shed. 

 There they stayed till the next morning, when mamma used them. 



She laughed, and laughed, at what she saw, and called Robbie 

 to see. The oysters had opened their shells just a little, and a 

 young mouse — a tiny one, not more than an inch long — had 

 popped its head between the sharp edges of one. At once the 

 oyster closed upon the poor fellow, and there he was, caught in a 

 trap never set for mice 



