168 



CUNNING MICE. 



again, and the next' morning it was the same way, — trap sprung^ 

 but no mice and no cheese. I told papa about it, and he was so 

 much surprised that he said he would watch for the mice the next 

 night and find out how they did it. 



Well, he went up to the garret long after I had gone to sleep. 

 First, he heard a little squeak, then in the bright moonlight he 

 saw a little gray mouse, with large ears and bright eyes, looking 



out from behind a barrel. Then the little fellow came out, looked 

 around to see that there was no danger, and then gave another little 

 squeak, when three or four more came out and all went to the trap,, 

 peeped into it, and saw that there was more supper for them. But 

 none of them put their heads in to eat it. The largest mouse put 

 his tail into a hole, and, striking the cheese, sprung the trap; then 

 he pulled out his tail, got the cheese, and shared it with the others. 

 They all seemed quite happy in thinking how nicely they were 

 cheating that little boy whom they saw so carefully setting the trap 

 CO catch them. 



