10 LITTLE FOLKS 
was so industrious that in less than two days she dug out the inside 
of the loaf, cut up some paper for lining, made her nest and put 
nine little pink babies in it. 
Poor little mousie ! I'm afraid the crust's brown walls were not 
a very safe home for the wee babies. 
Perhaps you have heard of singing mice. Not long ago I read 
a true story of a man who heard one about the house for some days, 
and at last caught it. It was not a house mouse ; it was a field 
mouse, and its famous singing was much like the song of a cricket. 
He had it as a pet for a year or two. Several times it got out, but 
did not know enough to stop singing, and so was caught again. But 
at last it ran away, and they never saw it again. 
All these little fellows belong to the family of Rodents, because 
they gnaw and nibble their food. I don't see why they couldn't just 
call them gnawers — and done with it — for that's what the word 
Rodents means. 
/ 
