THE LIFE AND INTERESTING ADVENTURES
OF A
FIELD MOUSE.
“What is my little Alfredcrying for?” asked his mother, Mrs. Clifford, as she entered theroom where Alfred stood weeping by the table. Come here, and tell me what is the matter with you.”
Alfred slowly advanced towards his mother, and wiped away his tearswith her apron. Alfred was but a little boy, or he would not have criedfor such a simple thing as he did.
“Well, Alfred, and what is it?” asked his kind mamma.
“Why, mamma, you know that nice plum cake you gave me forsaying my lesson well; I had put it in the cupboard, as I did notwant to eat it then, and I came just now to take a little nibble at it;and when I opened the closet-door to look for it, there was an uglybrown mouse in the closet, and hardly a scrap of my cake left; thatgreedy thing had eaten it all but a few crumbs.” And hereAlfred’s tears flowed afresh.
“I am very sorry, my dear child, that the mouse has eaten yourcake; but still, I do not think it6was worth shedding so many tears about: you must learn to bear suchtrifling disappointments with more patience. I dare say, the mousehas eaten my sugar and cake, but I shall not cry if it has.”
“I am sure it is enough to make any one cry, (said Alfred).I only wish, (added he, his eyes sparkling with anger), that Icould have killed the little beast for stealing my cake.”
“Now, Alfred, I am ashamed of you,” said his mothergravely.
Alfred could, however, think of nothing but the loss of his cake, andbegged his mother to let the mouse-trap be set to catch the mischievousintruder.
Mrs. Clifford was very sorry to hear her little son talk so, and sherepresented to him his cruelty in wanting to take