Grand-Daddy Whiskers, M.D. | Page 2

down to supper, every last mouse of
you!" he commanded. "Let your victuals fill your mouths and stop your
noise. Nimble-toes has brought a word for Grand-daddy."
In a twinkling they were all seated around the long table. Nimble-toes
sat beside Grand-daddy, so he could talk with him easily, for
Grand-daddy's left ear had been torn in a trap and he was somewhat
deaf.
"Now we are as still as mice," chuckled Grand-daddy. "Speak out,
Nimble-toes."
"I have a message from our woodfolk, Grand-daddy," began
Nimble-toes. "No one could write a letter, so they told me what to say.
I've said it forty-'leven times, lest I forget. The message is from Pa
Field-Mouse, Squire Cricket, Sir Spider, Daddy Grasshopper, Mr. Hop
Toad, and Mr. Jack Rabbit. They bade me say this:
"Dr. Grand-daddy Whiskers--
"We woodfolk are sometimes sick; we need a doctor. We wish our
children to have a teacher. They must learn to read and write. Our
wives must learn to cook and sew. We wish to be civilized. We miss
Uncle Squeaky's band. Please come to Pond Lily Lake and help us."
"We'll come, all right, Nimble-toes," interrupted Wiggle.

"We'll surely come," promised Wink. "Hurrah for another summer at
Pond Lily Lake!"
"Hush! hush!" cried Mother Graymouse.
"You will put your noses in a dark corner instead of eating supper, if
you interrupt again," warned Uncle Squeaky, scowling at his excited
twins.
"Are there many sick ones?" asked Grand-daddy.
"Squire Cricket has a sore throat, Lady Spider is ailing, and almost
everyone is sneezing," replied Nimble-toes.
"They really need you, Grand-daddy," advised Aunt Belindy Squeaky.
"Our kiddies need the country sunshine after being shut up all winter in
this attic," added Mother Graymouse.
"Limpy-toes shall help Grand-daddy, I'll be his nurse, and Dot will
make a lovely school teacher," planned Silver Ears.
"I'd love to teach the little Spider, Cricket and Grasshopper kiddies,"
smiled Dot Squeaky.
"Ah, there's lots of goodies down by the Lake!" reminded Buster.
"There's strawberries, blueberries, apples, potatoes, sweet corn--let's go
right away, Grand-daddy."
Granny Whiskers sat silently rocking while the others chattered eagerly.
Grand-daddy watched her as she wiped away a tear and sighed wearily.
"What do you say, Granny? You enjoyed last summer's vacation at the
Lake, didn't you?" he asked.
"Ah, Zenas, it was pleasant enough; pleasant enough, to be sure! But I
cannot bear to think of leaving our dear attic home. You went away last
winter with Hezekiah and Scamper. And what happened? Why, we
nearly fretted our hearts out, waiting for your return. Something was

always happening at the Lake. Baby Squealer got lost, Wiggle 'most
got drowned, Limpy-toes came near burning to death, and the barn
burned to the ground. If you listen to me, Zenas Whiskers, you'll tell Pa
Field-Mouse and his neighbors that you cannot be their doctor. Let us
stay safely in our attic where there is nothing to harm us."
Grand-daddy looked sadly disappointed.
"I always wanted to live in the country and be a doctor, Granny," he
sighed.
"Bless my stars, Granny," laughed Uncle Squeaky, "we found Squealer
without much fuss; Nimble-toes fished Wiggle out of the pond, and
Limpy-toes didn't get even the patch on his trouser's knee scorched. To
be sure, the barn did burn down. Lucky we were at the Lake, I'm
thinking. Just take a nap, Granny, and forget your notion that this attic
is the safest spot in the world. Nimble-toes' coming has stirred up my
Gipsy blood. It is summertime again and the country is the place for
your Uncle Hezekiah. We'll start for the Lake as soon as we can pack
our belongings, Nimble-toes. Let me give you some more pudding."
"I really feel called to go, Granny," argued Grand-daddy earnestly.
"Just think of those kiddies who cannot read or write. You can help
Betsey and Belindy teach their mothers how to make these delicious
puddings and cookies. You can help me brew medicines. Think of
those poor kiddies, as sweet and good as our own pretty ones, and they
may be having the colic, or the tooth-ache, the whooping-cough or the
measles, and never a doctor to dose 'em with peppermint and cure-all
salve. I see that you and I are needed at the Lake."
Granny began to look interested.
"I suppose so, Zenas, I suppose so. I know you are a good doctor, a
grand doctor, indeed. But it's a big risk to leave our cosy attic home and
travel amid dangers."
"We will go, Granny," decided Grand-daddy. "I promise you solemnly
that Hezekiah and I will take good care of our big family and bring you

all back, safe and sound, before snow flies."
Granny still looked worried.
"Ah well, Zenas, we shall see! Ah yes, we shall see!" she sighed as she
sipped