Grand-Daddy Whiskers, M.D. | Page 6

"Let me catch my
breath. I hustled some and am puffing considerable. Now then for some
splints and a stout string. If you were younger, I'd rub in some cure-all
salve and wait for another leg to grow, as Sir Spider's has done. We'll
take no chances, however; I'll mend your broken leg."

Dr. Whiskers worked deftly away, setting the broken limb and
wrapping it neatly in splints and a white bandage. Now and then he
whistled a bit of Mammy's Lullaby, for he was happy in his work.
"It feels 'most as good as new; just a bit stiff," declared Daddy
Longlegs. "I don't know how we have managed all these years without
a doctor. Welcome to our village, Dr. Whiskers!"
"A beautiful village it is," replied Grand-daddy. "I like to spend my
summers near Pond Lily Lake. Now I must say good-day. Don't use
that leg for a few days and it will mend all right. No crutches for old
Daddy Longlegs this time."
That evening the whole family gathered at Gray Rock Bungalow. Dr.
Whiskers had many stories to tell of his first day's practice in the Lake
village.
[Illustration: _Dr. Whiskers worked deftly away, setting the broken
limb.]_
Uncle Squeaky brought out his fiddle and all the little mice stood
around his arm-chair and sang their merry songs.
"Come, Dr. Whiskers," called Granny at last, "we must start home. You
have had a busy day and Dot wants Limpy-toes to build her
school-room tomorrow. Good-night, folkses. Yes, Limpy-toes, I
suppose I can ride in your automobile. But do be careful and not break
your old Granny's neck. We must all help Grand-daddy to keep his
promise to fetch us all safely to our dear attic home before snow flies."
CHAPTER IV
DOT SQUEAKY'S SUMMER SCHOOL
The spot which Dot chose for her schoolroom was down in a lane
behind Wild Rose Cottage.
Uncle Squeaky helped Scamper and Limpy-toes set four strong corner

posts and made a roof of green boughs to shelter the kiddies when it
rained; but there were no walls to shut out the fresh air and sunshine.
There were rows of green mossy seats and a desk in which Dot could
keep her books and papers.
Tiny, Teenty and Buster gathered wild flowers to decorate their pretty
school-room.
Pete and Dickie Grasshopper stopped on their way home from the
Lake.
"May we come to school, Miss Dot?" asked Dickie.
"Surely; any one who wishes to learn to read and write may come. But
you must obey your teacher."
"We could not come every day," said Pete.
"I shall not teach every day," smiled Dot. "One day is lesson day; the
next is play day."
"I brought this stick for you," said Dickie, presenting Dot a smooth
willow stick. "If Bobsey Rabbit or Tony Spider play any tricks, just
give 'em a walloping."
"Thank you, Dickie. I will hang it over my desk, but I think I shall not
need to use it."
"She may wallop you, Dickie," laughed Pete as they hopped home.
At last the school-room was finished. Limpy-toes and Buster rode
around the village in the automobile and invited the children to come to
Miss Squeaky's school. Limpy-toes got quite angry with Grandpa Bull
Frog.
"He was ever so impolite, Mammy," he complained. "He said he'd
never send his family to a Graymouse school. He said that Uncle
Squeaky's band couldn't play as good as the Frog Orchestra, and that
Uncle Squeaky didn't know anything about the Lake, if he did make a

raft and float around. Ah, Grandpa Bull Frog thinks he is a wonderful
fellow!"
Granny Whiskers was interested in the pupils' names which Dot wrote
in her school book.
"Pete and Dickie Grasshopper and Sammie Cricket!" she exclaimed.
"Why, Dot Squeaky, they are too old to begin school! Baby Wee
Field-Mouse and little Squealer won't do a thing but play and squeal."
"I think I can teach them all something, Granny," laughed Dot.
"There's a good many Spider and Grasshopper kiddies," said Silver
Ears. "Pete and Dickie have two sisters, Molly and Dolly. Hopsy Toad
is a cute little fellow. Topsy Toad must be his twin sister. Webbie,
Spinnie, Tony, and Patty Spider! You will have a big school, Cousin
Dot."
"Fidelia Cricket is going with Sammie," added Granny. "Ah, I see that
Mr. Jack Rabbit is sending his two boys--Bunny and Bobsey. I fear you
will have your paws full, Dot."
"If I can manage my two small brothers, I'll not fear the others."
"Tiny and Teenty are great gigglers," said Silver Ears. "It takes
Mammy Graymouse to teach them their lessons. If they don't mind, just
tell Mammy."
School began upon a lovely summer morning. Dot found many pupils
waiting upon the green moss seats.
"What a splendid school!