Grand-Daddy Whiskers, M.D. | Page 8

didn't we stay safely in our dear attic home? Oh, dearie
me!"
"I hope Wild Rose Cottage and Dot's schoolroom down in Grasshopper
Lane will not burn," sighed Aunt Squeaky. "This is a play day, so the
kiddies are not in school."
"I'm going to the fire," decided Mother Gray-mouse. "Perhaps I can
help. Get some buckets, Limpy-toes. I will call Scamper, Buster, Wink,
and Wiggle. We cannot let the village burn up."
Most of the woodfolk were at the fire. Some poured on pails of water
from the Lake; other groups stood talking wildly as they watched the
leaping flames.
"I wish we had engines and hose-reels like the Giant fire-men used
when the barn was on fire," sighed Silver Ears.
Uncle Squeaky ran here, there, and everywhere; filling pails, pouring
water, beating burning bushes with Mother Graymouse's best broom,
and shouting excited orders to the crowd of scared woodland folk.
The fire crept nearer to Wild Rose Cottage.
"It will be a shame if Dr. Whiskers loses his new house," said Sir
Spider.
"He shall not lose it," replied Uncle Squeaky. "I'll set a back fire." He
rushed into the house and got a pawful of matches. Then he set fire to
the little bushes behind Grand-daddy's house.
"Neighbor Squeaky has gone crazy!" declared Sir Spider to Daddy
Grasshopper. But as they watched him beat the burning bushes to a
blackened mass, they saw that Uncle Squeaky knew what he was doing.

"Neighbor Squeaky has saved Dr. Whisker's house. That burned patch
cannot burn again, Sir Spider," cried Daddy Grasshopper. "Come on.
We will make a little fire around Pa Field-Mouse's cottage."
"Pile of Rails Cottage is on fire!" cried Scamper Squeaky as he trotted
by. "Come on and help Pa Field-Mouse!"
They rushed to the Field-Mouse's Cottage, but the little cedars which
overhung the roof were already a mass of crackling flames. "Nothing
more can be saved for Neighbor Field-Mouse. Help me build back fires
up yonder and save Neighbor Hop Toad's house."
[Illustration: _They worked bravely with Uncle Squeaky for captain._]
They worked bravely with Uncle Squeaky for captain, and, following
his directions, they finally stopped the dreadful fire. Then tired out,
they sat under the laurel bushes to rest and talk it over.
"How did the fire start?" asked Uncle Squeaky.
"One of those Skunk kids was trying to smoke a grape-vine cigarette,"
piped Tony Spider. "I saw him."
"Where did he get matches?" demanded Uncle Squeaky.
"Prob'ly he stole 'em," sputtered Mistress Grasshopper. "I should think
Dinah Skunk would wallop those little Skunks forty times a day. They
are a mean crowd."
"And poor Debbie Field-Mouse's home is in ruins, all because of little
Skunk's cigarette. Sniff! sniff! sniff!" cried Mother Graymouse.
"A Lake full of water and no way to put out a fire," scolded Aunt
Squeaky. "I guess likely, Hezekiah, I shall worry some more about
smoke. Let me catch a kiddie smoking cigarettes!"
"Poor Debbie! I'm so sorry for you, dearie," moaned Granny Whiskers.
Debby Field-Mouse smiled calmly.

"Ah, Granny, it might be worse. I have lost eight children in an
earthquake; I have been caught out in a blizzard and nigh frozen to
death. No one is hurt and we saved a few things. Maybe we can build a
finer house."
"Right you are, Debby Field-Mouse, and brave, also!" cried Uncle
Squeaky admiringly. "We will all lend a paw and you shall have a nice
new house right beside my Gray Rock Bungalow. Then you and Betsey
and Belindy can be real neighborly. You must stay at our house until
your new home is ready. What do you say, neighbors? Shall we begin
Pa Field-Mouse's bungalow bright and early tomorrow?"
Sir Spider, Squire Cricket, Mr. Hop Toad, Jack Rabbit, and Daddy
Grasshopper nodded approvingly.
"We will all help," they promised.
Debby Field-Mouse looked sadly at the blackened ruins of her old
home; then taking Mother Graymouse's arm, she led little Wee to Uncle
Squeaky's home. The others went homeward, also, for it was getting
late.
"A little music is like medicine to a sad mouse," said Uncle Squeaky
after supper. "Pa Field-Mouse seems down-hearted tonight. Trot along,
laddies, and put on your band uniforms that Ma Graymouse made last
summer. We will give Pa Field-Mouse a band concert."
Grand-daddy nodded his head.
"A grand idea, Hezekiah. Melodious music makes many melancholy
mice merry. Ha! ha! That's nearly as good as the jingle Robert Giant
used to sing about 'Picker Peter's peppered pickles.'"
Buster Graymouse hopped up and down in delight. He laughed until the
tears ran down his fat cheeks.
"What's the trouble, Buster Boy?" asked Grand-daddy. "Did you eat too
much supper?"

"No, Grand-daddy, but my little jacket is nearly bursting. Ah, that is too
funny! Guess I shall laugh all night."