The Graymouse Family

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The Graymouse Family

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Title: The Graymouse Family
Author: Nellie M. Leonard
Release Date: March, 2005 [EBook #7767] [This file was first posted on May 15, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: US-ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE GRAYMOUSE FAMILY ***

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THE GRAYMOUSE FAMILY
BY NELLIE M. LEONARD
CHAPTER I
THE GRAYMOUSE HOME
CHAPTER II
UNCLE SQUEAKY
CHAPTER III
TREASURES FROM THE PLAY-ROOM
CHAPTER IV
MOTHER GRAYMOUSE KEEPS SCHOOL
CHAPTER V
LIMPY-TOES IS LOST
CHAPTER VI
BUSTER AND THE CHOCOLATES
CHAPTER VII
SILVER EARS' ADVENTURE
CHAPTER VIII
VISITING MRS. FIELD-MOUSE
CHAPTER IX
MOVING DAYS
CHAPTER X
THE CHRISTMAS TREE

ILLUSTRATIONS
That Wicked Thomas Cat is prowling about and I had to be careful
The little Graymouse children greeted Uncle Squeaky gleefully
"I might manage to tell one more Story," he chuckled
There was a pretty daughter who loved Bright Ribbons
The door flew open and in ran Ruth and Robert Giant
How shall we ever manage to get it home?
"That cross old Norah"
Buster folded his paws in his lap and sang very sweetly
"How nice the Apples smell," said Buster
"My poor, dear Limpy-toes," she sobbed
"Tell us all about it?" they begged
It was a hot summer day
Grand-daddy Whiskers with a pan of warm biscuits under his arm
The only food in sight is set around on the pantry shelves in traps
A busy little procession marched to the barn
"Jolly little mice are we"

GRAYMOUSE FAMILY
[Illustration]
CHAPTER I
THE GRAYMOUSE HOME
Mother Graymouse, with her family lived in a cosy attic which was as snug and comfortable as any good mouse could wish.
Her children were named Limpy-toes, Silver Ears, Buster, Teenty and Tiny, and Baby Squealer. Although they had many faults, upon the whole they were good children and made a happy family.
On pleasant mornings, the sun shone in bright and warm through the dainty cobweb curtains of their east window. In the summer-time, robins and orioles sang sweetly among the green branches of the maple tree which shaded the west window. Even when it stormed, Mother Graymouse and her little ones enjoyed the patter, patter of the rain-drops upon the roof and window-panes. They were thankful for such a good home.
The house in which they lived belonged to a family of giants. There was Mr. Giant, his wife, and two little Giants. The little girl was a pretty child named Ruth, with blue eyes and long yellow curls. Her brother, Robert, looked almost exactly like her, except that his yellow curls were shorter, he wore bigger boots that made more noise, and instead of playing with dolls and tea-sets he liked balls and bats and air-rifles.
After Mr. Giant had fitted up half of the attic for his children's play-room, life was much jollier for the little Graymouses. The steam heat from the play-room came through the cracks and made their home as warm as toast.
Limpy-toes and Silver Ears worked busily away until there were three holes through which they could steal softly in and watch Ruth and Robert at their play.
Since Christmas the attic had become a merry, noisy place.
"I wonder how those young Giants manage to make such a racket?" grumbled Mother Graymouse. "I've been trying for an hour to rock Baby Squealer to sleep and the poor dear is wide awake now. Such a din, I've seldom heard."
"It's their Christmas presents, Mammy," replied Silver Ears. "Ruth has a toy piano."
"And Robert blows his new cornet and beats his drum," finished Limpy-toes.
"He must like to work so hard," drawled Buster.
"Oh, it's jolly fun!" cried Tiny.
"It's jolly fun," echoed her twin Teenty.
"Maybe it is," said Mother Graymouse, "but I'd like to chew a hole in those toys that would let out all the noise. With their racket and Squealer's howling, I'm almost crazy. Here, Silver Ears, sit by the cradle and amuse the baby. I must try to find something for our supper. Buster, I want you to help the twins set the dishes on the table while I am gone. Don't shirk now. Even if Limpy-toes is so lame, he helps me far more than you do. See