Mouser Cat's Story
On that day last week when it stormed so very hard, your Aunt Amy was feeling very lonely, because all of her men and women friends in the house were busy, and it was not reasonable to suppose any of her bird or animal acquaintances would be out. As she sat by the window, watching the little streams of water as they ran down the glass, she said to herself that this was one of the days when she could not hope to be entertained by story-telling.
You don't seem to care whether Mrs. Man makes the pickles properly, or not, a voice from the doorway said, and, looking around in surprise, your Aunt Amy saw Mrs. Mouser Cat, an animal with whom she was very well acquainted, but who had never before ventured to speak with her.
Considerably astonished, because it had not come into her mind that Mrs. Mouser might prove to be as entertaining as any of the other animals she had talked with, your Aunt Amy asked:
What about the pickles, Mrs. Mouser?
Why, Mrs. Man is putting them up; didn't you know it? the cat replied, and your Aunt Amy said with a sigh:
Oh, yes indeed, Mrs. Mouser, I know that, and you also know it is not possible for me to do any work around the house, owing to my illness. That is why I am idle on this day when the storm makes it seem very, very lonely.
You can sit out of doors all the afternoon with a foolish old duck, or talk by the hour with Mr. Turtle, who hasn't got sense enough to go in when it rains, and yet you never invited me for an afternoon's story-telling, and Mrs. Mouser arched her back as if she was angry.
Do you know any stories? your Aunt Amy asked, surprised again, and Mrs. Mouser replied quickly:
It would be funny if I didn't. I've lived on this farm more than six years, and have known pretty much all that has happened around here in that time.
I wish you could think of a story to tell me now, your Aunt Amy said. I am just in the mood for hearing one.
It is the hardest thing in the world to stand up and begin telling a story without anything to start one going, Mrs. Mouser said thoughtfully, as she brushed her whiskers with her paw. After you once get into it, of course, they come easy enough. How would it do if I should explain why it is that cats catch mice?
Amy Prentice
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MOUSER CATS' STORY
MOUSER CAT'S STORY.
WHY CATS CATCH MICE.
THE KITTY WHICH THE SNOW BROUGHT.
WHEN MR. FOX WAS FOOLISH.
A WET-WEATHER PARTY.
MR. THOMAS CAT'S NARROW ESCAPE.
MR. CROW'S FANCY.
A QUESTION OF BEAUTY.
MENAGERIE POETRY.
WHEN MR. ELEPHANT AND MR. BEE HAD A QUARREL.
WHEN TOMMY GOT THE BEST OF MR. BEAR.
MR. DONKEY'S LESSON IN GOOD MANNERS.
WHEN MR. CROCODILE HAD HIS TEETH EXTRACTED.
THE DISSATISFIED CAT.
MR. CROW'S DECEIT.
WHEN YOUNG THOMAS CAT PAINTED A CANARY.
WHEN MR. FOX WAS TOO CUNNING.
WHEN SONNY BUNNY RABBIT WAS RASH.
MR. FOX AND MISS CRAB.
THE BABY ELEPHANT.
THE STORY OF SQUEAKY MOUSE.
A SAUCY MOUSE.
FATAL SPORT.
A CAT'S DREAM.
BLOOD RELATIONS.
THE END.