THE ANT AND THE MOUSE
- (h oney)
- m oney
- (th is)
- m iss
- pieces
- sharp
- (w ish)
- f ish
- (r ob)
- c ob
- lost
- buy
- (c arry)
- m arry
- (r each)
- p each
- roost er
- hur ried
There was once an ant.
While sweeping her house one day, this ant found three pieces of money.
“What shall I buy?” said she.
“Shall I buy fish?”
“No, fish is full of bones. I can’t eat bones. I’ll not buy fish.”
“Shall I buy bread?”
“No, bread has crust. I can’t eat crust. I’ll not buy bread.”
“Shall I buy peaches?”
“No, peaches have stones. I can’t eat stones. I’ll not buy peaches.”
“Shall I buy corn?”
“No, corn grows on a cob. I can’t eat cobs. I’ll not buy corn.”
“Shall I buy apples?”
“No, apples have seeds. I can’t eat seeds I’ll not buy apples.”
“Shall I buy a ribbon?”
“Yes, that’s just what I want. I will buy a ribbon.”
And away ran Miss Ant to the store and bought her a bright red ribbon.
She tied the ribbon about her neck and sat in her window.
An ox came along and said, “How pretty you are, Miss Ant! Will you marry me?”
“Sing,” said the ant, “so I may hear your voice.”
The ox was very proud of his voice and he bellowed with all his might.
“No, no,” cried the ant, “I’ll not marry you, Mr. Ox. Your bellow frightens me. Go away.”
Soon a lion came that way and said, “How pretty you are, Miss Ant! Will you marry me?”
“Sing,” said the ant, “so I may hear your voice.”
The lion was proud of his voice and he roared with all his might.
“No, no,” cried the ant, “I’ll not marry you, Mr. Lion. Your loud roar frightens me. It shakes the very hills. Go away.”
The lion had not been gone long when a proud rooster came strutting along that way.
“How pretty you are, Miss Ant! Will you marry me?” said the rooster.
“Sing,” said the ant, “so I may hear your voice.”
The rooster was very proud of his shrill voice and he crowed with all his might.
“No, no,” cried the ant, “I’ll not marry you, Mr. Rooster. Your shrill crow frightens me. Go away.”
The rooster was hardly out of sight when a big dog came trotting that way.
“How pretty you are, Miss Ant! Will you marry me?” said the dog.
“Sing,” said the ant, “so I may hear your voice.”
The dog was very proud of his voice and he barked with all his might.
“No, no,” cried the ant, “I’ll not marry you, Mr. Dog. Your sharp bark frightens me. Go away.”
After a time a wee little mouse came frisking that way.
“How pretty you are, Miss Ant! Will you marry me?” said the mouse.
“Sing,” said the ant, “so I may hear your voice.”
Now the wee little mouse was not at all proud of his voice. But he squeaked as sweetly as he could, “Wee, wee, wee!”
“Yes, yes,” cried the ant, “I’ll marry you, dear Mouse. Your sweet little voice pleases me. Come right in.”
In scampered the mouse.
The ant gave him two pieces of money, for she had spent only one for her ribbon.
He hurried away to the store, and came quickly back bringing apples and bread.
Mrs. Ant Mouse now sat down to a feast.
Mr. Mouse ate the crusts and the seeds, so nothing was lost.
