NCE upon a time there lived in a hole in the pantry wall a family of mice. There was a father mouse and a mother mouse and three little baby mice. They were called the “Velvet family,� because their fur looked like soft, gray velvet.
One little mouse was named Sharpeyes (only they nicknamed him “Sharpy�) because his eyes were so sharp and bright. He could see everything, even in the darkest closets and holes. One was named Sniffy, because he could sniff and smell anything good to eat, wherever it might be hidden. And the tiniest little mouse was named Squeaky, because he had such a squeaky, shrill little voice. He was constantly singing, “Ee-ee-ee.�
Now the mother-mouse was very wise, and she had taught her babies to scamper and hide whenever they saw the old cat tiptoeing about. The mother-mouse would say, “Beware of the cat!� and the little mice would run so quickly that although Mrs. Puss did not even mew or purr when she walked through the pantry, she never had been able to catch any one of the Velvet family. But many of their little cousins and other relatives had been caught by the old cat. So the little mice obeyed their mother and always hid when the cat was near.
The mother-mouse also warned her babies to beware of the trap. She said, “I know, Sniffy, you will smell the cheese, and Sharpy will peer into the queer, little, round house and see the cheese hanging there, and Squeaky will call to you all to come in and get a bite, but if you do not heed my words you will be caught with cruel springs and wires and choked to death. So mind what I tell you and do not eat any cheese unless I am with you.�
And the little mice answered, “Ee-ee-ee! Yes, Mother, yes. Ee-ee-ee!� in their little, shrill voices, and they promised to remember to do just what their mother told them.
I could not begin to tell you about all the frolics that those mice had together. But I will tell you about their Christmas party.
“’Twas the night before Christmas,
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even a mouse.�