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But one day the young mouse, which was given to roam
Having made an excursion some way from her home
On a sudden return'd with such joy in her eyes,
That her grey, sedate parent express'd some surprise.
"O mother" said she, "the good folks of this house,
I'm convinced, have not any ill—will to a mouse;
And those tales can't be true you always are telling,
For they've been at such pains to construct us a dwelling.
The floor is of wood, and the walls are of wires,
Exactly the size that one's comfort requires;
And I'm sure that we there should have nothing to fear,
If ten cats, with their kittens, at once should appear.
And then they have made such nice holes in the wall.
One could slip in and out, with no trouble at all.
But forcing one through such rough crannies as these.
Always gives one's poor ribs a most terrible squeeze.
But the best of all is they've provided us well
With a large piece of cheese of most exquisite smell;
"T was so nice, I had put in my head to go through
When I thought it my duty to come and fetch you."
"Ah, child," said her mother, "believe I entreat,
Both the cage and the cheese are a terrible cheat;
Do not think all that trouble they took for our good;
They would catch us, and kill us all there if they could,
As they've caught and killed scores, and I never could learn,
That a mouse who once entered, did ever return."
Let young people mind what the old people say;
And when danger is near them, keep out of the way.
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