Page 554 - Child's own book

dwelling under the stubble. There the field-mouse lived snugly
find securely enough, and had a whole room full of com, an
excellent kitchen, and a dining-room- Poor little Maja stood
before the door, like a poor beggar-girt, and begged for a little
bit of barleycorn, for she had eaten nothing whatever for the
list two days. u You poor little animal!" said the field-mouse,
for she was a good old fieldmouse in the main, come into my
warm room and dine with mo.” As Maja pleased her, she
sfiid, “ You are welcome to stay all the winter with me, only you
must keep my room clean and tidy, and tell me stories, for I
am very fond of hearing them.” And Maja did what (he good
old field mouse required, and a very comfortable time she had of
it. M We shrsll soon have a visitor coming to see us/ 1 said the
field mouse ; lt 1 have a neighbour who ealls on me once a
week ; he is still bettor off than I am, for he has large rooms,
and wears a handsome black pelisse. If you could have him
for a husband, you would be well provided for indeed. Only
he can't see at alt. You must mind and tell him some of your
best stories." Hut Miija did not care anything about him ; for
the fioldmouse’s neighbour was a mole.
At length he came in his black fur pelisse, and paid his visit.
Dame Field-mouse said he was very rich and very learned, and
that his mansion was above twenty times larger than hers. He
might possess some learning, but he could not bear either the
sun or the beautiful flowers, and he always spoke slightingly
of both, just because he had never seen them. Maja was obliged
to sing, and so she sang u Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away
home, besides other songs, and tire mole fell in love with her
on account of her sweet voice: b.it he said nothing, because he
was a very wary man, ^ Assort time since, he had burrowed a
long underground passage lea ling from his house to the field-
mouse a dwelling, and both the latter and Maja were now free
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