E-text prepared by Louise Hope



LITTLE PLEASEWELL'S

The MOUSE and the CHRISTMAS CAKE



McLoughlin Bros : NEW YORK



A LITTLE MOUSE THAT BUILT ITSELF A HOUSE IN A CHRISTMAS CAKE.

A pretty story I will tell, Of Nib, a little Mouse, Who took delight, when none where near, To skip about the house.

Her little nose could sniff and smell Where all good things were kept, And in the pantry well she knew That mistress Pussy slept.

But, notwithstanding, in she crept, And on the shelf she found A Christmas cake, the top of which Was by a castle crowned.

The subject of the present cake Was Windsor's mighty walls; With turrets, windows, standard too, And entrance to the halls.



Why, here within such walls as these, Thought Mousey, I could dwell; And should the Cat lay siege to them, Defend myself right well.

So, with her little teeth, which served For pickaxe and for spade, She gnawed right through the gothic door, And thus an entrance made.

Then climbed the turret, which she chose Her residence to make; And thought to leave it now and then, And feast upon the cake.

All this occurred on Christmas eve, And next came Christmas day; And then some little folks arrived, To eat, and drink, and play.

Right merry are the little folks, And what a noise they make, When Windsor castle they behold, Displayed upon the cake.

The turrets and the walls they view, The cannon, too, admire; The soldiers ready to present, And then—pop!—pop!—to fire.

On this, when they had long enough All exercised their wit, They scrutinised the cake, and wished To taste a bit of it.

Each guest prepared,—the knife was raised Some slices to begin, When, lo! with wonder, all exclaimed, "I hear a noise within!"

Poor Mousey, when she saw the knife, At once expressed her fear, By squeaking out with all her might, Which every one could hear.

Then John, as he the turret viewed, With consternation cried, "There's something, I am sure, alive, And moving, too, inside."

All now were hushed, and knew not what All this could be about; While Mouse, in fright, forgot her tail, Which at the top popped out.



"Why, here's some trick," the lady cried, "I'll knock the turret down." Mousey, in terror, gave a leap, And ran along her gown.

"Oh!" screamed the lady, "what is this?" On each side was dismay, Which Mousey took advantage of, By scampering away.

Their fright all o'er, loud laughs ensued, From all within the house, To think that so much fear should be Caused by a little Mouse.

The children hunted for this Mouse, But she was not a dolt To wait 'till she was caught, but made Right through a hole—a bolt.

The party then began their dance, And singing next ensued; And then came supper, with its cakes, And very best home-brewed.

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One Cent Books—Dolls and Games.

YOUNG AMERICA'S SERIES. Printed in Colors—6 kinds.

Apple Pie, Cross Boy, Noisy Boy, Good Natured Boy, Disorderly Girl, Industrious Boy,

AUNT MARY'S LITTLE SERIES.

Large 32mo. Toys. 12 kinds. Covers printed in Colors.

Old Mother Hubbard and her Dog, Little Tom Tucker, Mischievous Boy, One, Two, Buckle my Shoe, Five Little Pigs, Greedy George, The Crooked Man, Peter White, Jack Spratt, Harry Heedless, Primer.

LITTLE PLEASEWELL'S. Printed in Colors.

Cruel Boy and the Magpie, Little Frog, and Pretty Mouse, The Mouse and the Christmas Cake, Greedy Ben, Naughty Puppies, Truant Bunny.

LITTLE DELIGHTS. Printed in Colors.

Diamonds and Toads, Jack and the Beanstalk, Prince with a Long Nose, Frogs Bride, Lazy Harry's Home, Three Wishes.

OLD SERIES—DOLLS.

Emma, Baby, Jenny, Lucy, Frank, Willie.

TOPSEY SERIES—DOLLS.

Topsey, Eva St. Clair, Grecian Bend, Alecia, Fanny, Florence.

LITTLE TOM THUMB SERIES.

Mrs. Tom Thumb, Mr. Tom Thumb, Pink, Minnie Warren, Louise, Maud.

DOMINOES.

Checker Board and Men, Fox and Geese.

McLOUGHLIN BROS. & CO., New York.

Electrotyped by VINCENT DILL, 27 New Chambers St., N. Y.



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Errata (Noted by Transcriber)

Who took delight, when none where near [spelling unchanged] Industrious Boy, [comma in original]

THE END