Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/26

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Little Ellie.

my warm room, and eat some of my bread.” And as Ellie pleased her, she said, “Perhaps you would like to pass the winter in my house; but then you must keep my room clean, and tell me fairy tales to amuse me; for that is what I like more than any thing.” Ellie did what the good mouse required, and in return had a very comfortable life.

“We shall soon have visitors,” said the field-mouse to her one day, soon after Ellie was settled in her place. “My neighbor usually pays me a visit once a-week. He lives in much grander style than I; for he has many splendid chambers, and wears costly fur. If you could get him for a husband, you were then well provided for; however, his sight is not very good. But you must not fail to tell him the prettiest stories, and sing for him the most touching songs, that you know.”

But Ellie would listen to nothing of the sort; for she could not bear the sight of their neighbor, because he was a mole. He really did come to pay the mouse a

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