I am a great mouser. Yes, I am a famous mouser, O Queen! [Illustration: ‘THE MOUSE TRAP’] A DUNCE’S TALE The other day in school I couldn’t do my sums. I couldn’t tell how many two and two make. I couldn’t read my lesson. I couldn’t say my A B C’s. I couldn’t sing my song. So the teacher made me stand on a stool. Then she put this cap on my head. I have had to wear it ever since. After this I am going to study hard. I don’t like to be called a dunce. I don’t like to sit on a stool. Would you? [Illustration: YES, I AM A DUNCE] A TALE OF THREE KITTENS We will tell you a tale of ourselves, dear Queen. A tale of three little kittens. ‘Three little Kittens lost their mittens, And they began to cry, “O mother dear, We very much fear That we have lost our mittens.” ‘“Lost your mittens! You naughty Kittens! Then you shall have no pie.” “Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!” “No, you shall have no pie.” “Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!” The three little Kittens found their mittens, And they began to cry, “O mother dear, See here, see here, See! we have found our mittens.” ‘“Put on your mittens, You silly Kittens, And you may have some pie.” “Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r, Oh, let us have the pie! Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r.”’ [Illustration: THE KITTENS THAT LOST THEIR MITTENS] THE KITTENS THREE Did you ever see the kittens three That lost their mittens so red? They hopped in chairs and looked about, And ‘mee-ow’ and ‘mee-ow,’ they said. [Illustration: MEE-OW, MEE-OW] A RAINY-DAY TALE One day it rained and we could not go out of doors. So my brothers and sisters and I played Hide and Seek in the attic. All of a sudden one of my brothers said, ‘I’ll tell you what let’s do!’ ‘What’s that?’ we all asked together. ‘Let’s dress up! It’s lots of fun.’ So we ran to the closet where father and mother keep their Sunday clothes. I put on father’s trousers, and now I wear them every day. My brothers and sisters laugh at me. But I think I look fine, don’t you! [Illustration: HIS FATHER’S TROUSERS] A TALE OF LONDON TOWN If you should say:— ‘Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, Where have you been?’ I should say:— ‘I’ve been to London To look at the Queen.’ If you should say:— ‘Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, What did you there?’ Then I should say:— ‘I frightened a little mouse From under her chair.’ And she gave me these fine clothes. [Illustration: THE HERO] A TALE I KNOW