d not
sleep. But Raggedy Ann was very glad to have Boots sleep with her, even
if she was heavy, and when Boots began crying for her Mamma, Raggedy Ann
comforted her and soon Boots went to sleep.

One day Jeanette came home. She had a new coating of wax on her face and
she was as beautiful as ever.

Now, by this time Boots was one of the family and did not cry at night.
Besides Boots was told of the mouse in the corner and how he had eaten
Jeanette's wax, so she promised to sleep with one eye open.

Late that night when Boots was the only one awake, out popped a tiny
mouse from the hole. Boots jumped after the mouse, and hit against the
toy piano and made the keys tinkle so loudly it awakened the dolls.

They ran over to where Boots sat growling with the tiny mouse in her
mouth.

My! how the mouse was squeaking!

Raggedy Ann did not like to hear it squeak, but she did not wish
Jeanette to have her wax face chewed again, either.

So, Raggedy Ann said to the tiny little mouse, "You should have known
better than to come here when Boots is with us. Why don't you go out in
the barn and live where you will not destroy anything of value?"

"I did not know!" squeaked the little mouse, "This is the first time I
have ever been here!"

"Aren't you the little mouse who nibbled Jeanette's wax face?" Raggedy
Ann asked.

"No!" the little mouse answered. "I was visiting the mice inside the
walls and wandered out here to pick up cake crumbs! I have three little
baby mice at home down in the barn. I have never nibbled at anyone's wax
face!"

"Are you a Mamma mouse?" Uncle Clem asked.

"Yes!" the little mouse squeaked, "and if the kitten will let me go I
will run right home to my children and never return again!"

"Let her go, Boots!" the dolls all cried, "She has three little baby
mice at home! Please let her go!"

"No, sir!" Boots growled, "This is the first mouse I have ever caught
and I will eat her!" At this the little Mamma mouse began squeaking
louder than ever.

"If you do not let the Mamma mouse go, Boots, I shall not play with you
again!" said Raggedy Ann.

"Raggedy will not play with Boots again!" said all of the dolls in an
awed tone. Not to have Raggedy play with them would have been sad,
indeed.

But Boots only growled.

The dolls drew to one side, where Raggedy Ann and Uncle Clem whispered
together.

And while they whispered Boots would let the little Mamma mouse run a
piece, then she would catch i