thought
herself quite secure from all dangers: of a beautiful moonlight night
she used just to peep out from under the daisies, and look at the dew
drops all shining like diamonds in the moon-beams, and once she
whisked on to the top of her green mount, and began to play among the
flowers, but she was alarmed by the sight of a small dog running
through the high grass, and she quickly retreated into her house; nor
was she so imprudent again as venture out after it grew dusk. And now
the grass grew long and high, the flowers began to lose their beauty,
and turn brown; every thing proclaimed the approach of summer.

"The month of June began, and the mowers came to cut down the grass;
Downy was fearful that they would molest her, and spoil her house,
when they came near the little mount; but she trusted to the chance
that they might not discover it, and she laid quite close all day.

"But poor little Downy was very sorry to see all the nice high grass
and pretty flowers cut down to the ground, those flowers which had
sheltered her from the sun and rain for so long.

[Illustration]

"'And now, (thought she), I shall certainly be caught by the great
white owl; for he will be able to see me now; and I can't hide myself
under the long grass and dandelions, as I used to do, for they are all
cut down and spoiled.'--Poor little Downy was in a great fright all
the time that the hay-makers were at work, and when she found them
coming near her house, with their great pitchforks in their hands, she
remembered the fate of her mother, and all her brothers and sisters in
the stack, and she thought that she should be safer in the bank of the
garden hedge; which was not far off. She watched an opportunity when
no one was looking, and hastened away to the hedge as fast as she
could, and creeping in laid quite snug; she remained in the bank the
whole day, and enjoyed herself more than could be expected, for the
weather was extremely pleasant, and there was a fine bed of ripe wild
strawberries close by, which smelt quite refreshing. Though Downy
dared not venture back into the field for fear of being killed (for
mice are but timid little things) yet she was very happy all that day;
and when she saw the men leave the field with the pitchforks which had
caused her so much terror, she returned to her nest, and slept that
night on some new hay which she had nibbled, and brought into her
house to lay on. As soon as it was day, away ran care