eir winter stock of
provisions; but Downy would not stay in the corn-fields, because she
remembered the fate of her nest while she was gone in the garden, so
she came home very regularly every night.

[Illustration]

"Nothing of any consequence happened to Miss Downy till the latter end
of the Autumn; for some days she had missed her provisions, but could
not account for it in any way, and was at a loss to know who it could
be that devoured the fruits of her daily labour, but one morning when
she returned from gleaning in the stubble-fields, she was greatly
surprised, on entering her house, to behold a young stranger busily
employed in breakfasting in her granery; she stopped at the entrance
of her house to examine her visitor, and was struck by the beauty of
his form; he was of a reddish colour, his hair very long and thick,
his breast and fore-feet of a pale buff, and his belly white; he had a
nice round face, and small oval ears, with quick lively brown eyes and
long handsome black whiskers; in short, he was the prettiest mouse
Downy had ever seen, though he was a sad little thief, and had eaten a
great deal of her store. He appeared at first much disconcerted at
being disturbed and discovered in his depredation, and looked round on
every side for an opening to escape at, but none appearing, he stood
still, and scratched his ear with one of his hind feet, assuming as
unconcerned an air as he could possibly put on; Downy was not sorry
she had discovered who was the thief, but she soon forgave him, though
she could not help thinking he was a very dishonest mouse to come
every day and rob her as he had done, but he was so pretty, and made
so humble an apology for his intruding into her house, that she could
not find it in her heart to be angry with him long, and they soon
became very good friends, and at last he proposed her taking him as a
partner, which the simple Downy agreed to without hesitation, and
shared her house and provisions with the handsome young stranger, who
behaved with great decorum for some time, and was very careful to mind
what Downy said to him, but at last he began to throw off his
restraint, and was often getting into mischief in spite of the sage
advice of Downy, who took great pains to warn him from such evil
practices; but Silket would frisk in the garden, robbing the
newly-planted bean and pea crops with the greatest audacity, not
minding what careful Downy said, who represented to him th