more would Whitefoot have gone near a
trap again, if he had only broken one of his limbs, instead of being
killed, but he should have minded what was said at first. But you
shall hear how the others behaved after his death.

"Downy was much shocked at the death of her poor Whitefoot, and she
told the other little mice to take warning by their brother's sad
fate, and not go near any more brick traps, but be contented with the
food which she and their father provided for them. This they promised
to do, and they were very sorry for the loss of Whitefoot, who was the
most nimble of them all, and at the head of all their pranks, for he
was usually the ring-leader and the most daring of the party.

"For a few days they were more orderly, but their bad habits returned
again, and they forgot all their promises, and were as naughty as ever
they had been--even Silket was shocked at them, and was forced to
chastise the two most unruly, by biting their ears. Wilful run away,
and came to a most untimely death.--He invaded, one night, a bee-hive,
and made great havoc in the stores of honey, eating the honey-combs,
and destroying the work of the poor bees--but at last he was punished
severely, for the bees, enraged at his lawless conduct, came in a
body, and stung their enemy in a thousand different places, so that,
unable to escape, he died in great agony."

"And did bees ever sting a mouse to death in that manner, mamma?"
asked Alfred. "Yes, Alfred, and if you are a good boy, I will read you
a long account of bees, and how they build their cells, and make their
wax and honey." "But, mamma, there is nothing about their killing a
mouse in it, is there?" "Yes, my dear child, I will tell you all about
it one day, but let me finish my story first."

[Illustration]

"There were now only two young mice left, Velvet and Sprightly. Velvet
was so shocked at the bad end which her two brothers had come to, that
she resolved not to be naughty again, but try by her good conduct, to
make amends for her thoughtless behaviour--but when she told Sprightly
of her intentions, the wicked Sprightly ridiculed her, and said she
should go and seek her fortune in the meadow and garden, where no one
could scold her, and where she might do as she pleased; and with this
resolution she set off, and they never saw her again; for having no
house to go to, the white owl saw her as he was flying out one
evening, and soon made an end of Miss Sprightly, who ha