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diff --git a/old/gdwmd10.txt b/old/gdwmd10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7a1ec4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/gdwmd10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2185 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Grand-Daddy Whiskers, M.D., by Nellie M. Leonard + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Grand-Daddy Whiskers, M.D. + +Author: Nellie M. Leonard + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7808] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 18, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GRAND-DADDY WHISKERS, M.D. *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, S.R. Ellison +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +GRAND-DADDY WHISKERS, M.D. + +By + +NELLIE M. LEONARD + + +Illustrated By + +CARLE MICHEL BOOG + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I A MESSAGE PROM THE WOODFOLK + +CHAPTER II BACK TO THE LAKE + +CHAPTER III GRAND-DADDY BEGINS HIS WORK + +CHAPTER IV DOT SQUEAKY'S SUMMER SCHOOL + +CHAPTER V A WOODS FIRE + +CHAPTER VI DR. WHISKER'S BUSY DAY + +CHAPTER VII TWIN TAILS + +CHAPTER VIII WIGGLE BORROWS THE AUTOMOBILE + +CHAPTER IX AUTUMN LEAVES + +CHAPTER X SNOWED IN + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Somebody stole softly up behind him; two paws blindfolded his eyes + +"All aboard for Pond Lily Lake!" he cried gaily + +The heavy furniture cart was pulled down the last hill + +"Will you walk into my parlor, Dr. Whiskers?" + +Dr. Whiskers worked deftly away, setting the broken limb + +Webbie Spider raised his paw + +They worked bravely with Uncle Squeaky for captain + +The little band began to play Silvy's Waltz + +Dr. Whiskers twisted and pulled upon the hook + +It was long past midnight when tired old Grand-daddy pulled off his boots. + +"Fetch that creoline bottle, Silvy," repeated Grand-daddy sternly. + +"Hold your breath, now" + +They had good fun picking the brown nuts from the soft, silky linings of +the burrs. + +Sure enough, next morning poor Buster could hardly see out of his eyes. + +"And so," explained Uncle Squeaky, "he went on a hop, skip and jump like +this" + +He folded his paws as Mammy had taught him long ago, tossed his head high +and sang merrily. + + + + +GRAND-DADDY WHISKERS M.D. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A MESSAGE FROM THE WOODFOLK + + +Nimble-toes Field-mouse trotted briskly along the dark subway and up the +steep attic stairway in Mr. Giant's house. He had travelled a long way +from his woodland home and it was getting late. The door of the cosy attic +where Cousin Graymouse lived was ajar. Nimble-toes paused to get his +breath and peep in at the busy, happy family. + +Mother Graymouse sat in her rocking-chair singing to little Squealer. +Tiny, Teenty and Buster Graymouse were playing upon the floor near by with +their cousins, Wink and Wiggle Squeaky. Aunt Squeaky and Uncle Hezekiah +were busy around the stove. Grand-daddy and Granny Whiskers sat in the +chimney corner waiting patiently for their supper. + +From the pantry came Silver Ears Graymouse and Dot Squeaky, bringing food +to the table. + +"I hope Limpy-toes Graymouse and Scamper Squeaky have not gone away," +thought Nimble-toes. + +Somebody stole softly up behind him; two paws blindfolded his eyes. + +"It is Limpy-toes," he guessed, trying to be brave in that dark, strange +place. + +"Right you are, Nimble-toes," laughed Limpy-toes. "Scamper and I have been +over to the store to get some cheese. I thought you were a burglar, just +at first. Push open the door and trot in." + +"It is Cousin Nimble-toes!" cried a noisy chorus of little mice. + +"It is Nimble-toes Field-Mouse, sure as I'm a mouse!" declared Uncle +Squeaky. "Welcome to our attic, my lad." + +[Illustration: Somebody stole softly up behind him, two paws blindfolded +his eyes.] + +"You must be hungry after your long tramp, Nimble-toes," said Mother +Graymouse. "Supper is all ready." + +The little mice crowded around their cousin from the Pond Lily Lake +country. They all talked at once, squealing excitedly and asking all sorts +of questions, until poor Nimble-toes was bewildered. + +At last he climbed upon a little red stool and shouted in Uncle Squeaky's +ear: + +"I've a message for Grand-daddy Whiskers. Please make 'em be still a +minute, Uncle Hezekiah." + +Uncle Squeaky rapped smartly upon the floor with his cane. At once there +was silence. + +"Fetch your little stools and sit down to supper, every last mouse of +you!" he commanded. "Let your victuals fill your mouths and stop your +noise. Nimble-toes has brought a word for Grand-daddy." + +In a twinkling they were all seated around the long table. Nimble-toes sat +beside Grand-daddy, so he could talk with him easily, for Grand-daddy's +left ear had been torn in a trap and he was somewhat deaf. + +"Now we are as still as mice," chuckled Grand-daddy. "Speak out, +Nimble-toes." + +"I have a message from our woodfolk, Grand-daddy," began Nimble-toes. "No +one could write a letter, so they told me what to say. I've said it +forty-'leven times, lest I forget. The message is from Pa Field-Mouse, +Squire Cricket, Sir Spider, Daddy Grasshopper, Mr. Hop Toad, and Mr. Jack +Rabbit. They bade me say this: + +"Dr. Grand-daddy Whiskers-- + +"We woodfolk are sometimes sick; we need a doctor. We wish our children to +have a teacher. They must learn to read and write. Our wives must learn to +cook and sew. We wish to be civilized. We miss Uncle Squeaky's band. +Please come to Pond Lily Lake and help us." + +"We'll come, all right, Nimble-toes," interrupted Wiggle. + +"We'll surely come," promised Wink. "Hurrah for another summer at Pond +Lily Lake!" + +"Hush! hush!" cried Mother Graymouse. + +"You will put your noses in a dark corner instead of eating supper, if you +interrupt again," warned Uncle Squeaky, scowling at his excited twins. + +"Are there many sick ones?" asked Grand-daddy. + +"Squire Cricket has a sore throat, Lady Spider is ailing, and almost +everyone is sneezing," replied Nimble-toes. + +"They really need you, Grand-daddy," advised Aunt Belindy Squeaky. + +"Our kiddies need the country sunshine after being shut up all winter in +this attic," added Mother Graymouse. + +"Limpy-toes shall help Grand-daddy, I'll be his nurse, and Dot will make a +lovely school teacher," planned Silver Ears. + +"I'd love to teach the little Spider, Cricket and Grasshopper kiddies," +smiled Dot Squeaky. + +"Ah, there's lots of goodies down by the Lake!" reminded Buster. "There's +strawberries, blueberries, apples, potatoes, sweet corn--let's go right +away, Grand-daddy." + +Granny Whiskers sat silently rocking while the others chattered eagerly. +Grand-daddy watched her as she wiped away a tear and sighed wearily. + +"What do you say, Granny? You enjoyed last summer's vacation at the Lake, +didn't you?" he asked. + +"Ah, Zenas, it was pleasant enough; pleasant enough, to be sure! But I +cannot bear to think of leaving our dear attic home. You went away last +winter with Hezekiah and Scamper. And what happened? Why, we nearly +fretted our hearts out, waiting for your return. Something was always +happening at the Lake. Baby Squealer got lost, Wiggle 'most got drowned, +Limpy-toes came near burning to death, and the barn burned to the ground. +If you listen to me, Zenas Whiskers, you'll tell Pa Field-Mouse and his +neighbors that you cannot be their doctor. Let us stay safely in our attic +where there is nothing to harm us." + +Grand-daddy looked sadly disappointed. + +"I always wanted to live in the country and be a doctor, Granny," he +sighed. + +"Bless my stars, Granny," laughed Uncle Squeaky, "we found Squealer +without much fuss; Nimble-toes fished Wiggle out of the pond, and +Limpy-toes didn't get even the patch on his trouser's knee scorched. To be +sure, the barn did burn down. Lucky we were at the Lake, I'm thinking. +Just take a nap, Granny, and forget your notion that this attic is the +safest spot in the world. Nimble-toes' coming has stirred up my Gipsy +blood. It is summertime again and the country is the place for your Uncle +Hezekiah. We'll start for the Lake as soon as we can pack our belongings, +Nimble-toes. Let me give you some more pudding." + +"I really feel called to go, Granny," argued Grand-daddy earnestly. "Just +think of those kiddies who cannot read or write. You can help Betsey and +Belindy teach their mothers how to make these delicious puddings and +cookies. You can help me brew medicines. Think of those poor kiddies, as +sweet and good as our own pretty ones, and they may be having the colic, +or the tooth-ache, the whooping-cough or the measles, and never a doctor +to dose 'em with peppermint and cure-all salve. I see that you and I are +needed at the Lake." + +Granny began to look interested. + +"I suppose so, Zenas, I suppose so. I know you are a good doctor, a grand +doctor, indeed. But it's a big risk to leave our cosy attic home and +travel amid dangers." + +"We will go, Granny," decided Grand-daddy. "I promise you solemnly that +Hezekiah and I will take good care of our big family and bring you all +back, safe and sound, before snow flies." + +Granny still looked worried. + +"Ah well, Zenas, we shall see! Ah yes, we shall see!" she sighed as she +sipped her tea. + +After supper the little mice had to show Nimble-toes all the wonderful +toys that Uncle and Grand-daddy had brought from the city. + +Uncle Squeaky began to pull out boxes and bags in which to pack his shirts +and neckties. + +"Hurrah, Grand-daddy!" he cried. "I'm as excited as the kiddies. Bless my +stars, but they are giving Nimble-toes a jolly good time! Pond Lily Lake +until snow flies ah, but it's a great country down there!" + +"I'm a-thinking if I do much doctoring and we fetch greedy Buster, little +Squealer, and those mischievous twinnies of yours home safe and sound, +that it will not be all vacation fun between now and snow-time," said +Grand-daddy. "Better tuck the kiddies into the blankets early, Hezekiah. +We have a busy day ahead of us on the morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BACK TO THE LAKE + + +Their attic home was a bare-looking place by the next evening. All day +long the little mice had trotted down the dark subway, carrying their +treasures to the entrance near Mr. Giant's back doorstep. Here was hidden +the cart which Grand-daddy had made from a stout box and four big spools. +It was piled high with furniture, boxes of food and clothing, and all +sorts of supplies. + +Dot and Silver Ears had rummaged in Mrs. Giant's trunk and chosen pretty +pieces of cloth from which they could make dainty summer gowns. Aunt +Squeaky and Mother Graymouse had spent the day baking ginger cookies, +jelly tarts, and other goodies. Granny Whiskers had helped Grand-daddy +make a stout bag and packed it with his precious medicines. + +Near their furniture cart stood the wonderful automobile which Limpy-toes +had invented and built in the long winter evenings. He had taken the +wheels and springs from an old clock in the attic. The whole family was +quite proud of Limpy-toes' automobile. Early the next morning, he meant to +make a trial trip and take Dr. Grand-daddy to the Lake. + +"Please let me ride with you and Grand-daddy, Limpy-toes?" begged Buster. + +"Better not, Buster Boy," grinned Uncle Squeaky. "There's a whole load of +goodies on our cart. Mammy and Aunt Belindy baked lots of good stuff to +eat." + +"Mammy will give me some cakes in my pocket. I want to ride in the +automobile. Please let me, Limpy?" + +"All right," agreed Limpy-toes good-naturedly. "Cousin Nimble-toes may +ride also." + +Nimble-toes opened his eyes wide. + +"Excuse me, if you please, Limpy-toes," he said quickly. "I will help +Uncle Squeaky pull the cart. I'm sort of scared of a cart that'll go +without pulling or pushing. It may run away with you." + +"And it may have to be pushed or pulled," teased Uncle Squeaky. + +"It is every bit as good as Mr. Giant's automobile," insisted Buster. "I'm +not the leastest bit scared. I know it will go whizzing. Ah, what sport we +will have!" + +"Grand-daddy will start very early, for he must find a house near his +patients. If you wish to ride with Limpy-toes, you must trot off to bed +right now, Buster," decided Mother Graymouse. "Aunt Belindy and I are +going down cellar to say good-by to Polly Scrabble and her babies." + +Next morning, while the Giant family were sound asleep, Grand-daddy, +Limpy-toes and Buster tip-toed softly down to the entrance. + +"Do not make too much noise cranking your automobile, Limpy-toes," +whispered Grand-daddy. "We do not wish to disturb Mr. Giant." Limpy-toes +pushed in the key and began to wind the stiff spring. + +"See if you can turn it any more, Grand-daddy. Perhaps your paws are +stronger than mine." + +Grand-daddy gave it several twists. Then Limpy-toes hopped upon the seat +and grasped the wheel. + +"All aboard for Pond Lily Lake!" he called gaily. Grand-daddy and Buster +scrambled in. The automobile made a dash through the chrysanthemum bushes +into the driveway. On and on they sped, past the new barn, by the poultry +houses and the sweet apple tree. Grand-daddy pulled his cap closer. + +"Ah!" cried Buster, "this is fun. But is it running away, Limpy-toes?" + +"Oh, no, I am steering it and can stop any minute," answered Limpy-toes. + +"A wonderful invention," praised Grand-daddy. "Now if any creature is +sick, Dr. Whiskers will be there in a jiffy. Ah! What is the trouble, +Limpy-toes?" + +The automobile had come to a sudden stop at the edge of Mr. Giant's +orchard. + +"It has stopped," explained Limpy-toes. + +"So I see," chuckled Grand-daddy. + +[Illustration: _"All aboard for Pond Lily Lake!" he called gaily._] + +"I'll crank it up." So Limpy-toes pushed in the key and wound, and wound, +and wound. Then they started on again. + +"Runs fine," said Grand-daddy. + +"'Most takes my breath away," gasped Buster. "Say, Limpy-toes, why are we +stopping?" + +"Run down again, I guess," sighed Limpy-toes. + +"Must we stop every few minutes and wear our paws out cranking it up +forty-'leven times?" grumbled Grand-daddy. + +Again they were off--and again they stopped. This time they were in the +middle of Mr. Giant's clover field. + +"Sakes alive, Limpy-toes! Suppose I was on my way to see a sick mouse? +He'd die maybe, or else be all cured, before I could ever get there." + +"Automobiles need lots of twistity," argued Buster. "Mr. Giant has to +twist his automobile. I heard Robert Giant say there was twistity in the +batteries." + +"Why doesn't it go this time?" demanded Grand-daddy. + +"The key must have bounced out when we struck that big stone near the ash +heap," said Limpy-toes. "I will trot back and find it." + +"And I'll take my stout cane and my own strong legs and trot toward the +Lake, if you don't mind," decided Grand-daddy. "You and Buster can finish +your pleasure trip a little at a time, but I have business to look after +and a house to hire before the rest of the family catch up with us." + +He started off at a brisk pace. Buster sat on the front seat and nibbled +ginger cookies, while Limpy-toes limped back to find the lost key. + +By-and-by, Buster's cookies were all eaten, so he strolled off to help +Limpy-toes. + +"Never mind, Limpy," he said, looking up into his big brother's sad face. +"It is a fine automobile, if you do have to twist it often. We can have +nice rides around the Lake." + +But Limpy-toes would not be comforted. + +"I wanted an automobile that would fetch Dr. Grand-daddy to his patients +very quickly. I must study until I make better power than this clock +spring. Ah, here is the key! We must hurry, or Uncle Squeaky will catch up +and laugh to find us by the roadside." + +Grand-daddy and Pa Field-Mouse were standing on the bungalow steps talking +earnestly together when Limpy-toes drove up. + +"A fine automobile, Pa Field-Mouse," said Grand-daddy, waving his paw. "My +grandson is a great inventor; he will be famous some day." + +"Ah!" cried Buster, "how good our Gray Rock Bungalow looks! See the pretty +hemlocks and sweet ferns, Limpy." + +"Wait until you see the fine house the neighbors have built for me!" +exclaimed Grand-daddy. "They felt sure that I would come. Silvy would call +it Wild Rose Cottage. It is a real bower of roses. Here come our folk, +now. Wait and I'll tell you all about it." + +The heavy furniture cart was pulled down the last hill and stopped at the +door of Gray Rock Bungalow. Grand-daddy held up his paw and hushed the +merry chatter of the travellers. + +[Illustration: _The heavy furniture cart was pulled down the last +hill._] + +"Listen!" he cried. "Do not unload my belongings. These kind woodfolk have +made me a splendid house right at the center of their village. I want +Limpy-toes to be my helper and stay with me. If Dot teaches school, she +must come with us, for her scholars live near by. Granny needs Silvy to +help with the housework. She and Dot can be together and when I need a +nurse, Silvy will be right handy." + +"A fine plan," agreed Uncle Squeaky, "only our family at the Gray Rock +will be rather small." + +"Limpy-toes will fetch us all over in the automobile every evening," +smiled Silver Ears. "I shall love to help Granny and be with Dot. May +Limpy-toes and I go, Mammy? You will not mind?" + +"Surely you may go, dearie," smiled Mother Graymouse bravely. "You will be +happiest where you can do the most good, and Granny needs you just now." + +"With such a small family, Betsey and I can manage the work nicely," said +Aunt Squeaky. + +"Ah, it is good to get back to our woodland home!" cried Uncle Squeaky. +"Many paws will soon set our rooms in order. Then we will trot over to +Wild Rose Cottage and help Dr. Whiskers get his pine-needle beds ready +before moon-rise." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GRAND-DADDY BEGINS HIS WORK + + +"Good-morning to you, Grand-daddy!" said Uncle Squeaky cheerily the next +morning. "How are all the folk at Wild Rose Cottage?" + +"Nicely, Hezekiah, nicely," grinned Dr. Whiskers. "Dot and Silvy are +helping Granny make our rooms cosy, and I am going to visit my first +patient." + +"I want Limpy-toes to go over to Polly-Wog Bridge and help get my boat +afloat upon the Lake. I mean to catch some fish and have Belindy fry 'em +for dinner." + +"Limpy-toes has gone with Nimble-toes to fetch a load of wood. They will +soon be at home. It is only a short walk to Sir Spider's house; I shall +not need Limpy-toes this morning." + +[Illustration: _Will you walk into my parlor Dr. Whiskers?"_] + +"Is Sir Spider ill?" asked Uncle Squeaky. + +"Lady Spider has been cleaning her parlor. She is overtired and ailing and +wishes to see me." + +"Hm!" said Uncle Squeaky thoughtfully, "I heard Ruth Giant sing a song one +day: + + 'Will you walk into my parlor, + Said the Spider to the fly.' + +"If I remember aright, that fly came to grief in Lady Spider's parlor. +Better watch out, Dr. Grand-daddy." + +"Don't worry, Hezekiah, and good-day to you, for I must be on my way. I +will keep out of Lady Spider's parlor." + +Dr. Whiskers rapped upon Sir Spider's door. Lady Spider opened it. + +"Will you walk into my parlor, Dr. Whiskers?" she said sweetly, as she +held aside the cobweb draperies of her spick-and-span parlor. + +Dr. Whiskers wanted to run away. Those were the very words that Uncle +Squeaky had recited! + +"Ah, well," he decided quickly, "as I am not a fly and have my stout cane +in my paw, I'll be a brave doctor mouse and try to cure Lady Spider. Maybe +she is not so sly as some folk think." + +So he entered her pretty parlor, admiring the beautiful silken draperies. + +"I am glad that you have come to our village, Dr. Whiskers," began Lady +Spider, sitting beside him on the moss green divan. "We've had a hard +time. Sir Spider lost one of his legs a while ago; but would you believe +it--a new one has begun to grow! He feels better and is building a bridge +across our brook. I'm just worn out with the Spring cleaning and spinning, +and the care of my big family. My eyes ache all the time, Dr. Whiskers." + +"Ah, yes! Spring fever, I've no doubt. I have been told that you are very +busy,--a skillful weaver and splendid housekeeper. But my dear Lady +Spider, health is better than silk draperies. I fear you strain your many +eyes searching for dust and dirt. When my one pair of eyes get tired, I +have a headache; with your many eyes, you must suffer much pain. But cheer +up. I will give you some medicine and you will soon feel like a new +Spider. Please fetch a glass of water." + +Dr. Whiskers took a bottle of dried checker-berries from his bag. He +dropped ten of them into the water. + +"These red pills are a splendid tonic. Take a sip of the medicine several +times each day and your many eyes will stop aching." + +"I will follow your directions carefully, Dr. Whiskers," smiled Lady +Spider. "Is there really to be a school where my little Webbie, Spinnie, +Tony, and Patty can be taught the civilized ways of your learned family?" + +"We have just arrived at the Lake and are hardly settled. There will soon +be a school. My grand-daughter, Dot Squeaky, will be the teacher. A sweet +young lady mouse she is, if I am her grand-daddy and maybe ought not to +boast of her smartness. I must bid you good-day, Lady Spider. I will come +in next week and see if you are better." + +"A very pleasant call," thought Dr. Whiskers, as he trotted along the +country road. "Lady Spider does not seem to be a harmful creature. Hello! +Here I am at Squire Cricket's gateway. I must cure his sore throat." + +Squire Cricket came to the door. He wore a red flannel around his neck and +his voice was hoarse as he greeted Dr. Whiskers. + +"Nimble-toes said you needed some medicine," began Dr. Whiskers. "I see +you are wearing the red flannel that Granny sent. She believes that red +flannel will cure almost anything." + +"It's no good," croaked Squire Cricket. "I've worn it ever since +Nimble-toes fetched it, and I'm still as hoarse as Grandpa Bull Frog." + +"Ah well, if Mistress Cricket will fetch a glass of water, I will fix a +gargle that will help you." + +He sprinkled some salt into the water which Mistress Cricket brought. + +"Now, Squire Cricket, if you will use this mixture, a spoonful every hour, +and rub a little cure-all salve under your red flannel at night, we'll +soon have your voice as clear as a lark's, and the soreness all gone. How +many kiddies shall you send to my grand-daughter's summer school, Mistress +Cricket?" + +"Our two children, Sammie and Fidelia, must go. I hope Miss Squeaky will +teach music. Our children love to fiddle. We all enjoyed Mr. Squeaky's +band last summer. It was good news when we heard that you were coming back +to the Lake." + +Just then, Sammie Cricket hopped excitedly in. + +"Oh, Dr. Whiskers, old Daddy Longlegs has had an accident! He wants you to +come at once," cried Sammie. + +Dr. Whiskers snatched up his bag and rushed across the fields to Daddy +Longleg's home. + +"I've broken one of my legs, Dr. Whiskers," cried Daddy Longlegs. "Can you +mend it for me, or must I limp on a cane the rest of my days?" + +"Mend it? Of course I can," laughed Dr. Whiskers. "Let me catch my breath. +I hustled some and am puffing considerable. Now then for some splints and +a stout string. If you were younger, I'd rub in some cure-all salve and +wait for another leg to grow, as Sir Spider's has done. We'll take no +chances, however; I'll mend your broken leg." + +Dr. Whiskers worked deftly away, setting the broken limb and wrapping it +neatly in splints and a white bandage. Now and then he whistled a bit of +Mammy's Lullaby, for he was happy in his work. + +"It feels 'most as good as new; just a bit stiff," declared Daddy +Longlegs. "I don't know how we have managed all these years without a +doctor. Welcome to our village, Dr. Whiskers!" + +"A beautiful village it is," replied Grand-daddy. "I like to spend my +summers near Pond Lily Lake. Now I must say good-day. Don't use that leg +for a few days and it will mend all right. No crutches for old Daddy +Longlegs this time." + +That evening the whole family gathered at Gray Rock Bungalow. Dr. Whiskers +had many stories to tell of his first day's practice in the Lake village. + +[Illustration: _Dr. Whiskers worked deftly away, setting the broken +limb.]_ + +Uncle Squeaky brought out his fiddle and all the little mice stood around +his arm-chair and sang their merry songs. + +"Come, Dr. Whiskers," called Granny at last, "we must start home. You have +had a busy day and Dot wants Limpy-toes to build her school-room tomorrow. +Good-night, folkses. Yes, Limpy-toes, I suppose I can ride in your +automobile. But do be careful and not break your old Granny's neck. We +must all help Grand-daddy to keep his promise to fetch us all safely to +our dear attic home before snow flies." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +DOT SQUEAKY'S SUMMER SCHOOL + + +The spot which Dot chose for her schoolroom was down in a lane behind Wild +Rose Cottage. + +Uncle Squeaky helped Scamper and Limpy-toes set four strong corner posts +and made a roof of green boughs to shelter the kiddies when it rained; but +there were no walls to shut out the fresh air and sunshine. There were +rows of green mossy seats and a desk in which Dot could keep her books and +papers. + +Tiny, Teenty and Buster gathered wild flowers to decorate their pretty +school-room. + +Pete and Dickie Grasshopper stopped on their way home from the Lake. + +"May we come to school, Miss Dot?" asked Dickie. + +"Surely; any one who wishes to learn to read and write may come. But you +must obey your teacher." + +"We could not come every day," said Pete. + +"I shall not teach every day," smiled Dot. "One day is lesson day; the +next is play day." + +"I brought this stick for you," said Dickie, presenting Dot a smooth +willow stick. "If Bobsey Rabbit or Tony Spider play any tricks, just give +'em a walloping." + +"Thank you, Dickie. I will hang it over my desk, but I think I shall not +need to use it." + +"She may wallop you, Dickie," laughed Pete as they hopped home. + +At last the school-room was finished. Limpy-toes and Buster rode around +the village in the automobile and invited the children to come to Miss +Squeaky's school. Limpy-toes got quite angry with Grandpa Bull Frog. + +"He was ever so impolite, Mammy," he complained. "He said he'd never send +his family to a Graymouse school. He said that Uncle Squeaky's band +couldn't play as good as the Frog Orchestra, and that Uncle Squeaky didn't +know anything about the Lake, if he did make a raft and float around. Ah, +Grandpa Bull Frog thinks he is a wonderful fellow!" + +Granny Whiskers was interested in the pupils' names which Dot wrote in her +school book. + +"Pete and Dickie Grasshopper and Sammie Cricket!" she exclaimed. "Why, Dot +Squeaky, they are too old to begin school! Baby Wee Field-Mouse and little +Squealer won't do a thing but play and squeal." + +"I think I can teach them all something, Granny," laughed Dot. + +"There's a good many Spider and Grasshopper kiddies," said Silver Ears. +"Pete and Dickie have two sisters, Molly and Dolly. Hopsy Toad is a cute +little fellow. Topsy Toad must be his twin sister. Webbie, Spinnie, Tony, +and Patty Spider! You will have a big school, Cousin Dot." + +"Fidelia Cricket is going with Sammie," added Granny. "Ah, I see that Mr. +Jack Rabbit is sending his two boys--Bunny and Bobsey. I fear you will +have your paws full, Dot." + +"If I can manage my two small brothers, I'll not fear the others." + +"Tiny and Teenty are great gigglers," said Silver Ears. "It takes Mammy +Graymouse to teach them their lessons. If they don't mind, just tell +Mammy." + +School began upon a lovely summer morning. Dot found many pupils waiting +upon the green moss seats. + +"What a splendid school! I am proud," she exclaimed as she tossed her pink +sun hat upon her desk. "I shall soon teach you some pretty songs, but this +morning Fidelia Cricket has promised to fiddle for us." + +Fidelia tripped smilingly up to the desk and stood beside Miss Dot while +she fiddled a cheery little tune. + +Then Dot gave them all some paper and pencils and taught them to write A, +B, C. Even Dickie Grasshopper bent over his work, scowling eagerly as he +tried to make the pretty letters. + +To be sure, little Squealer would squeal every time little Wee pinched +him, which was quite often, for Wee loved to hear him squeal. + +And Bunny Rabbit had to keep trotting out to his lunch basket to nibble +the nice yellow carrot that Mother Rabbit had put in for Bunny and +Bobsey's lunch. + +"They are only babies after all," excused Dot. "They haven't learned +school ways and rules." + +"Now we will do something else," said Dot by-and-by. "Put away your +pencils and I will teach you some numbers. Listen. One and one are two. +Everybody say it." + +The noisy chorus was almost deafening as they all shouted, "One and one +are two!" + +"If I should give Hopsy Toad one piece of candy and Dickie Grasshopper +should give him one piece, how many would he have?" asked Dot. + +Buster waved both paws. + +"Well, Buster, how many?" + +"Not any; he'd eat 'em up," said Buster. + +"But if he did not eat them?" laughed Dot. + +Webbie Spider raised his paw. + +"You may tell us, Webbie." + +"One and one are two pieces of candy," answered Webbie. + +[Illustration: _Webbie Spider raised his paw_.] + +"Right. You are a smart scholar, Webbie." + +"Then please, Miss Dot, don't give the candies to Hopsy--give 'em to me." + +"Now here is a harder problem," went on Dot. "If Bunny Rabbit had two red +apples, and I took one away from him, how many red apples would he have?" + +"You couldn't do it, Miss Dot!" cried Bunny. "I wouldn't give it to you, +so you better not try." + +Wiggle Squeaky hopped up excitedly. + +"Bunny was saucy. Why don't you get the willow stick, Dot?" he cried. + +Bunny turned around and wrinkled his funny pink nose and stuck out his +tongue at Wiggle. All the kiddies shouted and laughed. + +"Hush! hush!" said Dot sternly. "You must learn not to laugh in school. +Wiggle must not meddle. And Bunny--if I had my looking-glass here, so he +could see how he looked, I know he wouldn't make such a silly face again. +Bunny did not mean to be saucy. He just said what he thought was the +truth. + +"Now," continued Dot with a smile, "if I had two apples and Bobsey Rabbit +took one away from me, how many apples would I have?" + +Molly Grasshopper stood up quickly. + +"Not any apple, Miss Squeaky!" she cried, "'cause Bunny would grab the +other one." + +"Now once more; how many are one and one?" + +"One and one are two!" they recited in a shrill chorus. + +"Right. You all remember very nicely," praised Dot. + +So the lessons went merrily on all that long summer day. + +"I shall need you to help me, Silvy," said Dot after school when the +cousins were strolling together among the wild blossoms. "I have a big +class and they are such lively youngsters that it will take some time to +tame them. But it is real fun." + +"I'll love to come if Doctor Grand-daddy doesn't find any patients for me +to nurse," agreed Silver Ears. "Let's ask Limpy-toes to take us over to +Gray Rock Bungalow in the automobile tonight. Mammy and Aunt Squeaky will +wish to hear about your school." + +"I must ask Pa Squeaky to fetch his fiddle and teach the kiddies some new +music. Mrs. Cricket wants Sammie and Fidelia to have lessons on their +fiddles." + +Dot entertained the whole family that evening with her school stories. +They laughed heartily over Bunny and Bobsey. + +"They must be real baby clowns!" chuckled Uncle Squeaky. "Never mind, Dot, +keep at 'em until they all learn their A, B, C's and remember to keep your +willow walloping stick handy." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A WOODS FIRE + + +"Mercy on us, Hezekiah! It seems as if I could smell smoke!" cried Aunt +Squeaky one hot summer afternoon. + +"Now, Belindy, please don't begin sniffing for smoke," grinned Uncle +Squeaky. "I haven't heard you mention smoke for quite a spell." + +"I can smell smoke, Pa," said Wink. + +"So can I," agreed Wiggle. + +"Bless my stars, I guess you can!" exclaimed Uncle Squeaky as he went to +the door. "Is the whole village afire?" Off he started without even +snatching up his cap. The smoke rolled up in great, choking clouds. + +"Oh, dearie me!" moaned Granny, "the woods are all afire. We shall all be +burned. Why didn't we stay safely in our dear attic home? Oh, dearie me!" + +"I hope Wild Rose Cottage and Dot's schoolroom down in Grasshopper Lane +will not burn," sighed Aunt Squeaky. "This is a play day, so the kiddies +are not in school." + +"I'm going to the fire," decided Mother Gray-mouse. "Perhaps I can help. +Get some buckets, Limpy-toes. I will call Scamper, Buster, Wink, and +Wiggle. We cannot let the village burn up." + +Most of the woodfolk were at the fire. Some poured on pails of water from +the Lake; other groups stood talking wildly as they watched the leaping +flames. + +"I wish we had engines and hose-reels like the Giant fire-men used when +the barn was on fire," sighed Silver Ears. + +Uncle Squeaky ran here, there, and everywhere; filling pails, pouring +water, beating burning bushes with Mother Graymouse's best broom, and +shouting excited orders to the crowd of scared woodland folk. + +The fire crept nearer to Wild Rose Cottage. + +"It will be a shame if Dr. Whiskers loses his new house," said Sir Spider. + +"He shall not lose it," replied Uncle Squeaky. "I'll set a back fire." He +rushed into the house and got a pawful of matches. Then he set fire to the +little bushes behind Grand-daddy's house. + +"Neighbor Squeaky has gone crazy!" declared Sir Spider to Daddy +Grasshopper. But as they watched him beat the burning bushes to a +blackened mass, they saw that Uncle Squeaky knew what he was doing. + +"Neighbor Squeaky has saved Dr. Whisker's house. That burned patch cannot +burn again, Sir Spider," cried Daddy Grasshopper. "Come on. We will make a +little fire around Pa Field-Mouse's cottage." + +"Pile of Rails Cottage is on fire!" cried Scamper Squeaky as he trotted by. +"Come on and help Pa Field-Mouse!" + +They rushed to the Field-Mouse's Cottage, but the little cedars which +overhung the roof were already a mass of crackling flames. "Nothing more +can be saved for Neighbor Field-Mouse. Help me build back fires up yonder +and save Neighbor Hop Toad's house." + +[Illustration: _They worked bravely with Uncle Squeaky for captain._] + +They worked bravely with Uncle Squeaky for captain, and, following his +directions, they finally stopped the dreadful fire. Then tired out, they +sat under the laurel bushes to rest and talk it over. + +"How did the fire start?" asked Uncle Squeaky. + +"One of those Skunk kids was trying to smoke a grape-vine cigarette," +piped Tony Spider. "I saw him." + +"Where did he get matches?" demanded Uncle Squeaky. + +"Prob'ly he stole 'em," sputtered Mistress Grasshopper. "I should think +Dinah Skunk would wallop those little Skunks forty times a day. They are a +mean crowd." + +"And poor Debbie Field-Mouse's home is in ruins, all because of little +Skunk's cigarette. Sniff! sniff! sniff!" cried Mother Graymouse. + +"A Lake full of water and no way to put out a fire," scolded Aunt Squeaky. +"I guess likely, Hezekiah, I shall worry some more about smoke. Let me +catch a kiddie smoking cigarettes!" + +"Poor Debbie! I'm so sorry for you, dearie," moaned Granny Whiskers. + +Debby Field-Mouse smiled calmly. + +"Ah, Granny, it might be worse. I have lost eight children in an +earthquake; I have been caught out in a blizzard and nigh frozen to death. +No one is hurt and we saved a few things. Maybe we can build a finer +house." + +"Right you are, Debby Field-Mouse, and brave, also!" cried Uncle Squeaky +admiringly. "We will all lend a paw and you shall have a nice new house +right beside my Gray Rock Bungalow. Then you and Betsey and Belindy can be +real neighborly. You must stay at our house until your new home is ready. +What do you say, neighbors? Shall we begin Pa Field-Mouse's bungalow +bright and early tomorrow?" + +Sir Spider, Squire Cricket, Mr. Hop Toad, Jack Rabbit, and Daddy +Grasshopper nodded approvingly. + +"We will all help," they promised. + +Debby Field-Mouse looked sadly at the blackened ruins of her old home; +then taking Mother Graymouse's arm, she led little Wee to Uncle Squeaky's +home. The others went homeward, also, for it was getting late. + +"A little music is like medicine to a sad mouse," said Uncle Squeaky after +supper. "Pa Field-Mouse seems down-hearted tonight. Trot along, laddies, +and put on your band uniforms that Ma Graymouse made last summer. We will +give Pa Field-Mouse a band concert." + +Grand-daddy nodded his head. + +"A grand idea, Hezekiah. Melodious music makes many melancholy mice merry. +Ha! ha! That's nearly as good as the jingle Robert Giant used to sing +about 'Picker Peter's peppered pickles.'" + +Buster Graymouse hopped up and down in delight. He laughed until the tears +ran down his fat cheeks. + +"What's the trouble, Buster Boy?" asked Grand-daddy. "Did you eat too much +supper?" + +"No, Grand-daddy, but my little jacket is nearly bursting. Ah, that is too +funny! Guess I shall laugh all night." + +"I fear you have outgrown your band suit, Buster," said Mother Graymouse. +"I shall have to give you less to eat." + +"Ah no, Mammy!" cried Buster in alarm. "Please don't starve me. Oh! oh! +What Robert Giant realty said was: + +"'Peter picked a pint of pickled pipers.'" + +"What's pipers, Buster?" asked Tiny. + +"I don't know; prob'ly something good to eat. It was one of Robert's funny +songs, twinnie. I can make nicer songs myself," bragged Buster. + +"All ready for the concert!" shouted Uncle Squeaky. + +Wink and Buster found their cornets; Limpy-toes brought his flute, Wiggle +his fife, Scamper the alto horn, and Nimble-toes his beloved drum. At a +signal from Uncle Squeaky, the little band began to play Silvy's Waltz. + +It was late when they had played all the music they could remember. The +moonlight cast long shadows over the dewy grass and even the Frog +Orchestra was hushed and listening. + +[Illustration: _The little band began to play Silvy's Waltz_.] + +"Now your Uncle Hezekiah will play a goodnight jig." Uncle Squeaky hopped +nimbly up and played such a jolly tune upon his fiddle that they all +joined paws and danced in a circle about him. + +"Enough! enough, Hezekiah!" panted Grand-daddy at last. "We must rest if +we expect to build a bungalow tomorrow. I shall not be Dr. Whiskers, but +just a good neighbor mouse tomorrow. I reckon my patients can wait while I +have one vacation day. Hurrah for a holiday and a fine new house for +Neighbor Field-Mouse! Come, Granny, we're homeward bound. Fetch the +automobile, Limpy-toes. I hope the twistity will not give out. Good-night, +folkses, goodnight!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +DR. WHISKER'S BUSY DAY + + +Neighbour Field-Mouse's new bungalow was begun before sunrise next +morning. Squire Cricket and Daddy Grasshopper brought their saws, Jack +Rabbit and Mr. Hop Toad had shovels, and all the neighbors came with axes, +hammers and other tools ready for work. + +"Pa Field-Mouse has chosen this spot under the laurel bush," explained +Uncle Squeaky. "First we must dig a cellar where he can store his winter's +food." + +"Don't forget that I want a stone fireplace just like yours, Mr. Squeaky," +reminded Debby Field-Mouse. "And a dining-room, also, if you please." + +"Ah, yes, Debby! A good living-room, a big pantry--you shall have all the +fixings." + +They worked busily away. By-and-by, Grand-daddy Whiskers paused to look +around. + +"It looks pretty fine already," he declared. "I'm having a great vacation +day. Plenty of fresh air, sunshine, pine breezes and vigorous exercise +make a mouse feel good, Neighbor Field-Mouse. I suppose there will not be +much work for old Dr. Whiskers in this healthy country in summertime, +because--" + +"Dr. Whiskers! Dr. Whiskers!" interrupted Nimble-toes, "this little Skunk +says that old Simon Skunk has a dreadful attack of asthma and wants you to +come quick." + +Down went Grand-daddy's ax, and away he trotted to Gray Rock Bungalow +where he had left Granny and his medicine bag. + +"Did you say Simon Skunk was ill?" asked Granny in alarm. "Don't you go a +step, Zenas. Remember your solemn promise to fetch us all safe and sound +to our attic home before snow flies. How will you do it, I want to ask +you, Zenas Whiskers, if Simon Skunk harms you?" + +"Better keep away from that Skunk tribe," advised Aunt Squeaky. + +Even Mother Graymouse, who was usually so brave, looked anxious. + +"Everyone says that Simon is ill-natured. He is a giant beside you, +Grand-daddy," she said. + +Grand-daddy grew impatient. "I was wondering whether I wished to visit +Simon, but I'll be blamed, Hezekiah, if I'm going to be bossed by a lot of +women mice! A doctor must be brave. I'll risk it. I'm on my way to Skunk +Avenue," and away marched Grand-daddy. + +Mrs. Dinah Skunk was watching for Dr. Whiskers. + +"Oh, hurry!" she cried. "Simon has wheezed all night and can hardly +breathe." + +"A strange time o' year to have asthma, Simon," grinned Dr. Whiskers. +"Wheezes mostly come in cold weather." + +"Too much woods smoke," gasped poor Simon. + +"Ah, I see! Well, let me rub this grease into your chest. You must take +two of these pills every half hour until you stop wheezing." + +"Haven't any clock," growled Simon. + +"How shall I know when to give him the pills, doctor?" asked Dinah. + +Grand-daddy scratched his head. He did not wish to lend his watch. + +"It takes half an hour to trot from here to Polly-Wog Bridge and back," he +decided. "Send a little Skunk to the bridge and give Simon two pills every +time the little Skunk gets home. It will keep that little Skunk out of +mischief who set the fire. + +"One of my ancestors," went on Dr. Whiskers pleasantly, "a +great-great-great-grandfather, was a mouse of the wilds, a regular Indian. +He told his children, and the story was repeated until it came down to me, +that a hornet's nest smoked in a pipe would cure the worst case of asthma +that ever was known." + +"Haven't any pipe; no hornet's nest," grumbled Simon. + +"Neither have I," chuckled Dr. Whiskers. "I threw mine away after the +hired man set the barn afire with a spark from his pipe. I'll try to find +a hornet's nest and maybe I can borrow a pipe from Daddy Longlegs. Now +take these pills and start young Skunk to trotting. Good-day to you, +Simon. I hope you'll feel better soon. + +"I'll have the kiddies hunt for a hornet's nest," planned Grand-daddy. + +Buster, Wink, and Wiggle met him by the pond. + +"All safe, Grand-daddy?" they cried. + +"Sure," grinned Grand-daddy. "They are harmless folk. Have you seen a gray +paper balloon dangling from the bushes, kiddies?" + +"I have," cried Wink. "Uncle said hornets lived in it and they were real +fighters." + +"I'll fight 'em, then. I want that nest for medicine. Trot ahead and show +it to me." + +"Hi! hi! Dr. Whiskers!" came a cry from the Lake. + +Grand-daddy ran to the water's edge. There sat Grandpa Bull Frog groaning +miserably. + +"Hello! a fish hook!" exclaimed Dr. Whiskers. "Let's see if I can extract +it." + +He took a sharp instrument from his bag. + +"I'll be as careful as possible, Grandpa Bull Frog, but it is bound to +hurt you considerable," he explained. "Now open your mouth wide." + +Dr. Whiskers twisted and pulled upon the hook. At last, out flew the ugly +thing. + +"How did it happen?" he asked, wrapping the instrument carefully. + +"I've been hoarse for years," croaked Grandpa Bull Frog as he wiped away +the tears. "Squire Cricket told me that red flannel cured his throat, so +when I saw some red flannel dangling from a line right over this log, I +grabbed it. I got it easily, and this cruel hook beside. The Giant boy has +gone away. I thank you kindly, Dr. Whiskers. Ahem! You might tell Mr. +Squeaky that I say his band played very fine music last evening." + +"Better leave fish-hooks alone, hereafter, Grandpa Bull Frog," chuckled +Dr. Whiskers. "When you need red flannel, hop over to Wild Rose Cottage. +Granny fetched a good supply from Mrs. Giant's trunk." + +[Illustration: Dr. Whiskers twisted and pulled upon the hook.] + +"Grand-daddy!" called Wiggle from the grove. "I have the hornet's nest. +Isn't it big? We had a fight with the hornets. I ran away, but Buster and +Wink are chuck full of stingers. They want you to come quick. Buster is +howling real loud." + +Dr. Grand-daddy trotted along the pine-needle path. + +"Oh, Grand-daddy, those hornets were full of hot prickers!" sobbed Buster. + +"Wait a bit, kiddies," he called. "I'll mix some mud plasters that will +stop the pain. So the hornets won out, did they?" + +"No, sir, they didn't!" cried Wink, doubling his little fists. "We beat +'em, Grand-daddy. We got what we went after. Wiggle rolled their nest +home." + +"I guess you are right, sonny," grinned Grand-daddy. "I'll soon cure the +wounds for my brave soldiers. There, you feel better already. Forward +march. I want to get back and work on the new bungalow." + +But Grand-daddy had just begun to nail up a pantry shelf, when Mother +Graymouse beckoned. + +He found Tim Scrabble waiting for him. + +"Can you go home with me, Dr. Whiskers?" he asked eagerly. "Jimmie and +Johnnie have the whooping cough; Janie ate some candy and it made her +tooth ache, and Baby Judy has the croup. Worst of all, Polly went into +Mrs. Giant's pantry and it is a wonder she ever got back down cellar. She +is all rolled up in sticky fly-paper. And me with four sick babies on my +paws!" + +"I'll come at once, Tim," agreed Dr. Whiskers. "Limpy-toes and I will soon +fix things all right." + +He called Limpy-toes to help carry his heavy bag. + +"We'll not take the automobile," he decided. "The Giants might hear it +chug-chug. If you please, Belindy, let Scamper go over and tell Granny +that we will probably be home by midnight. She may wish to return and +spend the night with you. Now we're off to help that poor Scrabble +family." + +It was a long journey and there were many doses to be ordered for the +little patients. It took a long time to remove Polly's fly-paper with an +alcohol bath. Then cure-all salve must be rubbed in where patches of skin +came off. But at last every patient was made comfortable. Tim and Polly +thanked them again and again. + +"Now for our long homeward tramp, Limpy-toes," sighed Grand-daddy wearily. + +It was long past midnight when tired old Grand-daddy pulled off his boots. + +"A great vacation day it proved," he yawned. "Bless me, it has been the +busiest day I ever lived! And yet, I'm glad that I am a doctor-mouse." + +[Illustration: It was long past midnight when tired old Grand-daddy pulled +off his boots.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +TWIN TAILS + + +The woodland folk were all busy making Neighbor Field-Mouse's new house +when Dr. Whiskers strolled over next morning. + +"Good-morning to you all!" he cried, waving his cap. "I wish to borrow a +pipe for Simon Skunk. Have you one to lend him, Daddy Longlegs?" + +"None for Simon Skunk," replied Daddy Longlegs, gruffly. + +"Neither have I," said Mr. Hop Toad. + +"I have no pipe, but I'd not lend one to Simon Skunk if I had a dozen," +added Jack Rabbit. + +"I am sorry," sighed Dr. Whiskers. "Perhaps Simon Skunk is mean. But +suppose we were all kind to him; might it not make him a better neighbor?" + +"We know Simon better than you do, Dr. Whiskers," said Daddy Grasshopper. + +"I wish you would all try being kind to him," suggested Dr. Whiskers. "I +am going to see him now. He was very decent to me." + +"Good-morning, Simon!" greeted Dr. Whiskers. "Wheezes all gone?" + +"No, but I'm better," replied Simon shortly. + +"He's a lot better, Doctor," said Dinah. + +"I brought the hornet's nest as I promised, but I couldn't borrow a pipe +in the whole village. I will burn some of it in this tin can. You must +inhale the smoke." + +Simon bent his head over the smoking can. He began to cough and choke. + +"Choke me to death, will you?" he spluttered. "A pretty doctor, you are!" + +"Patience, Simon," urged Dr. Whiskers gently. "Just a few whiffs more. +There now--where are your wheezes? My Indian ancestor knew a thing or two, +you see. I must confess that I never tried hornet's nest smoke before. I +believe that you will not wheeze again for a long time, Simon. Good-day." +Dr. Whiskers bowed politely and hurried away. + +Granny, Silver Ears and Dot were visiting at Gray Rock Bungalow. They had +brought over some patchwork squares and were making quilts for Debby +Field-Mouse. + +As it was a play day from school, Dot invited Patty Spider, Topsy Toad, +Molly and Dolly Grasshopper, and Fidelia Cricket to visit Tiny and Teenty +and help sew the pretty patchwork. Aunt Squeaky had baked them some tiny +raisin cakes. They were having a jolly party under the wild grape-vine. +Wee and Squealer played in the grape-vine swing. Wink, Wiggle and Buster +were over watching their big brothers bring stones for Debby's fireplace. + +They sewed for a long time, squealing merrily now and then as they pricked +their tiny paws. Teenty borrowed Silvy's scissors to cut some thread. A +strange idea popped into her head as she used those sharp, shiny scissors. + +"I'm the very onliest one that goes trailing a long tail behind them. +Neither Dolly, Molly, Patty, Fidelia, Topsy, nor Tiny wears a long tail. I +want to look like my twin sister. Say, Tiny, did it hurt awfully when +Buster snipped off your tail?" + +"It hurt dreadfully! And it bled and bled. But Limpy-toes cured it," +remembered Tiny. + +"And now no one can step on your tail. That hurts dreadfully, too. I'm +going to cut off my tail." + +"Oh, you daresn't, Teenty Graymouse!" they cried in a shrill admiring +chorus. + +"You watch. Come back here, Tiny; you shall not tell tales to Mammy. One, +two, three--snip!" Off flew the long slender end of Teenty's tail. + +"Oh! oh! Get Dr. Grand-daddy!" cried Teenty, quite scared by the blood and +pain. + +Grand-daddy rushed over. All the older mice ran out with their white +aprons full of patchwork squares, thimbles and spools of thread. + +"Fetch my bottle of creoline and some warm water, Silvy," ordered Dr. +Whiskers. + +[Illustration: Fetch that creoline bottle, Silvy, repeated Grand-daddy +sternly.] + +"Now, Zenas, when Tiny's tail was cut, Limpy-toes cured it with water. I +don't recollect whether it was hot or cold water, but I'm positive it was +just plain water," said Granny. + +"Limpy-toes used cold water," said Aunt Squeaky. + +"No, it was hot water, Ma," contradicted Dot. + +"First he freezed me with cold water; then he boiled me in hot water," +said Tiny. "I guess I can remember. Mammy put on cobwebs, Wink gave me +some candy, and then I got better." + +"Fetch that creoline bottle, Silvy," repeated Grand-daddy sternly. "Land +o' pity, who is the doctor, anyway? + +"This creoline is worth its weight in gold," went on Dr. Grand-daddy, as +he soaked the poor stubby tail. "I got it from Mr. Giant's medicine +closet. It takes all the soreness out." + +"Better leave a little soreness in, Grand-daddy," said Mother Graymouse. +"I am ashamed of you, Teenty Graymouse. Your foolish pride has spoiled the +nice party which your little neighbors were enjoying. You might have bled +to death. You deserve to be shut in a dark closet or put to bed without +any supper." + +"Oh, Mammy, Tiny and I have truly twin tails now, like Bunny and Bobsey +Rabbit. I think they are splendid," smiled Teenty. + +"Want to go for an automobile ride, kiddies?" called Limpy-toes. "I have +made another seat and can take seven." + +So the seven little patchwork sewers climbed into Limpy-toes' wonderful +automobile. + +"Be careful of that bandage, Teenty," warned Dr. Grand-daddy. "I don't +want you to bleed any more." + +Away they whizzed; along the blue Lakeside, by Polly-Wog Bridge, through +the Pine Grove, and up Laurel Lane, only stopping now and then while +Limpy-toes twisted up the spring and the kiddies gathered wild flowers. + +"Are you all better, Teenty?" whispered Tiny, as they drove home to Gray +Rock Bungalow. + +"Ah, yes, all better, Tiny," lisped Teenty. "You all said I daresn't cut +it. I think it is lovely to wear a short tail. Now you and I are real +honest-and-true twinnies again, Tiny." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WIGGLE BORROWS THE AUTOMOBILE + + +The midsummer days were full of good times. Uncle Squeaky sometimes took +them for a sail upon Pond Lily Lake; they fished from Polly-Wog Bridge and +went splashing about in the water dressed in their bathing-suits. Then +there were merry parties of berry pickers who spent the day in the shady +woods picking blueberries and raspberries for Mother Graymouse and Aunt +Squeaky to preserve. + +Buster loved the moonlight evenings when Uncle Squeaky's band, looking +very fine in the gay uniforms, marched along the Lake shore and played the +music which he had written. He was also delighted when they gathered in +the fire-glow around Uncle Squeaky's fireplace and nibbled roasted corn, +baked potatoes, toasted cheese, and other goodies. He could not decide +which was nicer. + +Limpy-toes was generous with his automobile. He was busy, for +Grand-daddy's practice was growing larger, and as Limpy-toes was studying +medicine, he often went along with Grand-daddy. But he found time to give +the little mice many jolly rides along the pine-strewn paths and lanes. +Sometimes he allowed Wink or Wiggle to steer and they felt very proud +indeed. + +One beautiful moonlit night when Limpy-toes had gone with Dr. Whiskers to +see Mrs. Hop Toad, a wild plan entered Wiggle's mischievous head. + +"Let's borrow the automobile without asking Limpy," he whispered to Wink. +"It will be sport to run it all our own selves. This is a dandy evening." + +"S'pose something breaks?" objected Wink. + +"Huh, you can't hurt the old chug-chug! We'll take turns cranking it. +Let's ask Pete and Dickie to go with us." + +Stealing quietly away while Scamper and Uncle Squeaky were busy, they +managed to start off without being seen. + +"Come on for a joy ride, Pete, and fetch Dickie," invited Wiggle. + +The Grasshopper brothers hopped briskly in and away they whizzed. Down +Grasshopper Lane, through a pine grove, along Skunk Avenue, past the Lake, +on and on, only stopping here and there to twist up the spring. + +"I'm getting tired of so much twisting," declared Wiggle. "It would be +good sport to coast down Crooked Hill." + +"Come on!" cried Wink gaily. "Guess we'll not need much twistity there." + +"Can you steer straight?" asked Dickie doubtfully. + +"Sure I can steer. I wouldn't be afraid in the dark, and this moonlight is +as bright as day," bragged Wiggle. "Hold your breath, now." + +Crooked Hill was very steep and slippery with pine needles. On either side +there were jutting rocks and old pine stumps. At the foot of the hill ran +Beaver Brook. + +[Illustration: "_Hold your breath, now_."] + +Later that evening, Mr. Jack Rabbit was hopping homeward with a bag of +carrots and clover leaves slung over his shoulder. + +"Hello, what's this?" he cried. "Limpy-toes Graymouse's automobile, sure +as I'm a Bunny! Hi, there, Limpy, are you underneath?" + +"Ah, please help us, Mr. Rabbit," came a faint cry from under the wrecked +automobile. "It is Wink and Wiggle. Fetch Grand-daddy and Pa Squeaky. Go +quick!" + +Jack Rabbit threw down his bag of carrots and leaped across the fields as +though a hound dog was on his track. + +It seemed a long time to the four little fellows under the automobile, but +it was really surprising how soon Jack Rabbit returned with help. + +Limpy-toes and Grand-daddy had medicines and bandages. Scamper and Uncle +Squeaky hauled the cart with its four stout spool wheels. + +"Bless my stars!" cried Uncle Squeaky, when he had pulled poor battered +Wiggle out from under. "One broken paw, a smashed-in nose, and a black +eye! Is Wink much damaged, Grand-daddy?" + +"Sprained ankle and a banged head," answered Grand-daddy. "Dickie and Pete +have only a few scratches. We'll plaster and bandage 'em up and they will +finish their joy ride in the cart. Reckon they'll go up hill some slower +than they came down." + +Poor Limpy-toes stood and looked at his ruined automobile. + +"Can you fix it, Limpy-toes?" asked Jack Rabbit. + +"Maybe," sighed Limpy-toes, "but it will take all winter. I shall have to +haul it home in pieces. Well, I am glad the twinnies aren't killed." + +"They ought to be walloped," growled Scamper. "It's a shame, Limpy-toes, +that's what it is!" + +It was many weeks before Wink and Wiggle were able to leave their +pine-needle beds. Silvy, in her pretty nurse's cap and apron, was kept +busy waiting upon her mischievous cousins. + +Debby Field-Mouse often ran over from her cottage, which she had named the +Cosy Retreat, bringing dainties for the poor bruised twinnies to eat. + +Poor Granny Whiskers' nerves were badly shaken. + +"Ah, Zenas," she moaned, "take us to our dear attic home before some one +is killed. You promised me that we should all go home safe and sound, and +there lay those precious twinnies, all bandages and plasters. Ah, dearie +me! What will happen next? Poor Debbie's house was burned; Wink and Wiggle +are all smashed up. Zenas Whiskers, I say we must pack up and go home +tomorrow." + +"Ah, Granny," grinned Grand-daddy, "Wink and Wiggle are perfectly safe, +but I can't truthfully call 'em sound just yet. I must dose 'em awhile +before they will be sound enough to go back to the attic. Pine breezes, +fresh air and sunshine, Granny, that's what they need. I'm sure Debby +Field-Mouse isn't complaining because Pile of Rails burned. She is as +happy as a lark in her Cosy Retreat. + +"I am having the time of my life. Never was so important and sought after +as I've been since Hezekiah stuck that Dr. Whiskers sign in front of my +cottage. Ah, no, Granny, we don't leave Pond Lily Lake until snow flies +and I'm hoping that it will be a long time from now." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AUTUMN LEAVES + + +"I'm going after chestnuts tomorrow, Mammy," said Buster one autumn +evening. + +"We have had a good frost. I think the burrs have cracked open, Buster," +grinned Uncle Squeaky. + +"I like to roast chestnuts in the winter," lisped Tiny. + +"I like to roast chestnuts," echoed Teenty, "and I like to pop corn." + +"Those wild grapes you fetched home made delicious jelly," said Mother +Graymouse. + +"There are red berries dangling from a prickly bush. Shall I fetch some +home, Mammy?" + +"Barberries," guessed Granny. "There is no better sauce made. Fetch a +basketful, Buster." + +"Barberry sauce is full of pegs," complained Grand-daddy. "Grape jelly is +my favorite sauce." + +"Nimble-toes says there's poison ivy and dogwood around here," said +Scamper. "Be careful or you'll get poisoned, Buster." + +"Yes," added Limpy-toes, "don't touch any bushes except blueberry, cedar, +pine, hemlock, sweet fern, bayberry, or peppermint. Those are all safe and +you know 'em well." + +"For pity sake, Buster, don't get poisoned!" cried Silver Ears. "We hope +to get Wink and Wiggle out of doors tomorrow. I'm not anxious for any more +patients. I wonder that you let him roam about the woods, Mammy." + +"He never goes alone, Silvy," replied Mother Graymouse, calmly. + +"Hopsy Toad, and Webbie Spider are going chestnutting with me," said +Buster. "I had a nice walk yesterday with Bunny and Bobsey Rabbit. They +took me over to Mr. Giant's strawberry bed. What do you think, Mammy! +There are ripe red berries and pretty blossoms, now! On the way home, we +saw yellow dandelion blossoms. It isn't summer any more; it is frost-time. +Everything seems topsy-turvy!" + +"Mercy on us!" cried Aunt Squeaky. "Ripe strawberries when it is 'most +snow-time!" + +"The Giants are a wise folk," explained Grand-daddy. "They grow plants +nowadays that bear fruit most of the time. Prob'ly you could find berries +on those vines when they are buried under the snow." + +"You take a basket and fetch home some strawberries, right now, Buster +Graymouse, and I'll bake a strawberry short cake for supper that'll melt +in your mouth," promised Aunt Squeaky. + +"Take Tiny and Teenty along and show them how to dig dandelions. We will +have a mess of greens for dinner tomorrow," planned Mother Graymouse. +"Such treats as we have in the country! I am afraid I shall not wish to go +back to our attic very soon, Grand-daddy." + +"I am not rushing in that direction, myself, Betsey," chuckled +Grand-daddy. "Guess we will stay to supper, Granny, and have some of +Belindy's short cake. Dot was invited to tea with Mrs. Rabbit, so there's +nobody home at our house." + +"Of course you must stay," invited Aunt Squeaky. "Buster will fetch plenty +of berries." + +They had a jolly tea-party with a delicious strawberry cake for dessert to +celebrate the first time that Wink and Wiggle had come to the table since +the automobile accident. + +The next day, Hopsy and Webbie came to go nutting. They carried bags for +the chestnuts. Buster took a basket also, for barberries. + +They had good fun picking the brown nuts from the soft, silky linings of +the burrs. + +"The burrs are prickly and the barberry bushes are prickly," said Hopsy. + +"Perhaps they are trying to say 'Touch me not!' But we will pick them just +the same," laughed Buster. + +"Let's get a bouquet of pretty leaves," said Webbie. "Ma would like some +for her parlor." + +[Illustration: They had good fun picking the brown nuts from the soft, +silky linings of the burrs.] + +"There are lovely gold and scarlet leaves on that stone wall," said +Buster. "Let's climb and get them." + +They were pulling eagerly at the sprays of bright leaves, when along +trotted Simon Skunk. + +"Hi, there!" he shouted, "leave those leaves alone." + +"Don't mind him," said Hopsy. "He is angry because we are getting the +pretty leaves." + +"Hi! Those leaves are poison," warned Simon again. + +"Do you s'pose they are poison?" asked Webbie Spider. + +"I don't believe one word that Simon Skunk says," sputtered Buster. "Mr. +Giant had a vine like this growing on his piazza. Giants don't plant +poison vines." + +By-and-by, they arrived at Gray Rock Bungalow laden with bags of +chestnuts, plenty of barberries for Granny's sauce, and the pretty autumn +leaves twined around their shoulders. + +"For the land o' pity!" cried Aunt Squeaky. "Betsey Graymouse, here is +Buster with his paws full of poison ivy!" + +"Trot out and throw that stuff away at once," commanded Uncle Squeaky. +"Only last evening we told you not to touch poison ivy." + +"Simon Skunk said that it was poison, but I thought he meant to scare us. +I've seen Ruth Giant pick these pretty leaves on her piazza," whimpered +Buster. + +"The poor kiddie didn't understand, Hezekiah," smiled Mother Graymouse. +"Hold up your paw and count the fingers. How many are there, Buster?" + +"One, two, three, four, five," counted Buster. + +"Yes, and the leaves on Ruth Giant's vine have five fingers. These wild +leaves have only three fingers and you must never touch them. You see +these berries are waxy white and the berries on Mr. Giant's woodbine were +purple. Remember, Buster, unless the leaves have five fingers like your +paws, they are poison ivy. Now trot along with Hopsy and Webbie over to +Wild Rose Cottage. Tell Grand-daddy all about it and ask him to fix you +up." + +Dr. Whiskers washed the three scared little patients in salt water. + +[Illustration: Sure enough, next morning poor Buster could hardly see out +of his eyes.] + +"I am afraid you will be some puffed-up youngsters in the morning," he +said. "But I guess you will know poison ivy next time." + +Sure enough, next morning poor Buster could hardly see out of his eyes. +His face and paws were swelled and puffy and oh, how they itched! + +"Simon Skunk meant to be kind to you, Buster, because Grand-daddy had been +good to him," said Mother Graymouse. + +"Next time I'll mind Simon and leave the old ivy alone, Mammy," promised +Buster sadly. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SNOWED IN + + +The autumn days passed swiftly. Yellow, crimson, and russet leaves +fluttered to the ground. Early in the mornings the grass was frosted in +white. + +Granny, Mother Graymouse and Aunt Squeaky were busily preparing for +winter. In the cool cave behind their bungalow, were rows of jelly +glasses; boxes of tiny red apples from the orchard; plenty of little +potatoes which the hired men had left in Mr. Giant's garden, and a bucket +of fish which Scamper and Limpy-toes had caught and Uncle Squeaky had +salted. + +"Ah, it is good to have a plenty!" sighed Granny. "Last winter we wondered +how we should get our supply of fruit and vegetables. Now we have 'em all +stored up. Surely we shall soon start for our dear attic home." + +"It is lovely by the Lake," said Mother Graymouse. "I'd like to see ice on +the pond before we go home." + +"Why, Betsey Graymouse, we would all freeze!" cried Granny. + +"It would be horrid," shivered Aunt Squeaky. + +Dot Squeaky closed her summer school when the cool days came, and bade her +little pupils good-by until another year. + +Limpy-toes worked, whenever Grand-daddy could spare him, upon his broken +automobile. He bent and patched and mended it until at last the poor old +machine would go once more. + +"But it is a worse chug-chug than ever," sighed Limpy-toes. "Some day I +will build a better one and lock it away from Wiggle's mischievous paws." + +Dr. Whiskers shut up Wild Rose Cottage and they all moved over to Gray +Rock until they should leave the Lake. But Mrs. Jack Rabbit got a bad +cold; Wee Field-Mouse was ill; Squire Cricket sprained his ankle, and all +the little Spiders had the measles. + +"I cannot leave all these sick folk, Granny," decided Dr. Whiskers. + +"There'll be sick folk all winter, Zenas. Must we stay and freeze to +death? We'll get sick, also. You promised to go home before snow-time," +sobbed Granny. + +"So we will, Granny, so we will. The weather is still mild. Never fear; +have I not taken good care of you all?" + +Then came a day, when to Granny's great joy, Uncle Squeaky announced that +they would begin to pack next morning. + +"The ground is hard and smooth. It will be easy to pull our cart. We must +start before the heavy rains begin," he planned, "for after that there +will be deep, frozen ruts." + +That last night by the Lake was a merry one. The Field-Mouse family came +to spend the evening. Buster sang his sweetest songs, the kiddies recited +verses they had learned at school, and Uncle Squeaky's band played for the +last time. + +"I'll take our instruments over to Wild Rose Cottage and lock 'em up +tomorrow," planned Limpy-toes. + +"It doesn't seem possible that we shall be back in our attic tomorrow +night," said Dot. + +"I thought we'd be there long ago," sighed Granny. "Your Grand-daddy is +getting slow in his old age." + +"Not slow, Granny, just moderate," corrected Grand-daddy. "Which reminds +me of two mice I once knew. One mouse never would hurry. Ah, he was slow! +He said he'd get through this world soon enough if he went slowly." + +Uncle Squeaky hopped up. + +"And so, kiddies," he chuckled, "he went poking along like this. He +drawled and he droned and was always an hour behind time. Finally the old +sleepy-head laid down and died." + +"Just so, Hezekiah," nodded Grand-daddy. + +The kiddies laughed at Uncle Squeaky's droll antics. + +"You walked like Grandpa Turtle, Uncle," laughed Nimble-toes. + +"Well," continue Grand-daddy "the other young mouse thought life was so +short that he must move like a whirlwind or his work would not get done." + +"And so," explained Uncle Squeaky, "he went on a hop, skip and jump like +this. He made dust fly in other folks' eyes, a-hustling and a-bustling +about until he hardly knew if he was on his head or his heels." + +They all shouted as Uncle Squeaky pranced about the room, his coat tails +flying out straight behind him. + +"I've always believed in being moderate. Neither too fast nor too slow," +finished Grand-daddy. + +"Do stop being such a clown, Hezekiah," scolded Aunt Squeaky. "Give us a +little more music. We shall not hear our band again all winter." + +"We have to be real quiet in the Giant's house. Let's stay here with Pa +Field-Mouse where we can do as we choose," grinned Uncle Squeaky. + +"We are going home tomorrow, Hezekiah Squeaky," said Granny firmly. + +[Illustration: _"And so," explained Uncle Squeaky, "he went on a hop, +skip and jump like this."_] + +Tomorrow came. + +"What makes it so dark?" wondered Limpy-toes. He lighted a lantern and +looked at his watch. + +"It is after sun-up, Mammy!" he called. "You don't suppose we are snowed +in?" + +Uncle Squeaky opened the door. In tumbled a mass of drifted snow. + +"Just so, Limpy-toes!" he exclaimed. "Clear up to our roof!" + +"We cannot haul our furniture today," said Grand-daddy. + +"Snowed in?" wailed Granny. "Ah, whatever will become of us?" + +"We will stay right in our cosy bungalow, Granny, until the snow melts," +said Uncle Squeaky. "We have plenty of chips and pine cones to keep us +warm, and tasty food stored up to eat. We can be comfortable and happy." + +"It is a lovely adventure," smiled Dot. "Aren't you glad it snowed, +Silvy?" + +"Ah, yes," replied Silver Ears, "for now we can stay longer by the Lake. +Perhaps Limpy-toes will make us a sled and some skates." + +"Don't worry, Granny," said Mother Gray-mouse cheerily. "Grand-daddy and +Hezekiah will take care of us. After the storm, they can tramp to the +store on the frozen crust and fetch some cheese, matches and sugar. +By-and-by, the ground will be bare and they can pull our furniture cart +home. Debbie likes winter in the country. I shall enjoy staying a little +longer." + +There was a scraping sound outside the door. + +"Pa Field-Mouse and Nimble-toes have tunnelled under the snow!" exclaimed +Aunt Squeaky. "Now we can visit Debby. It is nice to have neighbors in the +Cosy Retreat." + +"A bad storm, Hezekiah," greeted Pa Field-Mouse. "Guess you'll stay with +us a spell longer, Dr. Whiskers." + +"Ma sent this thistle-down," said Nimble-toes. "She says it will make warm +beds for you." + +"Very kind of Debby, I'm sure," said Uncle Squeaky. "We'll be very fine in +our downy beds. I will ask Lady Spider to spin us some silk draperies for +the windows, Granny. She will do anything we ask. The woodland folk all +love Dr. Whiskers. And no wonder. Never a bit of reward has he taken for +all the wonderful cures he has made. We'll have a jolly winter, if we must +stay. I think it will be grand. Something new in our lives, Granny." + +Granny shook her head dolefully. + +"Of course the kiddies think it is very fine to be snowed in, but I think +the rest of you might have more sense," she scolded. "Come and sit by your +old Granny, Buster, and sing your sweet song about our dear attic home." + +Buster grinned mischievously. + +"I'll sing you a newer one, Granny," he offered sweetly. He folded his +paws as Mammy had taught him long ago, tossed his head high and sang +merrily: + + "Softly all the night long + Fell the snowflakes white; + Jolly little snowflakes, + Such a pretty sight! + + "All the pines and hemlocks, + See them bending low; + We are warm and cosy + In our bungalow. + + "So we'll play our music, + Sing our songs of cheer; + For we love the snow-time + Best of all the year." + +[Illustration: _He folded his paws as Mammy had taught him long ago, +tossed his head high and sang merrily._] + +"We love our attic home best of all, Buster Graymouse!" sobbed Granny. +"And we can't see the pines and hemlocks bending low. We can't see +anything. Ah, dearie me! Snowed in, so far away from our home! It is the +first time that Grand-daddy Whiskers ever broke a promise to me. It all +comes of his being a doctor! Ah, dearie me, what will happen to us before +Spring?" + +"That is a question for a wise mouse to answer, but I'm hoping that the +next happening will be hot griddle cakes for our breakfast," chuckled Dr. +Whiskers. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Grand-Daddy Whiskers, M.D., by Nellie M. Leonard + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GRAND-DADDY WHISKERS, M.D. *** + +This file should be named gdwmd10.txt or gdwmd10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, gdwmd11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, gdwmd10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, S.R. Ellison +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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