86 The Catskill Fatrtes.

while. “If you Fairies will make a ring, we can perform circus
tricks, mouse and I, equal to those of the Hippodrome.”

The others were quite ready for the sport, and soon there
was a fairy ring formed on the floor, with Job and the old
clock to look down on it. Nip was to have his own way in
everything ; they must leave an avenue for the mouse to gal-
lop into the circle in style. “I am clown, ring- master, and
rider, all in one. I should like somebody to hold bits of news-
paper for hoops for me to jump through, and I will borrow
a poppy cloak to leap over. Do I need spurs to make. you
gop”

“ No, no,” hastily squeaked the mouse.

It did Job good to see Nip perform. The mouse went
around the circle, with the Fairy dancing on his back, now
popping through the paper hoops, now springing over the
cloak. At last they paused to rest.

“Let us breathe awhile, and I will show you a trick worth
seeing,” said Nip.

“ Oh, what is it, Nip? Tell us—do,” cried the Fairies.

Nip stood up on the mouse’s back once’ more, and started
around the circle, faster and faster, until with one bound they
darted out of the ring, and the mouse was safe in its hole be-
fore the Angora cat could wink.

“What do you think of that? I told you it was the best
trick of all. Oh, you needn’t make big eyes at me, Madam
Cat, and curl your whiskers, I am not afraid of you, and the
dear little mouse is safe,” said Nip.

“Tf the mouse will join us again, I will promise not to eat

it,” purred the cat, mildly. -