2 FIRST EVENING.

it into the parlour. This was then read distinctly by
one of the older ones ; and after it had undergone suf-
ficient consideration, another little messenger was des
spatched for a fresh supply; and so on, till as much
time had been spent in this manner as the parents
thought proper. Other children were admitted to
these readings; and as the Budget of Beechgrove Hall
became somewhat celebrated in the neighbourhood, its
proprietors were at length urged to lay it open to the
public. They were induced to comply; and thus,
without further preface, begins the

FIRST EVENING.

rm ee

THE YOUNG MOUSE.
A Fable.

A rouna Mouse lived in a cupboard where sweet-
meats were kept: she dined every day upon biscuit,
marmalade, or fine sugar. Never any little Mouse had
lived so well. She had often ventured to peep at the
family while they sat at supper; nay, she had some-
times stolen down on the carpet, and picked up the
crumbs, and nobody had ever hurt her. She would
have been quite happy, but that she was sometimes
frightened by the cat, and then she ran trembling to
the hole behind the wainscot. One day she came
running to her mother in great joy, “ Mother!” said
she, “the good people of this family have built me a
house to live in; it 1s in the cupboard: I am sure it
is for me, for itis just big enough; the bottom is of
wood, and it is covered all over with wires; and I dare
say they have made it on purpose to screen me from
that terrible cat, which has run after me so often:
there is an entrance just big enough for me, but puss
cannot follow; and they have been so good as to put
in some toasted cheese, which smells go deliciously,
that I should have run in directly and taken possession