Mrs. Brice’s had twenty-five mice.
She fed her mice the finest cheese.
She washed and dried them behind their ears, so they were always clean.
Mrs. Brice loved to sing for them. When she played the piano, twenty-four little mice danced around her.
One very small mouse danced on top of her hand. He was afraid to fall between the keys.
When Mrs. Brice went to bed, twelve little mice slept on one side of her. Twelve little mice slept on the other side. One very small mouse slept on the clock, in case he wanted to know what time it was.
In the morning, Mrs. Brice did exercises. She stretched her arms and legs. She bent over and touched her toes with her fingers.
“One, two, three, four, five, six … One, two, three, four, five, six …”
Twenty-four little mice did exercises too. They stretched, they bent,
They touched their toes. One very small mouse kept on sleeping.
“It is time for our walk,” said Mrs. Brice. Twelve little mice walked in front of her. Twelve little mice walked in back. One very small mouse sat on top of Mrs. Brice’s hat, so he could see where they were going.
He saw a cat.
Twelve little mice ran this way. Twelve little mice ran that way.
One very small mouse jumped down to the ground and ran this way and that.
He ran so many different ways, the can got tired of chasing him and went back to whatever he had been doing.
“What a clever little mouse you are,” said Mrs. Brice. “Now we can go to buy some food.”
Twenty-four little mice sat in a cart and enjoyed the ride. One very small mouse sat in front.
They went up one aisle.
They went down another.
Mrs. Brice bought food in cans, food in jars, cold food, hot food.
“Now we can go home,” said Mrs. Brice. Twenty-four little mice were glad. But one very small mouse kept on leading the way. He led them to the dairy counter.
Mrs. Brice bought a nice, big cheese.
Then she and her mice went home to eat it.
After they ate, Mrs. Brice sang and played the piano.
Twenty-four mice danced around her.
One very small mouse kept right on eating.