Mammy Sets a Trap

Der's a sort o' light scratchin' All around dis house;— Ah hears it in de night watch, An' ah reckon it's a mouse!— Der's a kin' o' skittle-scuttle, By de nursery do', An' ah ain't goin' to listen To dat soun' no mo';— For ah'll buy a trap, honey, Ah'll go buy a trap— An' when ah catches dat ol' mouse He'll git one good rap!"

So mammy bought a mouse-trap, A round wire one;— She baited it with toasted cheese, And bits of currant bun, Then put it in the cupboard By her red turban-box And said: "Ah'll git him, honey,— An' he'll git some hard knocks— For he's given me de misery From de dark to de dawn,— An' ah's gwan catch him Suah as you's bawn—"

Well— there in the morning Was a tiny grey mouse! He seemed to think the wire trap Was his little house— For he was calmly sitting And nibbling at the cheese Just as cool and collected As ever you please!— And mammy cried: "Look honey! Can de world beat dat! Ah don' know if ah'll knock him Or jes' git de cat."

The tiny mouse looked cheerful And even quite gay,— He romped around the trap a bit And seemed inclined to play, Then he sat up on his hind legs, And washed his little face 'Till mammy said: "He surely seems Right happy in dat place!— Ah don' feel jes' like knockin' him— Or bringin' in dat cat;— Lordy—ah'll let him out—dis time;"— So she did. What d'you think of that!