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irconduct that day showed that they possessed kind hearts and goodunderstanding。 'These two qualities；' she continued； 'place us ants inthe highest degree above all other reasonable beings。 Understandingmust therefore be seen among us in the most prominent manner； and mywisdom is greater than all。' And so saying she raised herself on hertwo hind legs； that no one else might be mistaken for her。 I could nottherefore make an error； so I ate her up。 We are to go to the antsto learn wisdom； and I had got the queen。
〃I now turned and went nearer to the lofty tree already mentioned；which was an oak。 It had a tall trunk with a wide…spreading top； andwas very old。 I knew that a living being dwelt here； a dryad as she iscalled； who is born with the tree and dies with it。 I had heard thisin the library； and here was just such a tree； and in it anoak…maiden。 She uttered a terrible scream when she caught sight ofme so near to her； like many women； she was very much afraid ofmice。 And she had more real cause for fear than they have； for I mighthave gnawed through the tree on which her life depended。 I spoke toher in a kind and friendly manner； and begged her to take courage。At last she took me up in her delicate hand； and then I told herwhat had brought me out into the world； and she promised me thatperhaps on that very evening she should be able to obtain for me oneof the two treasures for which I was seeking。 She told me thatPhantaesus was her very dear friend； that he was as beautiful as thegod of love； that he remained often for many hours with her underthe leafy boughs of the tree which then rustled and waved more thanever over them both。 He called her his dryad； she said； and the treehis tree； for the grand old oak； with its gnarled trunk； was just tohis taste。 The root； spreading deep into the earth； the top risinghigh in the fresh air； knew the value of the drifted snow； the keenwind； and the warm sunshine； as it ought to be known。 'Yes；' continuedthe dryad； 'the birds sing up above in the branches； and talk toeach other about the beautiful fields they have visited in foreignlands； and on one of the withered boughs a stork has built hisnest；… it is beautifully arranged； and besides it is pleasant tohear a little about the land of the pyramids。 All this pleasesPhantaesus； but it is not enough for him； I am obliged to relate tohim of my life in the woods； and to go back to my childhood； when Iwas little； and the tree so small and delicate that astinging…tle could overshadow it； and I have to tell everythingthat has happened since then till now that the tree is so large andstrong。 Sit you down now under the green bindwood and pay attention；when Phantaesus es I will find an opportunity to lay hold of hiswing and to pull out one of the little feathers。 That feather youshall have； a better was never given to any poet； it will be quiteenough for you。'
〃And when Phantaesus came the feather was plucked； and；〃 saidthe little mouse； 〃I seized and put it in water； and kept it theretill it was quite soft。 It was very heavy and indigestible； but Imanaged to nibble it up at last。 It is not so easy to nibble one'sself into a poet； there are so many things to get through。 Now；however； I had two of them； understanding and imagination； and throughthese I knew that the third was to be found in the library。 A greatman has said and written that there are novels whose sole and only useappeared to be that they might relieve mankind of overflowing tears… akind of sponge； in fact； for sucking up feelings and emotions。 Iremembered a few of these books； they had always appeared temptingto the appetite； they had been much read； and were so greasy； thatthey must have absorbed no end of emotions in themselves。 I retracedmy steps to the library； and literally devoured a whole novel； thatis； properly speaking； the interior or soft part of it； the crust；or binding； I left。 When I had digested not only this； but a second； Ifelt a stirring within me； then I ate a small piece of a thirdromance； and felt myself a poet。 I said it to myself； and toldothers the same。 I had head…ache and back…ache； and I cannot tell whataches besides。 I thought over all the stories that may be said to beconnected with sausage pegs； and all that has ever been writtenabout skewers； and sticks； and staves； and splinters came to mythoughts； the ant…queen must have had a wonderfully clearunderstanding。 I remembered the man who placed a white stick in hismouth by which he could make himself and the stick invisible。 Ithought of sticks as hobby…horses； staves of music or rhyme； ofbreaking a stick over a man's back； and heaven knows how many morephrases of the same sort relating to sticks； staves； and skewers。All my thoughts rein on skewers； sticks of wood； and staves； and asI am； at last； a poet； and I have worked terribly hard to makemyself one； I can of course make poetry on anything。 I shall thereforebe able to wait upon you every day in the week with a poetical historyof a skewer。 And that is my soup。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the mouse…king； 〃we will hear what thethird mouse has to say。〃
〃Squeak； squeak；〃 cried a little mouse at the kitchen door； it wasthe fourth； and not the third； of the four who were contending for theprize； one whom the rest supposed to be dead。 She shot in like anarrow； and overturned the sausage peg that had been covered withcrape。 She had been running day and night。 She had watched anopportunity to get into a goods train； and had travelled by therailway； and yet she had arrived almost too late。 She pressed forward；looking very much ruffled。 She had lost her sausage skewer； but nother voice； for she began to speak at once as if they only waited forher； and would hear her only； and as if nothing else in the worldwas of the least consequence。 She spoke out so clearly and plainly；and she had e in so suddenly； that no one had time to stop her orto say a word while she was speaking。 And now let us hear what shesaid。
WHAT THE FOURTH MOUSE； WHO SPOKE
BEFORE THE THIRD； HAD TO TELL
〃I started off at once to the largest town；〃 said she； 〃but thename of it has escaped me。 I have a very bad memory for names。 I wascarried from the railway； with some forfeited goods； to the jail；and on arriving I made my escape； and ran into the house of theturnkey。 The turnkey was speaking of his prisoners； especially ofone who had uttered thoughtless words。 These words had given rise toother words； and at length they were written down and registered： 'Thewhole affair is like making soup of sausage skewers；' said he； 'butthe soup may cost him his neck。'
〃Now this raised in me an interest for the prisoner；〃 continuedthe little mouse； 〃and I watched my opportunity； and slipped intohis apartment； for there is a mouse…hole to be found behind everyclosed door。 The prisoner looked pale； he had a great beard and large；sparkling eyes。 There was a lamp burning； but the walls were soblack that they only looked the blacker for it。 The prisoner scratchedpictures and verses with white chalk on the black walls； but I did notread the verses。 I think he found his confinement wearisome； so that Iwas a wele guest。 He enticed me with bread…crumbs； withwhistling； and with gentle words； and seemed so friendly towards me；that by degrees I gained confidence in him； and we became friends；he divided his bread and water with me； gave me cheese and sausage；and I really began to love him。 Altogether； I must own that it was avery pleasant intimacy。 He let me run about on his hand； and on hisarm； and into his sleeve； and I even crept into his beard； and hecalled me his little friend。 I forgot what I had e out into theworld for； forgot my sausage skewer which I had laid in a crack in thefloor… it is lying there still。 I wished to stay with him always whereI was； for I knew that if I went away the poor prisoner would haveno one to be his friend； which is a sad thing。 I stayed； but he didnot。 He spoke to me so mournfully for the last time； gave me double asmuch bread and cheese as usual； and kissed his hand to me。 Then hewent away； and never came back。 I know nothing more of his history。
〃The jailer took possession of me now。 He said something aboutsoup from a sausage skewer； but I could not trust him。 He took me i