Conversation – 17

The Little Thief in the Pantry
by Anonymous

A Little Thief in the Pantry is in the collection A Christmas Hamper: A Volume of Pictures and Stories for Little Folks, published in 1889 by T. Nelson and Sons by various unattributed authors. It’s a lesson about perspective, and a little girl’s compassion for a mouse who learns the difference between stealing and giving. Most importantly, obey your mother!

“MOTHER dear,” said a little mouse one day, “I think the people in our house must be very kind; don’t you? They leave such nice things for us in the larder.”

There was a twinkle in the mother’s eye as she replied,—

“Well, my child, no doubt they are very well in their way, but I don’t think they are quite as fond of us as you seem to think. Now remember, Greywhiskers, I have absolutely forbidden you to put your nose above the ground unless I am with you, for kind as the people are, I shouldn’t be at all surprised if they tried to catch you.”

Greywhiskers twitched his tail with scorn; he was quite sure he knew how to take care of himself, and he didn’t mean to trot meekly after his mother’s tail all his life. So as soon as she had curled herself up for an afternoon nap he stole away, and scampered across the pantry shelves.

Ah! here was something particularly good to-day. A large iced cake stood far back upon the shelf, and Greywhiskers licked his lips as he sniffed it. Across the top of the cake there were words written in pink sugar; but as Greywhiskers could not read, he did not know that he was nibbling at little Miss Ethel’s birthday cake. But he did feel a little guilty when he heard his mother calling. Off he ran, and was back in the nest again by the time his mother had finished rubbing her eyes after her nap.

She took Greywhiskers up to the pantry then, and when she saw the hole in the cake she seemed a little annoyed.

“Some mouse has evidently been here before us,” she said, but of course she never guessed that it was her own little son.

The next day the naughty little mouse again popped up to the pantry when his mother was asleep; but at first he could find nothing at all to eat, though there was a most delicious smell of toasted cheese.

Presently he found a dear little wooden house, and there hung the cheese, just inside it.

In ran Greywhiskers, but, oh! “click” went the little wooden house, and mousie was caught fast in a trap.

When the morning came, the cook, who had set the trap, lifted it from the shelf, and then called a pretty little girl to come and see the thief who had eaten her cake.

“What are you going to do with him?” asked Ethel.

“Why, drown him, my dear, to be sure.”

The tears came into the little girl’s pretty blue eyes.

“You didn’t know it was stealing, did you, mousie dear?” she said.

“No,” squeaked Greywhiskers sadly; “indeed I didn’t.”

Cook’s back was turned for a moment, and in that moment tender-hearted little Ethel lifted the lid of the trap, and out popped mousie.

Oh! how quickly he ran home to his mother, and how she comforted and petted him until he began to forget his fright; and then she made him promise never to disobey her again, and you may be sure he never did.

@shoelady60,

Good evening oh my your team won and it does not matter one bit by how many points.
This is krunch time. 😜😎My entire family lives in Colorado so tonight will not be easy one
way or another all I can say get up off of Patrick Mahomes assets. 😜😎

Hubby is watching the game I had to leave you would think a former cheerleader could
stand the pressure I can but with the Broncos that is family. I shall cheer my team on. 😎

Salud! ✨

@oodiebom,

Good evening there on the Gulf Coast. ✨ I am so glad you are doing well.

I went and brought a few things at target to donate for children. ✨

This is some tea to enjoy this evening. 😘

Happy Hanukah. 🌹

Sunrise, Sunset
Song Fiddler On The Roof

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don’t remember growing older
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn’t it yesterday
When they were small?
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow by the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly by the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day
They look so natural together
Just like two newlyweds should be
Is there a canopy in store for me?
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow by the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly by the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

Brenda Lee
“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”

Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
At the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Every couple tries to stop

Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie
And we’ll do some caroling

You will get a sentimental feeling
When you hear
Voices singing let’s be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancing merrily
In the new old-fashioned way

You will get a sentimental feeling
When you hear
Voices singing let’s be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancing merrily
In the new old fashioned way

Time to get your holiday on. ✨

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve
Song by Ella Fitzgerald

Maybe it’s much too early in the game
Aah, but I thought I’d ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year’s
New Year’s Eve?
Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year’s Eve
Maybe I’m crazy to suppose
I’d ever be the one you chose
Out of a thousand invitations
You received
Aah, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance
What are you doing New Year’s
New Year’s Eve?

Club Sheba Holiday Edition ✨

@shoelady60

Good evening to you. It is absolutely gorgeous in Florida. Temps are in the 70s and no humidity. You and yours may consider a mini vacation away from the doldrums of the cold and snow. Just a thought.

I know your mom and sis are planning a cruise in a few months. I am not going to say to cancel, but to keep an eye on the existing ones. Living in Florida, even during the winter months, has it’s perks and one of them is cruising. However, I just read the news where the Norwegian Cruise Lines are about to reach Louisiana with 10 people on board with Covid. I imagine the other thousand or so passengers will have to quarantine upon arrival. I do not know if they were vaccinated prior to the trip. As far as I can ascertain, the cruise line took every precaution possible. All passengers had to wear their masks while aboard, kept their hands washed and were six feet from the people behind them, in front and to the side. I know your mom is the spunky one, so just keep an eye out, especially with the new variation, Omnicom?

Also, I will be getting the booster. Will do this prior to the mam. Though our physician doesn’t think there will be a problem because it is a lower dosage, I will wait the 4-12 weeks in between.
If I can get an earlier appointment, then will do the opposite.

Hope your husband’s tests came back OK. Take care.

@sheba2011

I didn”t realize just how tired my body was until this weekend. I certainly made up for all those hours of no sleep. No work has been accomplished as yet. Well, if you call putting a square of something into the washing machine and then turning the knob to clean, guess that’s something.

Since we both ate a late breakfast that was past lunch time, I surmise either a salmon or tuna salad will be dinner.

I was about to return my 10″ Kindle to Amazon when I decided to work on it. Had a nice chat with their customer service department last week. I could not get past the ads. I kept seeing a calculator that didn’t add, subtract, multiply or divide. All you could do was punch a number and then hit the X. Even the customer service techs could not figure out what to do. A return label was sent to my e-mail. Everything was in the box. Even made a copy of the return label after working on the printer for most of yesterday. Affixed the label to the box and afterwards I had a change of heart. After fiddling with it for a few minutes I was able to get it back to factory. Went through all the hoops and whistles, and it is working fine. Even the battery is alive and well. Go figure. Last night I had no sound. Today, the sound is purrrrfect. Guess it is a keeper for now.

Hubby’s physical therapy is tomorrow afternoon. He is not to happy. But, it is helping. Though he still uses a cane when walking a distance, his gait is better and he claims that the pain in his knee is feeling better. His mind seems to be clearer as well. I am praying that this will continue and not be for a short duration. I can honestly say I am enjoying the improvements. And, as of yesterday, he is drinking more fluids. More trips to the “library,” where I left a few magazines.

Will check on the washing machine. Next is the dishwasher. By the way, for the dishwasher is use the extra strength vinegar which you can purchase from Dollar Tree. I throw a cup into the dishwasher and then put it through it’s regular wash as if the dishes were inside. Takes a while, but the clean smell makes it all worthwhile and the machine looks brand new.

Me thinks that it is time to earn my keep. Have a great day. It is gorgeous in Florida. Temp in the 70s and no humidity. Too cool for a swim, but great for walking on the sand and sticking your toes in the Gulf. Got up too late to enjoy this. See what time we finish tomorrow and how hubby feels following the therapy. Don’t overdo anything. Tomorrow is another day.