Page:Story of the little white mouse, or, The overthrow of the tyrant king (1).pdf/8

8 princess was to come into the world, and the distress of the queen augmented daily; the gaoler who guarded her gave her nothing but three boiled peas and a small bit of black bread for her food during the day; by which she was reduced so thin as to become little else than skin and bone.

One evening while she was employed in spinning, (for the wicked king was so avaricious as to make even his prisoners labour for him) she saw, entering at a small hole, a pretty little mouse as white as snow. "Ah! pretty creature," exclaimed the queen, "what do you come here to seek? I have but three peas to last me all day; begone, if you wish not to fast."---The little mouse ran about here and there, and danced and skipped like a little monkey: the queen was so pleased with it, that she gave it the only pea that remained for her supper. "Here," said she, "here, poor little thing, eat this: I have got no more; but I give it thee willingly." The instant she had done this, to her great surprise there appeared upon the table two partridges, cooked most wonderfully well, and two pots of preserves. "Really," exclaimed she, "a good turn is never lost." She ate a little; but, with fasting so long, her appetite was almost gone. She threw down some to the mouse, which, having