The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 51, Milford, Kosciusko County, 17 December 1986 — Page 23

By M. LYNN GRAY Guest Feature Writer

Herbie Mouse woke up as usual, scrambling out of his nice warm bed and scampering across the floor to the stove. It had been getting colder these past few weeks. Grandma Mouse said that winter was just around the corner, and she was thankful there was so much food in the store room. Herbie didn’t know what “Winter” was. He had never seen or felt winter like he could touch his warm, blue mouse sweater. He certainly couldn’t smell winter, like he could smell the breakfast his Mother was making' Herbie gobbled down breakfast as fast as he could without getting his paws slapped by Mother Mouse. Spot was coming over today and they were going to explore the hollow on the other side of the forest. They had noticed this little valley on one of their excursions and had felt adventure calling. Herbie was just drinking his last drop of Ladybug milk when he heard Spot barking outside. Spot was growing — he wasn’t the little lost puppy that had made friends with Herbie in early Fall! He was now a good-sized, handsome, young dog, and all the Forest-Folk looked on with smiles as they saw the two friends prowling through the forest. Herbie excused himself from the table, grabbed his red hat and green coat, and ran out the door to meet Spot. Spot laid down to allow Herbie to crawl up on his neck. Once in place, Herbie held on to Spot’s collar, and they were off! The trees flashed by, all bare of the beautiful red and gold leaves that they had been dressed in. Only a cold wind blew through the empty trees, singing its lost, lonely song. The two friends soon came to the hollow and went down a steep dirt trail worn through the tall grass and weeds. As they reached the bottom, they saw a ManForest, or they thought it was, anyway. The shingle roof was falling in. the porch was sagging, and the wooden siding was grey and mossy from age Spot and Herbie went around the house and then slowly up to the front porch. The old boards squeaked under their weight, as they went through the open door. It was very dim and musty in the house, because the windows were boarded over. Herbie could barely see spookyold furniture, covered by dirty old sheets, that seemed to fill the small house from floor to ceiling. The two adventurers carefully explored the old Man-Forest and wondered what had made the Humans leave. Herbie was just walking around a strangely shaped object on the floor when he stopped and scratched his head. He had heard a faint taptapping coming from the basement of the house! The two brave explorers went around to the outside doorway and went down the rickety steps. Herbie thought it would be dark, but to their surprise, the basement was brightly lighted. Strange little men, wearing funny green and brown outfits, were running back and forth. Herbie had heard about the little men; they were Forest Elves. These little men of the Forest did all sorts of kind and mischievous activities for the Forest-Folk and Men-Folk One of the little men saw Herbie and Spot in the doorway and he let out a shrill scream that caused the other little men to stop their work and hide behind tables and chairs The first little man was in such a hurry to hide, that he tripped over the piece of wood that he had been working on “Are you hurt?” Herbie squeaked, as he rushed to help the little man to his feet. Because the Elves were of the forest, also. Herbie and Spot could understand the whispy, little voice that answered. “Oh. no, fine Mouse. You and your large friend only gave me a fright,” said the little man, as he stood up and wiped dirt from his pants. “What are you and your friends doing in this old Man-Forest?” Herbie asked, as the other little men came out of hiding and gathered around the two friends. “We are members of the International Workshop of Christmas Readiness!" proudly exclaimed the little man. “We make part of the toys that Santa Claus delivers to all the little boys and girls around the world! ” This sounded wonderful to Spot and Herbie, but the two friends didn’t know what a toy was, or what Christmas was, or who or what a Santa Claus' was! And they certainly couldn’t ask the Elves about this strange activity. The little men gave Spot and Herbie some funny little cookies with frosting and candy and a warm glass of Ladybug milk flavored with chocolate. The two adventurers watched the little men at work for a while, then said “good-bye** and started off through the forest. The wind was colder now, and

Herbie's Christmas adventure

something was falling from the sky. It was white and fluffy and when they licked it, it was cold. Grandma Mouse had talked about this and she called the white stuff “snow.” It feU during the Winter-time. As it snowed more and more, the grass and fallen leaves turned white and the wind sang louder through the empty branches. Mother Mouse opened the door to the little house under the fallen oak, and let Herbie enter the warmth of the kitchen. Spot curl-

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ed up on the front porch, out of the cold wind. Grandma Mouse gave Spot a warm bowl of Ladybug milk, and poured a glass for Herbie. As she was getting the milk, Grandma told them the story of Christmas. “The Men-Folk think that Christmas is only for Humans, but it’s also for the animals ” Grandma Mouse said, as she poured herself a glass of milk and sat near the warm stove. “A long time ago, in a land far away, a mouse was scurrying

through the night to bring food to his wife and children. AU of a sudden he noticed a bright star in the sky and a light flowed from the stable where he and his family lived. His wife told him that a man and wife had come into the stable, because there wasn’t any room at the Inn. The woman had given birth to a baby boy.” Grandma paused to sip her Ladybug milk. “As the baby was born, the stars in the sky took on a brighter light, and one above the stable gleamed even brighter than the others. Shepherds in the fields came to see what was happening in the little village of Bethlehem and followed the brightest star to the small stable where the baby lay in a manger filled with straw. The Shepherds brought gifts of warm wool and sweet pine boughs to scent the air around the child’s head. The cow in her stall gave her richest milk to the tired Mother, and the donkey ga ? his strong back for the Father to ride upon. That is why gifts are given at Christmas time, and the animals are allowed to talk together in the early morning of Christmas

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Day.” Herbie and Spot were very happy with the story of Christmas and filled with warm Ladybug

TMVEL Till 'yfc With “~~y |rg-

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milk, soon fell asleep, dreaming of a baby born in a stable and funny title Elves helping a man named Santa Claus.

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