Tiny became ill, and could not venture out of doors, so the party was postponed until he should get well. His mother sent for Dr. Flyingsquirrel, who lived out in the country. The doctor, who could spread out his loose skin and fly like a bird, said that Tiny should remain quiet for at least two days.

The Mayor of Squirreltown issued an edict that anyone who made a loud noise should be banished from the city, so intense silence reigned. Several of Tiny’s best friends, including the mayor himself and other important citizens, came to see him. They brought him wild flowers, acorns fashioned by their teeth into fanciful cups, and many other pretty things which Tiny gratefully received.

The second morning Bushy Graysquirrel brought him a book of fables written by Father Aesop, who at that time was the greatest writer known to Animal Kingdom.

The story that pleased him most was the following:

THE MOUSE’S DISCOVERY.

Once upon a time a donkey, a wolf, a fox, and a cat fell into an argument as to which of them was the greatest.

A field mouse, who was hiding close by in a tuft of grass, heard the conversation, and was much amused.

“I am the greatest thing in the world,” boasted the wolf, “for I am so brave that I fear nothing. On the other hand, you would all run if I showed my teeth and claws. I am one of man’s greatest fears.”

“It is certainly no sign of greatness to be a good fighter,” said the fox, proudly curling his tail as foxes sometimes do. “I am shrewd and wily. It is much better to have these qualities of mind than to be fierce. Children’s books are full of stories concerning my cunning tricks.”

“Foxes’ opinions of themselves are sometimes absurd,” said the donkey, stamping his hoofs upon the ground to scare away the flies. “Donkeys are the greatest of all objects, for the reason that they are useful and always can be depended upon. Donkeys’ feet are more sure than the hoofs of horses.”

“I am the chief of all objects,” proclaimed the cat, from a bough of one of the birches. “I belong to the tiger family, yet I am so gentle that children keep me for a pet. Men prefer dogs, but cats are women’s favorites. The wolf’s importance is small compared with mine. My food is brought to me, and I spend my spare time catching mice. Cats are mice’s greatest foes.”

The mouse’s heart stood still when he heard these dreadful words from the cat’s mouth, for he dreaded cats’ paws more than he did wolves’ teeth.

“I cannot fight, nor am I shrewd enough to steal, strong enough to carry loads, nor lazy enough to be a child’s pet; but I can sing,” warbled a thrush from the branch of another tree. “Birds are men’s sweetest comforters, for their tunes always drive away care. Flies’ lives are spent in useless buzzing. A fly’s buzz is not sweet to hear, as the donkey well knows. However, thrushes’ songs are very melodious, for thrushes practice singing all day long. Surely the thrush’s position is high above that of all other objects.”

Before the wolf could open his mouth to praise himself again, there was a sound of heavy footsteps. Presently a man came in sight, carrying a blunderbuss.

The wolf, forgetting how brave he was, darted away; the donkey’s departure was almost as sudden; the thrush flew high into the sky; the cat scurried to the birch’s topmost branch; and the hair on the fox’s tail stood straight up as he leaped the bushes.

See how they run.

“See how they run!” exclaimed the field mouse, laughing at the frightened animals who a moment since had been boasting of their power. “It is very plain to be seen that the greatest of all objects is the blunderbuss.”