WhenMrs.Mousemakesuphermind ThenMr.Mousebestgetbehind. WhitefoottheWoodmousewasveryproudofhishome. HeshoweditasheledMrs.Whitefootthere. Hefeltsurethatshewouldsayatoncethatthatwouldbetheplaceforthemtolive. Yourememberthatitwashighupinatall,deadstubandhadoncebeenthehomeofTimmytheFlyingSquirrel. “There,mydear,whatdoyouthinkofthat?”saidWhitefootproudlyastheyreachedthelittlerounddoorway. Mrs.Whitefootsaidnothing,butatoncewentinside. ShewasgonewhatseemedalongtimetoWhitefoot,anxiouslywaitingoutside. Yousee,Mrs.Whitefootisaverythoroughsmallperson,andshewasexaminingtheinsideofthathousefromtoptobottom.Atlastsheappearedatthedoorway. “Don’tyouthinkthisisasplendidhouse?”askedWhitefootrathertimidly. “Itisverygoodofitskind,”repliedMrs.Whitefoot. Whitefoot’sheartsank.Hedidn’tlikethetoneinwhichMrs.Whitefoothadsaidthat. “Justwhatdoyoumean,mydear?”Whitefootasked. “Imean,”repliedMrs.Whitefoot,inamostdecidedway,“thatitisaverygoodhouseforwinter,butitwon’tdoatallforsummer.Thatis,itwon’tdoforme. Inthefirstplaceitissohighupthatifweshouldhavebabies,Iwouldworryallthetimeforfearthedarlingswouldhaveabadfall. Besides,Idon’tlikeaninsidehouseforsummer. Ithink,Whitefoot,wemustlookaroundandfindanewhome.” AsshespokeMrs.Whitefootwasalreadystartingdownthestub.Whitefootfollowed. “Allright,mydear,allright,”saidhemeekly.“Youknowbest.Thisseemstomelikeaveryfinehome,butofcourse,ifyoudon’tlikeitwe’lllookforanother.” Mrs.Whitefootsaidnothing,butledthewaydownthetreewithWhitefootmeeklyfollowing.Thenbeganapatientsearchallabout. Mrs.WhitefootappearedtoknowjustwhatshewantedandturneduphernoseatseveralplacesWhitefootthoughtwouldmakefinehomes. ShehardlyglancedatafinehollowlogWhitefootfound. Shemerelypokedhernoseinatasplendidholebeneaththerootsofanoldstump. Whitefootbegantogrowtiredfromrunningaboutandclimbingstumpsandtreesandbushes. HestoppedtorestandlostsightofMrs.Whitefoot. Amomentlaterheheardhercallingexcitedly. Whenhefoundher,shewasupinasmalltree,sittingontheedgeofanoldnestafewfeetabovetheground. ItwasanestthathadoncebelongedtoMelodytheWoodThrush. Mrs.Whitefootwassittingontheedgeofit,andherbrighteyessnappedwithexcitementandpleasure. “I’vefoundit!”shecried.“I’vefoundit!ItisjustwhatIhavebeenlookingfor.” “Foundwhat?”Whitefootasked.“Idon’tseeanythingbutanoldnestofMelody’s.” “I’vefoundthehomewe’vebeenlookingfor,stupid,”retortedMrs.Whitefoot. StillWhitefootstared.“Idon’tseeanyhouse,”saidhe. Mrs.Whitefootstampedherfeetimpatiently.“Righthere,stupid,”saidshe. “Thisoldnestwillmakeusthefinestandsafesthomethateverwas. Noonewilleverthinkoflookingforushere. Wemustgetbusyatonceandfixitup.” EventhenWhitefootdidn’tunderstand.Alwayshehadlivedeitherinaholeintheground,orinahollowstumportree.Howtheyweretoliveinthatoldnesthecouldn’tseeatall. 
