And so they did : for Aunt Wee began to play ; and presently Daisy was shouting with fun as she sat on an old saddle , with a hair-covered trunk for a horse , a big old-fashioned bonnet on her head , and a red silk petticoat for a habit . Then they went to sea in a great chest , and got wrecked on a desert island , where they built a fort with boxes and bags , hunted bears with rusty guns , and had to eat dried berries , herbs and nuts ; for no other food could be found . Aunt Wee got an old fiddle , and had a dancing-school , where Daisy capered till she was tired . So they rummaged out some dusty books , and looked at pictures so quietly that a little mouse came out of a drawer and peeped about , thinking no one was there . `` Let 's find the nest , since we do n't find any fairy , '' said Wee ; and , opening the drawer , she turned over the things till she came to a pair of old velvet shoes ; and there in the toe of one , nicely cuddled under a bit of flannel , lay four pink mites , which woke up , and stretched their tiny legs , and squeaked such small squeaks one could hardly hear them . `` How cunning they are ! I wish they would let me put them with the kits , and have a nursery full of babies . Would n't it be nice to see them all grow up ? '' said Daisy . `` I 'm afraid they would n't grow up , if Mrs. Purr lived with them , '' began Wee , but got no further ; for just then the cat bounced into the drawer , and ate up the mouselings in four mouthfuls . Daisy screamed ; the mother-mouse gave a doleful squeak , and ran into a hole ; and Aunt Wee tried to save the little ones . But it was too late : Purr had got her breakfast , and sat washing her face after it , as if she had enjoyed it . `` Never mind , Daisy : she would have caught them by and by , and it 's as well to have them taken care of before they do any harm . There is the bell : do n't cry , but come and tell papa what a fine romp we 've had . '' `` It does n't rain , but it 's dreadfully wet ; so we 'll go to the dairy , and see if any sprites are hiding there , '' said Wee next day ; and to the dairy they went . A pleasant place it was , -- so clean and cool , and as full of sweet odors as if the ghosts of buttercups and clover still haunted the milk which they had helped to make . Dolly was churning , and Polly was making up butter in nice little pats . Both were very kind , and let Daisy peep everywhere . All round on white shelves stood the shining pans , full of milk ; the stone floor was wet ; and a stream of water ran along a narrow bed through the room , and in it stood jars of butter , pots of cream , and cans of milk . The window was open , and hop-vines shook their green bells before it .
The birds sang outside , and maids sang inside , as the churn and the wooden spatters kept time : `` Brindle and Bess , White-star and Jess -- Come , XXXXX , come !
babies bells books butter chest nest nursery papa pictures round