Hickory and Dickory and Dock were very glad to get the crumbs, for they were hungry; and when they had breakfasted they all curled up alongside their mother and slept soundly throughout the day.

“Be good children,” said Mamma Mouse the next evening, as she prepared for her journey to the pantry, “and do n’t stir out of your nest till I come back.  I am in hopes that after tonight we shall not be hungry for a long time, as I shall gnaw a hole at the back of the flour barrel, where it will not be discovered.”

She kissed each one of them good-bye and ran down the wall on her errand.

When they were left alone Hickory wanted to go to sleep again, but little Dock was wide awake, and tumbled around so in the nest that his brothers were unable to sleep.

“I wish I could go with mother some night,” said Dock, “it ’s no fun to stay here all the time.”

“She will take us when we are big enough,” replied Dickory.

“We are big enough now,” declared Dock, “and if I knew my way I would go out into the world and see what it looks like.”

“I know a way out,” said Hickory, “but mamma wouldn ’t like it if we should go without her permission.”

“She need n’t know anything about it,” declared the naughty Dock, “for she will be busy at the flour-barrel all the night.  Take us out for a little walk, Hick, if you know the way.”

“Yes, do,” urged Dickory.

“Well,” said Hickory, “I ’d like a little stroll myself; so if you ’ll promise to be very careful, and not get into any mischief, I ’ll take you through the hole that I have discovered.”

So the three little mice started off, with Hickory showing the way, and soon came to a crack in the wall.  Hickory stuck his head through, and finding everything quiet, for the family of people that lived in the house were fast asleep, he squeezed through the crack, followed by his two brothers.  Their little hearts beat very fast, for they knew if they were discovered they would have to run for their lives; but the house was so still they gained courage, and crept along over a thick carpet until they came to a stairway.

“What shall we do now?” whispered Hickory to his brothers.

“Let ’s go down,” replied Dock.

So, very carefully, they descended the stairs and reached the hallway of the house, and here they were much surprised by all they saw.

There was a big rack for hats and coats, and an umbrella stand, and two quaintly carved chairs, and, most wonderful of all, a tall clock that stood upon the floor and ticked out the minutes in a grave and solemn voice.

When the little mice first heard the ticking of the clock they were inclined to be frightened, and huddled close together upon the bottom stair.

“What is it?” asked Dickory, in an awed whisper.  “I do n’t know,” replied Hickory, who was himself rather afraid.

“Is it alive?” asked Dock.