“What shall we do?” said Roland to Nell,
“For mama has gone away,
In mama’s room it’s quiet and still,
Let us go in there and play.”
So they softly opened mama’s door,
And quietly slipped inside.
“Now let us play we are mice,” said Nell,
“And get in the drawer and hide.”
At the bureau drawer they tugged and tugged
Until it was opened wide;
And then, oh dear, the dresses and things,
They scattered them all outside.
When mama came home, what did she see?
Ev’ry thing lying about,
The children that should be out were in,
What ought to be in was out.
“Mama, don’t scold,” said the children, “see
Haven’t we hided us nice?
We don’t know any better you know,
We are only little mice.”