THE RETURN
Open the door, Mother Mouse! Your eight sons are home from their wanderings. They can hardly carry all the gifts they have for you! They have groats as white as pearls, whole barrels of golden wheat, pieces of bacon and butter, and a storehouse full of gingerbread.
“Oh, look!“ exclaimed Mother Mouse in her happiness, “Look how gaily the fire burns! I think even my saucepan is happy! You, Father, must help prepare a glorious welcome. You must rush to hire a band. The whole village will gather beneath our little window to see our treasures. Won’t the gossips be jealous when they see what wonderful
