Winding Trail Press - Little Downy Revisions

Little Downy Revisions

Unrevised:

"It was one fine clear morning, in the middle of March, that, as Downy was peeping her little nose out of the straw at the edge of the stack, to breathe a little fresh air, she saw the farmer with his men enter the yard, and heard him tell the people that he would have the stack taken into the barn and thrashed, and desire them to bid Fen, the rat-catcher, come, and bring all his dogs with him.

"Poor Downy was in a terrible fright at hearing this; she ran to acquaint her mother with it, and asked her what they had best do; but her mother, who was but a foolish mouse, bade her not be under the least alarm, for she was persuaded the farmer did not mean to take it in just then; and added, it was time enough to think of it when the men began. She told Downy, to go to bed with the rest of her brothers and sisters, and not be afraid.

"But poor Downy was in great trouble about what she should do, and could not sleep for thinking of the sad fate that threatened them; she awakened her companions to consult with them; but her sisters only laughed at her fear, and said, they would never leave a place where they were so well off; and where they could get plenty of good corn, only for the trouble of eating it.

Revised:

It was a fine clear morning in the middle of March. Downy peeped her little nose out of the straw at the edge of the stack, to breathe a little fresh air and saw the farmer with his men enter the yard. Downey heard him tell the hired hands to take the stack into the barn and thrash it. “But make sure that Fen, the rat-catcher, can come, and bring all his dogs with him before you start,” said the farmer.

Poor Downy was in a terrible fright at hearing this. She ran to tell her mother and asked her what they should do. Her mother, who was a foolish mouse, bade her not to worry, for she was sure that the farmer did not mean to move the wheat-stack any time soon. “There’s time enough to think about it when the men begin,” she told Downy. “Now, off to play with your brothers and sisters, and don’t be afraid.”

But poor Downy was very troubled about what she should do, and could not sleep that night for thinking of the sad fate that threatened them. She woke her brothers and sisters, but her sisters only laughed at her fear. “We shall never leave a place where we are so well off,” they said. “We can get plenty of good corn, only for the trouble of eating it.”