The Tale of Master Meadow Mouse

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

24872

Title

The Tale of Master Meadow Mouse

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A charming children's classic featuring Master Meadow Mouse, a plump and good-natured rodent navigating the dangers of Pleasant Valley. From dodging hawks and kittens to surviving floods and foxes, this delightful tale follows his growth from a naive youngster to a wise adult. With anthropomorphic animal friends and foes, it offers an engaging, humorous, and heartwarming story perfect for young readers.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in Farmer Green's meadow, *The Tale of Master Meadow Mouse* by Arthur Scott Bailey chronicles the coming-of-age journey of a pudgy, good-natured creature named Master Meadow Mouse. Initially naive and confident in his ability to evade predators, the young mouse faces constant threats from a cast of dangerous characters, including Tommy Fox, Peter Mink, Henry Hawk, and even a playful kitten from the farmhouse. His early naivety is highlighted when he fails to flee instinctively from the kitten, instead standing his ground until the frightened feline retreats. As the seasons change, Master Meadow Mouse's life becomes a series of seasonal adventures and perilous escapes. He finds refuge in the cornfield, building a cozy home within a corn shock, only to face the masked bandit, Fatty Coon, who tears through the stalks in search of a meal. The narrative captures the harsh realities of winter, where the mouse must endure deep snow, eat tree bark to survive, and brave the freezing waters of Broad Brook. Despite the risk of being hunted by Peter Mink beneath the ice, he maintains his love for swimming, relying on the warning signals of his friend Paddy Muskrat. A catastrophic flood forces the entire mouse community to relocate to a mill pond, where Master Mouse befriends Paddy Muskrat, solidifying a bond based on shared tastes and mutual defense against predators. This period of displacement marks a turning point in his maturity. By spring, having successfully dodged numerous enemies and survived the elements, he realizes he is no longer a child. In a significant moment of self-reflection, he discusses his identity with Paddy Muskrat. Realizing that the title 'Master' belongs to a youngster, he formally changes his name to 'Mister,' signifying his growth into adulthood and his proven ability to outsmart his many foes. The story concludes with the community accepting his new identity, celebrating his wisdom and survival as he transitions from a naive cub to a respected adult in the meadow.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24872.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg24872.epub

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Downloaded at

2026-07-06 10:57 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction
• Animals
• Friendship