Way back when ... in the 20s or 30s, there was a cartoon strip called Krazy Cat by a fellow named George Herriman. It's two main characters were Krazy (the cat) and Ignatz (a mouse). Ignatz represented the forces of anarchy and almost ALWAYS hit Krazy with a brick. (unless Offisa Pup had him in the calaboose) Krazy on the other hand was hopelessly, helplessly in LOVE with Ignatz! Well you can just imagine the sort of things that led to!
But that's another story. The point is that ALL the mice in the strip (there were several) were bald, and it was Ambrose McNibble's fault! Those ancients who followed the strip regularly encountered a series based on the question; "Ignatz, why are all the mice bald?" Well Ignatz took the time to explain how a relative of his (a distant relative) had brought technology to the mice of the north. As we know, whenever anyone discovers anything new we all end up paying for it.
As best as I can remember it Ignatz told the tale something like this:
This is the tale of why all mice are bald and how they came to loose their fur. A long long time ago all mice had fur. Not just ordinary fur mind you, but soft thick silky-smooth fur that kept them warm in the long northern winter.
Back in the distant past there lived a mouse by the name of Ambrose McNibble. Ambrose was a restless mouse. He yearned to wander and discover new things. All the other mice thought Ambrose was a fool and never hesitated to tell him so. "Ambrose" they would say "What could possibly be better than being snug here in our warm fur coats? Give up this silly idea of finding something else." But Ambrose was a stubborn mouse and he didn't give up. Eventually he came to believe that no one appreciated him. He resolved to go out and prove his critics wrong. One day without telling anyone he left to seek what fortune lay in store for him.
The rest of the mice were briefly upset by his disappearance, chiefly because of the rumor that Ambrose had been eaten by a cat. For six days the Cat Patrol did double shifts. The excitement soon died down though and life returned to normal. Then one day months later a traveling musician (I think he was the fiddler with The Cheese Wizz's) brought news that Ambrose was alive and was returning. Sure enough later that week Ambrose arrived, and he brought with him something the likes of which the rest of the mice had never seen!
What Ambrose McNibble was bearing was a tallow tapper. The news spread like wild fire and all the mice of the north gathered around Ambrose and the tallow tapper. They were full of questions but Ambrose put them off and set to erecting the tapper. Soon night began to fall and as it started to grow dark Ambrose sprung his consummate, ultimate, piece-de-resistance. He lit the tallow tapper! Well the mice were flabbergasted let-me-tell-you. They all cheered and called Ambrose a wonderful fellow. As the night grew darker and colder, the mice all formed a circle around the light and warmth of the tappers flame. A spirt of comradery rapidly sprang up and Ambrose basked in the adoration of his peers. But the flame also attracted......
Moths!!!
The moths circled the flame around and around in an intricate aerial dance. As the evening wore on the taper burned lower and the moths circled closer and closer to the flame. Slowly the mice were hypnotized by the warmth and the glow and the endless circles. One by one they dropped off to sleep. Of course the tapper continued to burn and finally consumed itself. The moths, sensing the warmth of the sleeping mice, descended closer and closer to their fur coats and ultimately came to rest and began to eat. What a hideous surprise when all the mice awoke to find that the moths had consumed their fur and they were bald!?!
And to this day the mice are still bald...
Which goes to show that a little bit of technology can get you in a lot of trouble.
Ambrose McNibble
The Bald Mouse
PS.
Besides telling bed-time stories I also give great back rubs.
(grin)
Copyright Ambrose McNibble 1987 - 2006