The Miser and the Mouse

Communicated by Miss Flaxman

A Miser, traversing his house
Espied, unusual there, a mouse,
And thus his uninvited guest,
Briskly inquisitive, address’d:
“Tell me, my dear, to what cause is it
I owe this unexpected visit?”
The mouse her host obliquely eyed,
And smiling, pleasantly replied:
“Fear not, good fellow! for your hoard
I come to lodge, and not to board.”