But they may come again . Humpty dumpty fell downstairs , and yet he married a princess ; perhaps I shall also marry a princess ! ' And then it thought of a pretty little birch-tree that grew out in the wood , and seemed to the fir-tree a real princess , and a very beautiful one too . ` Who is Humpty Dumpty ? ' asked the little mice . And then the tree told the whole story ; it could remember every single word , and the little mice were ready to leap on to the topmost branch out of sheer joy ! Next night many more mice came , and on Sunday even two rats ; but they did not care about the story , and that troubled the little mice , for now they thought less of it too . ` Is that the only story you know ? ' asked the rats . ` The only one , ' answered the tree . ' I heard that on my happiest evening , but I did not realise then how happy I was . ' ` That 's a very poor story . Do n't you know one about bacon or tallow candles ? a storeroom story ? ' ` No , ' said the tree . ` Then we are much obliged to you , ' said the rats , and they went back to their friends . At last the little mice went off also , and the tree said , sighing : ` Really it was very pleasant when the lively little mice sat round and listened whilst I told them stories . But now that 's over too . But now I will think of the time when I shall be brought out again , to keep up my spirits . ' But when did that happen ?
Well , it was one morning when they came XXXXX tidy up the lumber-room ; they threw it really rather roughly on the floor , but a servant dragged it off at once downstairs , where there was daylight once more .
At about for in of on over that to whilst