Do You Remember?

This is the second installment of my series 'Do you remember?' This article will be about 'Stuart Little' and the first time I heard this story was in elementary school and I think it was third grade, but I am not sure. The teacher would read this at the end of the day, and we all know what that usually meant and maybe means even today.

'Stuart Little' is another story by E. B. White and drawn by Garth Williams that show children what life to all about in a way a mouse sees it. 'Stuart Little' is the story of a little mouse that comes to live in New York City with The Little's, a human family that is expanding in a different way than they expected for they may have expected a baby, but got a little mouse that could walk and talk but the family accepted Stuart for what he is and was, and they even had a doctor one day and come and give Stuart a physical. This is his first adventure into the world of humans. After getting a good report from the doctor his next adventure was going down a drain to fetch a personal artifact for Mrs. Little, and from then on when there was a chore that only Stuart could do that his mom, dad or even George couldn't due to their stature. Stuart was the one they called when say a ping pong ball would roll under the furniture or unsticking a piano key when George practiced the piano. The Little's also changed a line in the classic Christmas story that refer to a mouse. They felt that that one line could affect Stuart in some way.

They also wondered what if Stuart explored the mousehole that is in the pantry and they asked themselves "What if Stuart goes in there?" It seemed like the everyday chores seemed to be a lot of work for Stuart from turning on the water for getting washed up to exercising, but adjustments were made for Stuart.

One day Stuart came upon Snowbell, the Little's cat who made Stuart wary most times for many reasons. This was a time when the Little family thought that Stuart thanks to Snowbell, and had gone into the mousehole, but something else had happened to Stuart in another way in another room. The whole Little family began yelling out for Stuart, and their yelling was louder than Stuart's yelling where he was in trouble. George begins to think that Stuart is dead and they should mourn for him, so George goes through the house and starts lowering all the shades and guess what.

There is another day that Stuart decides to go out for a jaunt, but he believe or not is afraid of dogs, and when he sees one he finds a place to hide where ever he can. This day thanks to favorable weather Stuart decides to go sailing. He dresses appropriately and heads out, catches a bus, offers the conductor his 'coins' to pay for the ride to Central Park. Stuart reaches his destination and searches for the pond where he can find a boat to sail, and finds one named 'The Wasp' and he asks the owner if he can work for him commanding 'The Wasp'. Stuart learns that there will be a sailboat race and he will be racing the William B. Womrath, and there will be plenty of experiences and excitements during this day out for Stuart.

On another day at The Little's Stuart meets a new friend that happens to be a bird by the name of Margalo. Stuart first meets her after he has a bout of pneumonia and has to stay in bed for a few weeks. When Stuart started to feel better he puts on his robe and slippers and headed downstairs when he heard her approach his room. Mrs. Little found Margalo when she was dusting and shaking our her dust rag, and after awhile Margalo went exploring and met Stuart, but he wondered why she was talking so quietly for she had a sore throat and Stuart became concerned about her health. The Little's gave Margalo a place to sleep, but Snowbell on one of his night's out told a friend where to find her and Margalo overhears. Stuart also overhears, even though still not fully recovered he sets out to protect Margalo in a heroic manner.

Margalo escapes and Stuart sets out to find her, and another journey experience occurs that starts out with a dog and he finds a place to hide temporarily in a garbage can not knowing that it was going to be picked up very shortly. Stuart found himself in a mess of sorts when suddenly he felt like he was being lifted up and then dumped into the back of the garbage truck covered with all kinds of stuff. He tried to escape this mess well at the same time he felt that the truck was going East, and he had a feeling that he was going to die.

Then, Stuart noticed that Margalo was above him and she told him to grab hold onto to claws and off they went and after awhile he had to loose a special item and one of his favorites that his father made for him, and down they went into the East River. Then they both headed homeward bound, and Margalo was given a special treat. The next event would be when Margalo flies away because of what Snowbell and his girlfriend has planned for her and leaves a not for Stuart. Stuart then decides then to leave home in search of Margalo.

The first thing he does is to pack his belongings in a small knapsack along with something special of his mom's then the next day making a visit to his doctor's and share with him what he is going to do, and the doctor and his patient suggest which direction that he should go. The doctor offers Stuart a model car that really runs and is just the right size for Stuart and his trip, but things go wrong and they have to find another way, and make other preparations as well. On his way Stuart stops on his way to take in the scenery for there was a man sitting on the side of the road looking very sad and Stuart asks why and Stuart ends up for a day working as a substitute teacher, and in his own way teaches the students more about living then just the three R's. Stuart looks around the classroom at what it had to offer and he started the school day with various kinds of discussions from health to living in a lawful state and following the rules of society. After his day as a substitute teacher Stuart headed for his car and down the road, and he ended up at a crossroad in a small town of Ame's Crossing where he meets a person even shorter than himself, and after Stuart takes a rest and some nourishment he hides and spots the smallest girl he has ever seen. Stuart decides to send her a letter asking her out on a date and in the letter describing himself, too. He sets up camp along with buying a new canoe all in planning the perfect date with this very nice woman smaller than him. Stuart and the girl have a nice time till it starts to rain and odd things start to occur, and the next day Stuart heads on down the road in search of his other friend, and so the story ends.

(Remember that these summaries and reviews I have left out various details, so that maybe you may want to read or re-read this classic story. If you enjoy this and the other 'Do you remember' articles please like, comment and maybe leave a tip for I would really appreciate it. Thank you.)

Next: The Secret Garden