“THREE BLIND MICE.”
Three Blind Mice,
See how they run!
They all ran after the farmer’s wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife;
Did ever you hear such a thing in your life
As three blind mice?
Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes.
McLoughlin Brothers: New York. Ca 1900.
Elephant's Picture Book 
I always wondered what she did with those tails…
Good Question – I never thought of this!
In this illustration the mice look very angry and vengeful about losing their tails – I think this farmer’s wife isn’t going to get a chance to do much but RUN!
Elephant