Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-04-15
THE RATS PARTY.

| THERE once lived in the wall of a
house two lively young rats, Nibble and
| Frisk.
One night as Frisk was scampering
around he made discovery.
"Nibble," cried he, "come here Smell
at this crack. What do you say to
that?"
Bacon" said Nibble, "and cheese.
Oh, how hungry it makes mel"
Every well, them" said Frisk, "gnaw
through, The quicker the better"
| So first one gnawed and then the 9th
er, till they had made the crack so large
that they could see through plainly. On
the other side was pantry, and on the
shelf in full view splendid ham.
cit will last a year." said Nibble;
"and there's a cheese; and what's that
hanging on a nail?"
| GA salt-fsh, to be sure" said Frisk
land there are eggs for those that like
them. If we had only found this out a
month ago! Here we have been half
starved when just on the other side of
a wall"
At this moment voice was heard on
the other side singing a morning song, as
Betty came to get the eggs for the
breakfast
"Hush" said Nibble. owe must
keep quiet till night"
Then they went to tell their friends of
their good fortune
"AhaI' said wise old rat Beware!
[ was near being caught there once, they
stopped up the hole in such hurry"
"We will look out for that" said the
young friends.
When night came they began to work
again, and were not long in making their
way through.
Then came the reward,
delicious /" said Nibble, as he tasted
the ham.
ooh, this cheese" said his friend
Frisk.
"And look at that chickenp'
And see these cakes"
"And these squash-seeds. What a
pile of them!"
"Tll tell you what we'll do. Wen have
a party" said Nibble
$50 we WILL" said Frisk, "and invite
young Silk-Ear."
And Papa and Mamma Silk-Ear, of
course said Nibble.
90 yes, of course" said Frisk. eve
could not leave them at home alone"
"And that little duck of Pink Nose"
said Nibble
"Then you'll have to invite Pa Pink
Nose" said Frisk, land he is such a
scamp! Don't you remember how he
stole that raisin from Widow Sharp
Tooth?"
"Well, no matter" said Nibble.
There is food enough for all, this
time"
"What do you think of carrying away
these squash-seeds now?" said Frisk
eve shall not need them at the party,
and they will be good when all the other
things are gone"
So they carried away the squash-seeds,
warm place by the chimney, where they
would dry. And now it was near morn
ing, so they made haste with their work.
Tie pantry was in perfect order moth
ing to do there. But on their side of the
wall there was rubbish to remove and,
first, the hole must be made larger.
mot too large" said Frisk, or they'll
see it from the inside"
"You go and invite the company"
said Nibble, and I'll work here"
So Frisk went to give the invitations.
The Graybacks were invited, and the
Longtails, and the Sharptooth family,
and the Silvergrays, and the Silk Ears.
"Where is the party?" asked Mamma
Silk-Ear.
Right through the wall, in the pan
try, replied Frisk. I'VE gnawed hole
through, and there's cheese, and a ham,
and some cakes, and everything"
Is it safe ?" asked Papa Silk-Ear.
" Perfectly" said Frisk. "Nibble and
+. l took lunch there last night, and here
/ am, you see"
But where's Nibble," inquired Papa
Silk-Ear.
"Oh, he's putting things to rights on
this side of the wall, replied Frisk.
"Oh, please say yes" said the lovely
young Silk-Ear. So the papa said yes"
and they accepted the invitation. So
did Pa Pink-Nose and his little duck of a
daughter.
Cheese" you said," remarked Pa
Pink-Nose.