The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-06-21
Miscellaneous.
The Story of Jetty.

meet.
Now, Jetty lived in queer old place, and
what do you think it was9 1t was great
dark, dreary old mill where plenty of wheat
and corn was kept, but where few people
ever came. But Jetty didn't care for that
Not he. He lived with his brother Gus
tsve and his sister Minette, who were 10th
French rats, having come along before, with
ever so many other emigrants, from France
to this country. Gustave and Minette were
a great deal older than Jetty; for he, funny
little fellow that he was, had been born in
the old mill where afterward their father
and mother had both been killed in great,
cruel trap by giants who called themselves
men.
A good many months had passed since
then, and Gustave, who being French was
also something of dandy, was obliged to
climb on the book keepers desk at night
and thrust his long whiskers way down into
the book keepers ink bottle to keep them
from growing so terribly gray.
And cunning little Miss Minette when
she found he could no longer see clearly
without spectacles, gave over trying to
read the labels on the bags of grain that
were stored away in the mill, and so pre-
tended to like wheat quite as well as corn,
which everybody knew was not so.
But Jetty Nothing was the matter with
Jetty's black whiskers and Jetty's cleaning
little eyes. Jetty could read very well, and
could even speak little French that Gus.
tave had taught him, to improve his Amer
ican manners, you know.
And what pretty little home they had,
to be sure You'll never guess what it was,
SO III tell you. 1t was in an empty old
-four barrel that had been forgotten and left
in the garret OF the mill ; and if you'll be-
lieve it, this barrel was really turned into
quite a palace by Gustaves French taste
and Minette's ready ahem paws. Bits
of cheese, which some thoughtful neighbor
had presented old scraps of wall paper and
plastering, which every rat knows is deic-
ious after hearty dinner; nuts, and even
pieces of cake, were stored away in one cor
ner. Oh, it was a charming little house,
happy as happy could be there.
In the evening, when the mill was all
quiet and dark, do you suppose they were
afraid Not bit of it Then they scamp
cred all over the building and brought back
splendid loads of wheat and corn, and some
times bits of tender wood, which aren't bad
if only you are accustomed to eating them.
But one night Gustave said to his sister,
"My dear, we have promised to call on
Monsieur Cheesycake, just over from Paris,
visiting at the Gnawingtons' you remem-
ber ~
"Oh, to be sure p said Miss Minette.
"Jetty dear, you will be afraid to stay alone
for little time p
Afraid! Oh, then how lefty laughed
Laughed till he tripped over his long tail
and fell half the way down stairs laughed
when he picked himself up and brushed the
dust from his sleek little back laughed I'M
til his sister pulled his ears and told him
that people would know by just looking at
him that the was an American rat with no
French polish about him
But when they had really gone and the
dark old mill was very quiet, Jetty began
to wonder what made his heart beat so loud
and why he kept thinking of all the dread
full cats he had seen the last time he went
out; and he wished his sister Minette had
never told him of all the awful whales she
saw on the voyage across the ocean. What
if whale should walk right in from the
river and eat him up while they were gone
Horrible
But Jetty was brave little fellow, and
shutting his bright eyes so tight that am
sure don't see how he ever expected to
get them open again, he went fast sleep in
the old -four barrel. He went to sleep, and
dreamed of going to lovely party where
there were-oh, cheeses upon cheeses, and
no end of cakes and crackers, and even su-
gar kisses, too And, suddenly, just as he
was wondering if fat old rat, who sat in
the corner, would eat forever, and why a
long, lean young rat who was next him
would persist in sitting on his tail and hurt
ing him; suddenly, | say, he was awakened
by a horrible noise and brighs bright
light. He started from the -four barrel, be.
wildered and half awake. What was it?
Cats? Giants? What? And that terrible
light? Had the sun fallen out of the sky
right into the old mill ?
Jetty rubbed his eyes with his paws, and
then he saw what it .really was. The mill
the great, sturdy old mill, that he had
thought would stand foreyer-was on fire
The flames were crawling and licking the
walls and the beams, the roof was falling in.
Outside, men were rushing frantically from
door to door, shouting and throwing great
rivers of water out of what seemed to be
huge snakes mouths.
Jetty turned to the stairs, knowing he
had no time to lose and must escape as soon
as possible But, alas it was too late. His
dream of the party had been SO fascinating
or the smoke must have stifed him, for he
had slept so long that his last chance had
fallen.
He thought longingly of Gustave and his
dear Minette. How sorry she would be
never to have little Jetty to pet and scold
more
Already tine floor where he stood grew
hot, and the very walls Of the room were in
blaze He ran to the window, when, just
at that instant, with irightful crash, the
whole side Of the building fell, and Jetty
was left standing on beam far out over the
black water.
Now the men had ceased trying 10 save
the mill and the excited crowd half pitt
iul, caught sight of poor little Jetty way up
there on the already burning beam, in the
very heat of the awful fire.
His fate seems certain, aud there is hard
~ man in the swsying, shouting crowd
who does not feel sorry for the frightened
trembling little creature.
Fire behind--close behind-and that aw-
ful black water before him! The crowd cf