The Newtown bee., 1879-08-06

Thinking that his p1ar ming ratship Had now missed his cunning tactics And had set himself a rat-trap, Jawgie surely thought he'd catch him. Slyly stepped he to the salvers, Slowly reached down meath the table, Swiftly whanged the two together, Feeling that he now had got him F1atly crushed atwixed twain saivers. Out jumped rat and ieetly cantered Nothing worse for changing walters. .r Husband gnashed his teeth and cantered, Cantered with his ringing poker, Clipping rat at every canter, Ever clipping just behind him.
 Suddenly there came a ahalting. Rat had found another cover, Found again place to hide him. And the valiant man of poker Paused to breathe and reconn otter; Heard slight suspicious rustling. Gentle rustling meath the table, Saw gentle rocking motion Of ancient bit of parchment, Bit of old-time well-used oil l-cloth, oil-cloth rolled into tubing. Rat had found this friendly parchment And had plunged within for safety, Crawled within this hollow tubing. But had left his tail protruding. Now said George, "by George, I've got him l'' Stopping OCT in wild excitement Georgie aimed at rat s appendix Sticking out the hollow piping, Made sudden grab. and missed it. Out popped rat and fieetly cantered, Cantered as if evil sought him, Ran and plunged behind the cupboard. Husband ran and thrust his poker. Ran his cuspidated poker, Underneath the shielding cupboard Punching under, punching over. Punching straight. and punching bias. Punching madly every whither. Dashed his head against the dishes, Cracked the plates and broke the tumblers. Mid the din and crash and chatter Rat jumped out and swiftly eantered. Sought another place of hiding. Hid again and George was puzzled. Husband tiptoed round to find him. Thought he heard gentle scratching. Faintest scratching OCT the table. Table standing in the corner; Looked and saw his ratship snugly squeezed behind the table. Tightly squeezed up in the corner, Tightly clingiug to the cover. Clinging with his cunning fingers, With his nose just OCT the table, Slyly peeping out at Georgie. Jawgie kno ys not to this writing Whether rat thus slyly peeping. Peeping with his bead-like peppers Peeped in fear or admiration.
 Waiting not to solve the problem Stepping up he swiftly charged i'm, Aimed punch between his peppers. Quick as thought his ratship lodged it, Dropped his head below the cover, Dropped upon the floor and cantered. Csntered as if satan sought him. Husband with extended poker.
 Breathing slaughter. likewise cantered. Cantersd if satan sent him,
 Cantered till fatigued he stumbled. Fell. and never ceased his falling
 Till he upset chairs and tables.
 Dashed a lamp and broke the chimney. Swung his arms and dashed a motto, Knocked the clock and stopped it's ticking And arrested time st midnight.
 Crashed his poker through a chromo. Thrust his weapon through landscape. Dashed his foot and rent the carpet,
 Threw his heels and cracked the mirror Over settee swiftly shooting.
 Shooting like flashing meteor.
 Shooting towards the outer doorway. Dashed his head and valiant shoulders 'ciainst the door and crashed it open. Seeing now lucky opening
 Out jumped rat and quick skedaddlsd. Skipped and hid himself in darkness
 While the conquered man of poker
 Gathered up his prostrate forces
 And uncorked his bottle anger,
 Quoting ancient words and phrases.
 Phrases not to be repeated
 Save when rats and prowling burglars. Frightened wives and irate husbands.
 Meet at night in mad conjunction.
 From that fearful night of poker
 Not a rat or thieving burglar
 Has been near that husbands dwelling. > Nor been heard their midnight gnawing. Gnawing at the outside window. HoRAcl