The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-08-07
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querleu henry. we could have done II
easily enough as he ran"
@Kill him? What for you kill him he
/, no mean HARM.
You are too good to your rats, pro
] fessor; that is what makes them SO tame
and impudent. I'd finish them up in a
jiffy. Just sprinkle some slices of bread
with arsenic, spread them thickly with
butter, and lay them at the holes.
"Butter, butter? 1 no eat butter mien-
self; shpeck juice, viii dat do?n
Spike juicel Oh, you mean lard.
Yes, that will do. But why don't YOU
eat butter? I thought everybody liked
it. I'll try you with buttercup some
day.
"Buttercup-cup butter2 Tanks, very
goot-so grateful.
He thinks you are going to give him
butter, whispered John. "He means a
little flower, he added aloud.
! Ma fois; La rose, de leetle flower. die
rose; excuse me, murmured the pro-
i fessor, confusedly mixing his French.
German, and broken English together.
Henry" said John, as they walked
home together, II like that man. and
believe he is actually hungry.
SO do !, and he seems such eentle-
man. Let us ask cook to make up a
basket of goodies, and leave it at his
door tonight. He can think it ia a
present from the rats"
Agreed" said John.
Accordingly, that evening the little
dark entry outside the professors door
was graced with basket fit for king.
After depositing it the boys crouched in
the shadows and began making sounds
that were very good limitations of the
rats squeals.
He's coming" whispered John. II
hear him shuffiing about getting into his
clothes. He must have gone to bed early.
in hopes of sleeping away his hunger.
Now, once more!"
Together they set up doleful wall, as
though it came from the very depths Of
rat misery, winding up in the falsetto
key.
De poor leetle rati It makes not mo
JOY to hear such large sorrow. I viii
heal the pains if can. What means me
this?" as he opened the door and his
eyes fellupon the basket. Compliments
of friendt," reading the card attached.
"Who is mein friendt? It not matter
Gott is mein friendti Dot ish so nice, SO
good" he continued, peering beneath
the cover. But de rats, de poor, little
sorrowful rats, have gone away, / can
not share my joy init dem; Won leetle
bite might shtop de pains.
The boys waited to see the door close
behind the happy professor and the big
ing enjoyed their fun.
The next day they brought trap,
wire cage with drop door, showed their
teacher how to bait it, and placed it in a
corner. Upon coming to receive their
third lesson, the trap contained very
comfortable looking captive.
Caught onel" exclaimed both boys.
But why don't you kill it?"
Kill Won poor leetle animal, SO nice,
and SO pretty"
"Well, if he hasn't been feeding it?"
interrupted John.
"Only Won leetle bit bread and cheese.
! keep it captive Won shmall while, den
let it go to tell de oder rats how dreadful
it is to be taken in trap"
Not so very dreadful to be housed and
fed like this, is it, you old gray sinner?"
said Henry, poking at the rat through
the wires with a small stick.
The animal uttered several sharp
squeals and almost Immediately another
one, a large, powerful looking fellow,
ran out from the wall, seized the stick
in his teeth, and snapped it in two. He
then caught the cage and actually
draggedit, with its occupant to the hole,
and gave it two or three quick jerks in
his efforts to get it through.
well done, my brave fellow!" said
Henry, clapping his hands.
" A rat with such a champion deserves
its freedom, declared John.
The professor said not word, but
stepping forward raised the trap door,
and the slim gray tail soon twinkled out
of sight.
y say, Henry, let us not be outdone by
q rat, said John, as they walked home
together. at risked its life for friend.
Our poor friend, the professor, needs
little help Father is too good business
man to pay him a cent till he has earned
it, but we can spare him our pocket
money for the next three months.
THAT we can!"
He can live nicely upon it till he
earns his salary"
So it was quietly arranged. Not much
Of sacrifice you will say, the loss of
pocket money for three months; but just
such little things make up the sum of
life that is worth living.