The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-08-01
RATS.
BY MATTE M'cAsLAND.

the outside door indicated, sat in de-
jected attitude. One slim hand sup
ported his blonde head; the abundant
yellow curls shaded a face that was thin
to attenuation, and everything around
betokened extreme poverty.
"Mein Gott, gift helb, muttered the
professor, for know not what to dol
Pupils can not get; food must have.
All, America, what has thou here for the
poor German2"
AS though in answer to his question
there was a sharp, quick rap at the door.
His handsome face flushed eagerly; he
arose, and with the courtly grace of
Chesterfield, ushered in his visitors,
stately old man and two bright boys.
In ten short minutes from the time of
their entrance the happy German found
himself the proud possessor of twopupils,
sons of wealthy banker, with the prom
Use of their fathers influence to secure
him more patrons.
There was one Sschmall leetle cloud"
as the poor professor mentally declared,
in this sudden burst of sunlit sky.
II will pay at the end of the first
quarter" the banker had said, fixing
what seemed a munifcent sum, "as ]
make it a rule never to pay for thing
till get it," and Carl could only muir
muir, dot ish right"
The father departed, leaving his sons
for their first lesson, and after it was
over the professor fell to conversing about
the dear "faderland, and his experience
since coming to America. Among other
things he mentioned the rats.
"Tis ish goot room for tenn, SO many
holes; ven shleep tay run over me like
rabbits; likes not such bedfellows. Tay
alway works at tere pishness-"
Just like mechanics, interjected one
of the boys.
Observation-Disclosures? Tay be
better much; tay puts in full time-never
go on shtrike."
"Are there no rats in Germany" asked
John, the elder brother.
"Yes; but tay take not such leeber-
ties"
America is the land of liberty even
for rats, laughed Henry. "Whew! look
at that big fellow going up the sink
spoutl" he continued in whisper; for,
sure enough, fine specimen of the
rodent tribe had whisked out into full
view, soon disappearing again at sight of
the boys.
"De poor brave ratl" mourned the pro-
fessor. "He face death to get Won leetle
bit food. He must get it; 30 must /.
"There is no need of facing death in
this country, said John lightly. II
wouldn't do it; I'd go hungry, or else
live on bread and cheese.
"Why didn't we kill that fellow?n
queried Henry. 1--WE could have done it
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, butterP 1 no eat butter mien-
self; shpeck juice, will dat do?"
Spike juicel Oh, you mean lard.
Yes, that will do. But why don't you
eat butter? thought everybody liked
it. I'll try you with buttercup some
day"
"Buttsrcup-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-
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"
80 do /, and he seems such a gentle
man. Let us ask cook to make up a
basket Of goodies, and leave it at his
door tonight. He can think it is
present from the rats. f"
Agreed" said John.
Accordingly, that evening the little
dark entry outside the professors door
was gTaced with basket fit for a 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. SI
hear him shutting about getting into his
clothes. He must have gone to bed early,
IN hopes of sleeping away his hunger.
Now, once morel"
Together they set up a doleful wall, as
though it came from the very depths of
rat misery, winding up in the falsetto
key.
De poor leetle ratl 1t makes not me
joy to hear such large sorrow. I viii
heal the pains if I can. What means me
this?" as he opened the door and his
eyes fellupon the basket. Compliments
of a friendt, reading the card attached.
"Who is mein friendt? It not matter
Cost is mein friendtl Dot ish so nice, so
good, he continued, peering beneath
the cover But de rats, de poor, little
sorrowful rats, have gone away. l can
not share my joy NIT dem; Won leetle
bite might shtop de pains. "
The boys waited to see the door close
behind the happy professor and the big
basket, and then started for home, hav-
ing enjoyed their fun.
The next day they brought trap, a
wire cage with a 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 oneln exclaimed both boys.
~But why don't you kill it2n
xiii Won poor leetle animal, so nice,
and so pretty"
We'll, il he hasn't been feeding it2"
interrupted John.
-Only Won leetle bit bread and cheese.
keep 1t a captive Won shmall while. den
let 1t 90 10 tell de oder rats how dreadful
1t is to be taken in a trap.
Not 80 very dreadful 10 be housed and
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