Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-05-04
RATS.
BY MATTE M'cAsLAND.

In a small, meanly furnished room in
the third story of tenement building,
Professor Carl Schwartz, teacher of Ger
man and French, as his modest sign on
the outside door indicated, sat in a de-
jected attitude. One slim hand sup
ported his blonde head; the abundant
yellow curls shaded face that was thin
to attenuation, and everything around
betokened extreme poverty.
@Mein Gott, gift hefb, 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 German?n
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 two pupils,
sons of wealthy banker, with the prom
ise of their fathers influence to secure
him more patrons.
There was one @schmall 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 munificent sum, as /
make it 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.
sTis 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-"
1Just 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.
4Yes; but tay take not such leeber-
ties.
America is the land Of liberty even
for rats, 4" laughed Henry. @Whewl look
at that big fellow going up the sink
spout" he continued in a whisper; for,
sure enough, a 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 Ieetle
bit food. He must get it; so must I. /"
@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 2"
queried Henry. We could have done it
easily enough as he ran"
xiii 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
iiffy. Just sprinkle some slices of bread
with arsenic, spread them thickly with
butter, and lay them at the holes.
Butter, butter? no eat butter mien-
self; shpeck juice, viii dat dor"
Spike juicel Oh, you mean lard.
Yes, that win do. But why don't you
eat butter2 I thought everybody liked
it. I'll try you with q buttercup some
day.
aButtercup-cup butter7 Tanks, very
goot-so grateful.
aEIa t1,;y,1ru x-<.,r ovo fynsx,,p e., 49,. L..