The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-30
A Short Feast.

EUd LOUett Carson, an HdTper's Young People.
There was once an old rat who lived in a
garrett. He had begun life there, and hav-
ing now large family, he fonnd it incon-
venient to move. But the garrett had one
drawback as place Of residence. 1t was q
long distance from the kitchen, aud the rat,
having to 60 so far to forage for food, found
it not always easy to supply the needs Of his
growing family.
One night he started down the garnet
stairs to find something for supper His
tail sounded thump, thump on every step.
Any one listening could have heard the
patter of his feet through the hall. But
everybody was asleep. The sitting-room
door stood open. AS the rat passed he
glanced In. and noticed a Queerly shaped
bag lying upon the table. He went nearer
to investigate and found a bag of lovely
fresh biscuits-at least two pounds Here
was treasure indeed
"Aha!n cried Mr.. Rat, smacking his lips
~ shall not go down to the kitchen for
supper tonight"
He reflected upon what he had better do.
He could not carry the whole bag up stairs
IL he took the biscuits up one at time, he
would not be able TO secure all of them be-
fore he was discovered. Must he lose this
feast and be content with the two or three
he could eat before mornings
He looked about the room, and his ewes
fell upon the open CRATE, bare and flreless.
1t was only used in the coolest weather.
"Just the thing" said the wise rat.
With biscuit in his mouth he ran up the
flue, and found there a splendid hiding
place. The chimney was filed with bag
of straw. and behind it he secreted the bis
cults. making many journeys, and leaving
only enough in the bag to provide hearty
supper for the young rats after his exer-
tions.
The next morning there was great out
cry among the children. Some one had
eaten the sweet biscuits The bag was
empty!
"Micel" declared Aubrey.
"Nonsensen cried nurse. mo mouse
no, nor ten mice-could eat all those biscuits
in one nightm
But nobody solved the riddle. The rat
family lived high for week and Mr.. Rat
grew fat from finding continual suppers at
such short range.
At the end of the week there came big
snow storm, and then a hard frost. The
house was very cold. Mamma decreed extra
fire in the sitting-room CRATE.
Don't forget the straw bag, Nancy"
said nurse. ITS put into the chimney to
Keep out the wind. but you must take it
down before you start the fire."
Nancy put her arm up the chimney to
pull down the straw bag. one end seemed
quite loose, but the other was wedged in
tight. She gave hard tug, aud the bag
came away 30 suddenly that she tumbled
over backward.
my goodness" cried Nancy.
For after the straw bag followed shower
of SCOT, and then shower of curiously
sha ped objects, which had once been white,
but had grown gray and then black in their
hiding place. But the parties feasting upon
them had never hesitated on that account.
When she had examined them Nancy
called nurse, who was duly surprised, and
then she called the children, who added
"Ohs!" and "Ahs!n to suit the occasion.
"It's them lost biscuits, to be sure ! " pro-
nounced nurse. "And it's that old garnet
rat that's done 1.-THE wretch! hear him
come thumpin' down them garnet stairs
every night"
Presently the fire blazed and roared up
the chimney, and threw flashes of light into
the farthesI corners. That night when the
old garnet rat came down and saw it, his
heart sank down into his toes He knew he
would have to go all the way down TO the
kitchen again to find supper. His royal
time was over.