The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-09-13
RAPPEICHEN.,

In the market nIace OF n large CITY stood
a stone house many years old. In the
first fioor OF this building lived Count
Stern, who was q very wealthy man. but
who had neither wife nor child, and lived
entirely alone In his handsome rooms. On
the second mercl ant by the name OF
Zimmet made his home. He was not so
rich as the Count, but his wife and little
daughter Olga added much to his happi-
mess, and the small family lived very con-
tently. Among Olga's pets was large,
white cat called Schnurrdiburr. which was
noted for its excellence In catching mice.
On the top floor OF the old stone house
lived tho tailor Schnapps, whose purse
was ever empty. and whose healthy fam
lily OF boys and girls was always hungry.
Above the tailor's residence was loft.
whore Schnurrdiburr loved to wander on
moonlight nights. and here he often met
his friends. at which time the cats would
sing In such d manner that any one who
heard them imagined them to be In great
agony: but that was not the fault 81 the
cats, for they had clear strong voices, but
had never had the proper training.
Under the foot-board in the tailor's
workship. lived a large family OF mice.
They had chosen this place for their homo
because the tailor greatly disliked cats
and would never allow Schnurrdiburr In
his room, Thus. ali the mice Of the second
and third stories sought refuge in the
tailor's apartment. But they did not en-
Joy q very bountiful living: for work was
often scarce. and the hearty children left
very little Of any food that was brought
into the house.
One time. the mice were so hungry that
they stole the bread and cheese which the
tailor had put away for his dinner. This
made the man 90 angry that he said to HE
daughter Katrine: 4 8
Tomorrow you might 70 to Merchant
thinner and borrow his cat and 1t will not
take Schnurrdiburr long to rid US Of these
thieving mice"
The poor little mice, from their place
behind the foot board, heard these words,
and trembled with fear: for they knew
what sharp claws and teeth the mer-
chants cat had. That night a family
council was held, and an old mouse. who,
on account Of her age and wisdom. was
called the counsellor, thus spoke while all
the others kept q respectful silence:
I'VE have q cousin Knuppchen, who, pro-
yided with every luxury, lives on the first
floor OF this building In the Counts room.
Since Schnurrdiburr's arrival none OF us
dare to visit our relatives, for more than
twenty OF our number have persisted by
this cruel enemy. l know not whether
our cousin still lives. but il he does he viii
be able to help us. He knows OF a clest OF
gold which was buried In the cellar wears
ago by an old miser. who is long since
dead. Knuppchen. thinking to find bacon,
once gnawed a hole in his chest aud was
much ciisappointed to find gold. OF course
the god Is no use TO mice but we could
Give n con,le If nIecas IN tha tailor n ha
would promise to keep the cat out of his
APARTMENT"
..But how are we to do this?. asked one
mouse. eagerly.
4 shall tell Won" renlied the counsellor.
"Katrine,s doll Nina IL very pood to ms.
and often shares her sumner with us RAN
neIchen snail 90 to her and tell her our
plans. Katrine ALWAYS takes her doll to
hed With har and in tha NIGHT for that is
the only time dolls can talk-M Nina will tell
the little ujrI what we nronose To do. In
the morning Katrina will relate her dream
~ bar fatbar and thns the tailor will hear
~ onr uish II cave onr lives ~ giving him
e,nld and sureiv Ia will nitv nso
All the mice were willing ia profit nv the
,,,,,,,sa,lor,a yrords ana a aoor - ina
tailn,,a family had GOTTEN miet Tar tha
.nir-ht Rannelchan Grant ~ tha had WHARF
q & me ia, yvith her doIl claanad II her
aryns The hrava littIe, monse told Ma
story witch Nina ~ once u hispered n mar
yonrg mistresa, ear n the morning the
iittla gi,l aid.
~ fa,ha,. / have 10, s,,cb /. .trarra
dres,n r tbongbt that the mica were N
e,raat tro,,hIa bacansa Won bad tnld ma
f. r. 4 ,,;ng Schnnrrs,ihurr here and tbay
soid tsaf II s,on will Eear tina cat arav -
.Jay thav viii hrinu ne gold :
~, 8 said tha faiIor IT bava yary ~
+,a saitb IN drasTna. hnt w., a., 49, /, ~,
sSo,st :, and Saa,, tba ~ o,t - AZ ~. y
n tie aSternnon Katr,na said ~ "a
AT. $50 80
.sni;na ar ooino - Afarohan4 ~,
,oa,es roo,n hut can,o, 4aaa ,,o,, NTH
nc a. y, s,oina - no !. ,s;th Sohnnr al
h,,rr ~ 90 that ha connn, r,n oS.ar .ha
w., = ~ -" 'A'o
Tba ,o,oo Hs+enad With doI;oh. - thaso
words. and ) moment later Rannalcbsn
started on MS way TO I0e nrSL nOor, where