The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
Mr. Bat and ibis
 Little Family.

The house was large. with a high arched roof and only one room, and It was per fectly dark, for there were no windows Along the walls were some Irregular little ledges, but there were no chairs or tables, because the family did not need any. No beds, either, and yet the father and mother and two children were sound asleep, and what Is more, they thought their home very nice and comfortable one.
 : Perhaps you think they lay on the floor, but indeed they did just the opposite; they hung from the roof with their heads downl
 These queer creatures slept all day, and at night went out to take the air, for they were a family of bats and lived 'n cave Their bodies were covered with very soft short fur, but their wings were quite bare, not feathered like birds.
 One evening the bat family were skim ming about In the air. catching mosquitoes and gnats for their supper, when they hap pened to fly in among some people who were having tea in a garden. The ladies jumped up and screamed and put pocket handkerchiefs over their hair. as If they thought the bats meant to hurt them. Then boy ran around calling out, "Bat, bat, come under my hat.' But the little crea- lures did not care to do that.
 Don't let them catch you" said Mir. Bat to his children, flor they are cruel"
 One of the little ones, however, got so
 
 mistake, and the boys rushed Indoors to catch it. They could hear the swishing sound of Its wings as it flew round and round near the ceiling, and they tried to hit the helpless creature with brooms and umbrellas. Faster and faster 1t circled In the dark hall until the boys grew dizzy, and one of them called out:
 "Oh. get a lamp; we cannot see in the dark!'
 It seemed as If the bat understood what was said for as soon as the door was opened 1t swooped down right into the boys face, and with parting slap flew out over his head
 free once more in the fresh airl It did not need any light, but went skimming about until 1t found It's family again.
 "Oh, my dear,'' said the mother, "I thought you were going to be killed and stuffed and put in a foolish collection! Boys never seem to think that animals like to live and enjoy themselves in their own way. We do not hurt people, and yet they want to kill us."
 ''That is because they know so little" said MT Bat, who was combing his fur with his long claws, and keeping his eyes open for mosquitoes at the same time. After he had swallowed choice morsel he said, wisely: My children, you will often hear one person call another as blind as bat vet we can see in the dark, while they have 10 walt for light. How much better to be A bat. People tell all kinds of foolish tales about us. They say we try to fasten our claws in womens hair and that large pats will even kill children and suck their bloodi'
 "oh, papa" cried the baby bats; why do they tell such stories? We VIII nave nothing more to do with them
 .sThat Is the best plan" said the mother. Don't trouble your little heads about them, but come and have another race be, , fore day dawns and 1t Is time to go to bed.'
 Then the whole family went chasing each other merrily over the lawns and sweet scented flower beds, across the ponds where frogs were croaking musieally. while mosquitoes danced in the air, and before daybreak the bats were so tired that they stopped at the first hollow tree, went into the trunk, hooked themselves up by their hind legs and folded their wings. In few minutes their little black eyes closed ana the funny family went off to sleep.