New-York tribune., 1907-07-28

Dick Rss CITY boy, and when he went for long
rst % his cousin Ned. who lived IN the country.
= found there were many kinds OF living things IN
ne world ne had never heard of before. Ned was
- yearE older than Dick. who was only seven.
y could tel him so many things he did not know
cst he felt quite sure no other boy eyer had such
~onderf1l cousin as he. Among other things.
Nsd tod Dick about the r1u=kratz that had their
h'nes above The dam in the little stream ~ the
''t Of the - on whioa Eed's house stood. They
t2Fted = d.- into the banks ~ the river under
fs'sT, Ned said. and when they had made tUn-
= few feet long then they dug nice big
ION al the end of Il. and made bed of dry
rsss and leaves there for the young mgskrats.
'as day the boys were sitting on the bank Of The
'e~fn watching for . sight of ono Of these little
~7ztures wte1 Ned suddenly remembered hav-
g Seen somewhere about the place = couple q
.-skret traps that had not been used for q long
s Why Shouldn't they set the traps and catch
',re rats, 81 Dick could have good look ~ them
NaA Geilgn'ed with triG plan. as ne was with
:. e-4hg A<1 proposed and ~ once they started
- -ook for Tie traps. when they were found
4. oys So them below the dam whore Ned sad
H., seen tho rats come cut n rha water 20
rsz, .or some ~ the roots they ike 10 eat. The
D. lloFhlnE there was rat IN each trap and
,,- ~ :. very PROUD when ne was allowed %
-, then- Ned set the traps again because he
s.asht il would be nl-e for him and D.ck to
a., L.i caps fhe next winter made from tho
-. :" ann ais they had caught Themselves.
tzb, - lllas the boys went 10 look ~ tho
hr t NE bait of 0ue. an apple, had been nibbled,
sLo.flag mad been caught. While they were
,s,, --e hcW iHiz could have happened TWO baby
q. >. an an toward them and one % thom went to
bvr ne uapE and began TO bite the apple. Tn"
tsbr -, esteH - sec II caught but. peing only
q ~ Aent weight had effect on the spring
es-. zap ard n cece ped guLurt. Before long
rs - nea1e with bcudlike ewes appeared In
sn.ss,e' ana soon half dozen baby muskrats were
tr 80 game - tag, swimming, diving, jump
cE,urba Ii-i-n2 3D. and n the water quite un-
pls,,' ~ me nearuesE Cf the boys. Ned threw
inns - aIilN INTO the water and the six rat
tie, ~ ~ There was II Iitfle Eclfnc and some
G. 81 given by sharp teeth but az last one
roas --s'tef carried the coveted dainty 10 a
rrsssgT - The boys and proceeded 20 dcvour
tspe -, iAen The boys threw more pieces ~
tsss,sd = y tis time they we're much in
sss CO. 'te playful little animals that they
te ,,s,. L't 10 throw anything 10 them near
te - 10r fear They might bc caught When
On dfr HalI'rs were al last called 20 their
.eger, :, lify decided Llat the surest way 20
,the ~ rats beng caught during taei! 'to-
asM E. ~ carry their cruel Instruments with
Sysd theres fte ''5 ~ went 81" al nome '"''
ssout ~ -'@H an exciting story 10 tcH at dinner
&c To il'fire n Tie mCruinF. Ned's father
Y Tie ,g NC rats were probably the chIdt'n
.srsnts ID ~ ones they had caugat When the
&c left :. ~ - com" back H. the little ones they
g fsr th.E 'E park nest Al horne. there was moth
g Out b. = - 90. "leu they were hungry. bur 10
= II 'ilh-iyes and look for something To
-.1n hs. lastieE auo mother had u.cd they
i ssn bso '-A iskfn put at the proper tiue and
i sTs esnos.eL told about al the things that
i VI Eos,ll ''NA - uIaErate biz agI little. and
.tn a. :. nave been taugl.t "a die ana swim rs
i ssHgs an could for home when any Of these
= - ollses g u WIS because the little rats had
->sl iass 80 20 into the world without this edu-
-sa Lsa Lot been afraid OF the boys.