Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-28
FOR THE kuNesHlP OF RATLAhD

l.
nail; great fight for the kingship of
Ratland
The parties contending we're Long
tail and Sharp-tooth. The two fam
lilies had long been hostile, and as
they increased in numbers and power
the time had come to decide which
should rule in the domain of Andrus
Barn
The first trouble had grown out OF
change of residence on the part OF
Long-tail. The Sharp-tooth family
had located itself in fine corner
near the barn stable, and the building
of new granary beyond the very par
tition where Sharp-tooth had his front
gateway made the spot very desirable
Property went UP in that section OF
the barn so rapidly that the Sharp
tooths felt themselves becoming mil
lionaires without turning claw.
The fame of the Granary region
spread in time down to the far end
of the hay loft, where the Long-tails
resided Now the Long-tails were nu-
merous, strong -boned and sinewy.
1t seemed absurd that the Sharp
tooths should get such start in life
when they were no better than the
Long-tails Indeed, they were not so
good could the Sharp-tooth family
trace their ancestry back to the rats
that came over in the Mayfower?
Clearly no. Therefore they must be
nut down from the pride of their
nouveau-richness, and the Long-tails
must do this thing.
The Sharp-tooth family, meanwhile,
was ignorant of this growing jeal-
ousy, and on the night when the
wheat was first stored in the complet-
ed granary it issued invitations to
gnawing bee, the results of the
nights labor to be hole leading
from the Sharp-tooth domain through
the new boards into the granary
Thereafter. those who assisted were
: to be allowed one hour week in the
wheat bin.
Every rat in the Andrus barn was
there big and little, gray and
brown. All the smaller and less i'm
portant families arrived punctually
. to the minute the Long-tails came
late They stood aloof, tall, stalWar1
> and gloomy until the sign for gnaw
ing began. when they fell to with
will. Father Long-tail was at thu
head his wife and sons and daugh
o tiers close behind
The others were fired by thel
splendid example and took thel
q turns at the front. The hole advanced
rapidly. and just as the rooster crow
ed in the neighboring henyard, her
. aiding daylight, the teeth of the ad
!, vance guard bit the air of the gran
r. airy.
/, A cheer went up from the crow
: and they fell to with renewed energ!
n Just as the sun rose, the task wa
completed and the hole nicely con
cealed from the searching eyes
Farmer Andrus. And now steppe
forth Father Long-tail, towering an
m majestic.
" 81 call upon Father Sharp-tooth t
=. do battle with me for possession G
n the territory lying around the graz
a ary hole. He is only squatter. Yo
r.. can show no deed by which he Is 81
Il titled thus to keep the rest OF us |
,e poverty and subsection. Who is n
that we should gnaw holes for HI
pleasure and profit? One hour wee
forsooth! Come out, Father sharl
tooth, and let this be battle OF hol
Sc or to the strongest
Honor" Kissed Father Shar
40 tooth, aroused to a fire Of indignation
30 you call it honor to do battle Il
as nv own? Am l accountable for the
cation of the granary? Honor"
st Bitterly Father Sharp-tooth groun
those sharp teeth OF his.
TX "You may take your choice sa
Father Long-tail, calmly, Either ye
lg. fight with me, or / and my famll
which numbers twice your own, WI
Dr. fall upon you and annihilate you
male female, the aged and the ln1al
,r- none shall be spared.
Then arose Father Sharp-tooth. al
It's his eye glittered.
"Re il SOL" he Numbered forth.
IL. have not your size and muscle, but
have courage and my teeth are shar
th likewise my good sword. Let the fal
lilies not interested in this QUAR-
it'll choose the arena and let them S
that there is fair play"
it'll The barn floor was hastily decld'
upon and a ring was formed. Pa
lth but with nerves of steel, Faith
= Sharp-tooth faced his burly opponel
nd A feint or two and the fight was c
for life or death.
18th Jaws clashed and claws claiche
fur flew and blood flowed Little
an. little Father Long-tail forced his
versary toward the barn do
18th Through the door, out of the dc
they fought. Into the open va
ran where the COWS looked on In anna
ment Then two other wonderi
Yet spectators arrived Jock and Jenl
With towsled heads and shining ey
SKIS just out Of bed, they looked on fro
the barnyard gate. The other II
18th skunk away as these human childr
appeared but not Father Long-tail a
nth Father Sharp-tooth. Their eyes We
filled with the blood of battle; tn
,me saw nothing but their own vanta
and disadvantage.
ook Jock and Jenny came on and ste
close by; the combatants saw tn
wn, not. On, on, toward the hen-ho'
s. wall Father Long-tail pushed
and weakening opponent.
"Once can get him behind Il
ctor board fence where it is not so bin
light I can see to make an end
yton him." muttered Father Long-tail.
Father Sharp-tooth gave on desr
is ate lunge and then turned despair
. eyes upward. Above him he saw J'
n