The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-12

sweep a clean space on the cellar bot
tom, scatter his crumbs and draw up
box to sit on. He had been ready
ten minutes when the rodent appear
ed Mr. Bowser hadn't brought pen
ell and paper, but he made some men
tai notes, Is follows:
Some slight hesitation on the mart
of the rat, but as L smiled he came
forward. 1 am probably the only hu-
man being that ever smiled at a rat.
and the only one to observe the i'm
mediate effect.
RAT is now devouring the crumbs
Seems to have the utmost confidence
in me.
81 uttered a cough and the rat SHE'D
off; I smiled a smile and he returned.
A dog or cat is a fool beside a rat.
''Still eating and his confidence
growing. He looks at me In a way
that says he's willing to be friends
if am.
b 81 can now rise from the chair and
the rat remains undisturbed Is there
any other animal whose confidence
can be won so speedily? Works on
natural history ought to mention this.
'I have been softly humming the
air of a song. Every action of the
rat expresses pleasure. 1 am almost
satisfied that rat could be learned
to MARBLE within few days. If he
can, think what a saving of bird
graveli
81 have just given utterance to sew
eral profane words, and the rat has
retreated several feet and is looking
at me reproachfully. Another point not
made in natural history. Ciergymen
are at liberty to use this incident from
the pulpit if they wish. 1t should have
an instant effect.
st am hunming the air of hymn,
and the rat is almost at my foot and
looking up at me as if he felt emotion.
Can rats be influenced to lead better
lives? If this one shows emotion over
one hymn, what would he show at an
old-fashioned camp meeting? I may
have struck a matter that the whole
world Will soon be arguing about.
II have whistled merry tune at
the rat, and he has become more live
ly. Is 1t possible that their temper
aments the same as in human beingsi
Are there downcast rats and vivacious
rats?"
at the head of the cellar stairs and
called down to know how the rat
question progressed. Mr.. Bowser's
rodent fled at once, and he shouted
up:
Didn't I tell you to keep quiet up
there! Your coming has scared the
rat away. Don't appear again. I'm
getting some pointers that'n knock
the naturalists colder'n a wedge
"And lots of rheumatism" she ad-
ded as she walked away.
For fifteen minutes Mr.. Bowser
hummed whistled and swore, but
without bringing back the rat. We
all know him for a man of patience,
however, and he hung right on. 1t
was very quiet down there, and after
a bit he began to nod. He reused
up two or three times, but the mods
finally became a doze. Then, of
sudden, an awful scream resounded
through the house. Mrs. Bowser
started started down stairs and Mr..
Bowser up. They met in the dining
room. Five or six big rats were cling
ing to him, and his face was ghostly
white and his eyes hanging out.
"Out of the back doori" screamed
Mrs. Bowser as she led the way.
In minute more Mr.. Bowser was
rolling over and over on the grass.
This was more than the rats had bar
gained for, and they cut and run. He
rose up and galloped twice around
the yard, and time Mrs. Bowser caught
| him and sternly said:
you've gone out of the rat bust
ness! Come into the house with me!''
! And it was all of half an hour later
| before he could say to her:
woman, don't think don't under
stand whose hand is in this business,
| and that 1 won't have my revenge
at a proper time"-(Copyright, 1909,
by Associated Literary Press.)