New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-04-19
The Travels Of : White Rat.
By Mitchell Russell.

siderebie literary inclinations and an tmagi'
native turn of mind on the part OF the young
author.)
One evening last summer % ! vas
sitting In the barn at home heard
two rats come into the oats box.
Now one of these rats was an old
white fellow; the other was 9 young
one about half grown.
"Well," said the old fellow, II told
you that I would tell you OF my travels
and some OF my adventures.
"When l vas about your size Twas
the same color as you are now. How
l changed will tell you later. Yes,
when was about your size ! became
dissatisfied with the quiet life OF my
father. wanted something to make
life worth living, so one night l
started out and in the morning found
my self under q sack OF beas on the
wharf at St. Paul.
II was tired after my walk 90 ! cut
a hole in the sack and went to sleep.
Suddenly 1 was awakened by some
loud talking and heard some one US
ing some strong language because I
had cut this sack. he patched the
hole in the sack and threw 1t onto
wagon, jerked it to the side OF . boat
and threw it in. .s
"This sack with a good many others
was packed in the hull of the vessel,
bound for New Orleans.
THAT night wanted 10 explore the
ship was. on, so I cut thru my sack
again and also thru good many
others before l once more could
stretch my legs. That night had q
feast in the kitchen and slept under
the cooks bunk in the day time.
This is the way 1 spent the whole trip.
cine ship pulled up at the wharf
one night in New Orleans and | went
ashore at the first chance. AS soon
as I had landed, fell in with an old
tramp rat. For year we ran about
the city, having q very good time.
"One day we started with whole
drove of rats to board ship that
was tt sail to China. When the
sailors we're not at work We went Into
the ship and established ourselves for
the voyage.
uIt took US six weeks to make the
trip and most of US were very sea-slck
almost all the time, so can't say We
had much fun. But some of my COM
panions who had crossed the ocean
before, did have fun, and they made
all sorts of fun of us for being SO
glum.
"Well, at the end Of the six terrible
weeks we landed in China. When we
had Ianded, one of the Oldest rats who
been there before took us to a place
where he said we would be sale. For
he told US that many Cinnamon eat
rats and we must be careful. This
almost scared the life out Of me and
I wished myself back in America
again.
"For two years We lived in China.
We travelled a good deal and saw
much. but never could forget that
Cinnamon ate rats. This worried me
so much that determined to 20 back
to America or at last to some civilized
country.
"Well, that night left the rest OF
the drove and started out to find a
ship to take me away. After two
months travel l arrived at the sea
shore and started on the hunt for
vessel. At last I found a strange look
ing thing that the people said was 60
ing to Newly ork so 1 determined to go
aboard and wait. The gang plank
was down so ran up and found N.Y.
self in the ships kitchen.
II was looking about and helping
myself to everything eatable in the
kitchen, when all at once I felt strong
hand grasp me about the neck. l
50 uirmed around and saw the yellow
face and slauting eyes of a Cinnamon.
This was enough to make strong
rats hair stand on end, but it turned
mine white, for 1 imagined that the
Cinnamon ate US raw, and I thought
I could feel his teeth in my back.
"This Chinaman must have been Of
a superstitious nature for, as soon as
he saw me turn white, he dropped me
and rushed from the ship and, falling
on the ground in fit, he lay there fol-
a long while.
"After this hid in the ship and was
finally landed safely at New York
Here wandered for many months
but was not satisfied and decided
to 90 west. took one OF the freigh
trains and got as far as Cleveland
Here heard that there was some bag
gage to 60 TO ST Paul, found It and
after some hard gnawing, l managed