THEIR NIGHT OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 8

THEIR NIGHT OUT

(Original, by "Jfom-de-Plume," for the Fairy Eing.) ALL was dark. All was quiet. It was the last night of tho Old Year. But hush! Deep down in an evil cellar of an old "house in onr com-' munity a plotting was going on. That stifled place was haunted with noisy squeaks. Tiny screeches in rat language were the debates of a hundred rats that had squirmed, through their holes and had crept along dirty channels and watery drains to collect together for the purpose of" proposed war, and likely plunder following the conquest. " . ' The time had arrived for action. Only a little previously two venturesome cousins inspected closely a morsel of cheese. Alas! Their beadyeyes had not seen the trap. 'VThe humans had dared to laugh at this—had they?" ' ..•.-•.-■ Old Great Great-Grandfather rat sat on a cobwebby coal, stroking his beard with his paw. All the uncles mused and argued, while the aunts haggled disgracefully. Baby Rat played with his tail. - ' Tho air was smelly, but the visitors appeared not to mind. A point of silver light stared fixedly at them. It was the tiny, ragged hole they had all scrambled through. At last over broken bottles and aged logs they scampered. That 'pinprick of light became now a bright, flickering exit as they came nearer. They all rushed upon it, in a mass of confusion, tho ladies all mixed up -with the f men. But order was called for. Then, crawling one after another, they camo to the opposite side. The moon grew large, and 'tho huddled group showed up in all sizes and colours. • " Great.' Great-Grandfather was. not going with-them. He issued orders to them from the light of tho hole. In phantom stealth they scuiried alone the sidewalks till they came to their destination—a shop where always was offered the most tempting supper. Under the broken door and they were there! •■■■-.■.■ * Then havoc began its tale. Squeak, squeak! Scratch, gnaw!" No doubt they were all expressing their appreciation of the lobsters so amply provided, and the cheese and the pork. Perhaps they were saying midst their swallows and gulps: "How cLoice—how'sweet!" No doubt they were But next morning—oh, next morning! Mr. Greengrocer was angered beyond words. I knew Mr. Greengrocer; in fact, I was his assistant I was immediately sent for, following that catastrophe, and "Holiday or no holiday," Mr. Greengrocer cried, "come and cleanup!" And clear no I did, until night again began its reign. ■ . All was quiet as the last night. The pool-of light that streamed underneath tho broken door of the shop was suddenly. blackened for a moment "Sniff, sniff!" a tiny monse? No; 'twas Baby Eat. He had come back upon the scene. "How deplorably clean everything is now," he piped. "Sniff, sniff. Something smells sweet. Sniff; sniff!" -He had arrived at a closed drawer. Very small it was, and quite easy to open. Baby Eat strained and strained until it was open. ' "Flour, sugar. Oh, bread!" He jumped in and dined richly, consuming all that loaf. Then he rolled drunkenly out and along to a corner, whorl he lolled in ecstasy. It had been a-wonderful feast. ' Next day,,moro work. "All for a solitary rat, I declare," the Greengrocerman bawled. I started, to tidy up Baby Rat's drawer, when I came upon a little, tarnished sixpence. "Who'd 'a' thought!" I exclaimed. I claimed it for myself, of course, and blessed Baby Eat for revealing it. So I polished that precious coin up till it shone and;shone. Evea the largest rats can't tackle a. sixpence on their night out. -■■■.■••■■