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Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1932, Page 17 (Supplement)

The merchant’s daughter, Alice, was so nice to poor Dick that told xer all about hmself. How he had come to London to pick up gold, and how he desired to become'a rich merchant. „ “I'm sure, Dick,” said Alice, “that one day you will be a very great man. “Of course he will,” said Ragamuffin. - I’m afraid Dick was a long time getting that cabbage

Dick had spent rather a long time in the garden with l Alice, and, when he returned to the kitchen with the cabbage, the cook had plenty to say about “What have you been doing?” she cned. „ pk And then she grumbled at the cabbage, and continued to bully poor Dick aS th? rest of the Sy. Of course, Ragamuffin received his share of the coo.s wrath. " *

Poor Dick was pleased to get away from the cook to his bedroom that evenag. And what a bare bedroom it was Right up in the attic. Dick sat on the bed ’“?t e Srtahdy iStTwh oT said Ragamuffin. “But it smells nice to me.” s ; “Why?” asked Dick. , n “Mice,” answered Ragamuffin. “Hundreds of them.

Dick lay down on his bed that night, feeling very tired and dispirited, but ne was not allowed much sleep. As soon as it grew dark, there was a tremendous scampering across the floor. In the moonlight he saw Ragamuffin jumping all over the place, and the mice darting down their holes as fast as they/could. Dick did fall asleep in the end, but Ragamuffin was busy the whole night.

Dick did not find much happiness in life during the first few weeks he worked for the merchant, for the cook bullied him day after day. Ragamuffin, however, thoroughly enjoyed himself catching mice. . “I’ve never had such fun,” he told Dick one day, when Dick was cleaning boots. “I’ve chased every mouse in the house into the cook’s room, and they are keeping her awake every night.”

As the days went by and the cook grew more bad-'tempered, Dick longed for the fresh green fields more and more. One evening, while gazing out of the att.c window, he said to Ragamuffin: "I’ve made up my mind to leave here to-mgnt. ' “Good gracious,” cried Ragamuffin, great concerned. What about leavUg ‘Tcan’t help it,” said Dick. "I won’t stay a moment longer.”