98

Dick’s faults were few—his virtues many;
He'd crack his nuts when he had any,
And when no other duty found,

_ Would turn his wheel around and round,

But, ah! poor Dick is dead and gone,
And we his fate cannot but mourn ;
His nuts are crack’d, his pranks are done;
His cage stands empty and alone.
Beneath the willow-tree he sleeps;
And William mourns, and Katy weeps;
Affection dug his humble gra
And o’er his head the branches wave.
G. L. 8.

renee aremnewens

Ingenuity of Rats,

HE Rat, that “hateful and rapa-
cious creature,” as Goldsmith
honestly designates it, formerly
abounded in prodigious numbers

at Inverness, in Scotland; and a travel-
er, about the year 1830, describes his
surprise at witnessing the flocks of them
that used to sally out into the streets in
the morning twilight, after dry weather,
succeeded by a shower of rain. It is re-
lated, that about this period, when the
rats increased to a great degree in some
small villages in the Highlands, and
found it difficult to subsist, they used
to creep into the manes and tails of the
horses (which were then generally matted
and tangled, being seldom subjected to
the comb,) and in this way were trans-
ported to other places, to plant new col-
onies, and find fresh quarters,

This mode of conveyance, was certain-
ly dexterous and’ ingenious; but did our
readers ever see or hear of a party of
rats stealing eggs? The process is this.
The roost being discovered, and the
rats mustered, one of the fraternity,

THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

generally of goodly port and dimensions,
lies down on his back, and holds the egg
within his four limbs, embracing it closely

and cordially. His brethren then pull

him off by the tail, each taking his turn
im dragging the live machine, like the

| populace at the carriage of a “great

man,” who, it is probable, may be of a
kindred species.

A gentleman in the country informed
us, the other day, that he was greatly
amused at observing, one morning, the
dexterity and perfect fairness with which
a small band of these mischievous in-
truders were feasting in his dairy. A
pretty capacious dish of milk had been
set out, long enough for considerable
cream to rise upon the surface; and the
rats, finding the prize, immediately com-
menced skimming the dish. One of
them stood up against the dish, and an-
other mounted his shoulders in due
form, like school-boys preparing to plun-
deran apple-tree. He then whisked his
tail over the surface of the bowl, and
turning round, held it to his expectant
companions below, who stripped it of
its treasure. This was repeated for some
time ; then another took his place, occa-
sionally shifting the position; and after
they had all skimmed the dish, they
scampered off in the morning sunshine,
to burrow in their holes and corners.—
Inverness Courier,

ALEXANDER THE Great valued learn-
ing so highly, that he used to say,
“ that he was more indebted to Aristotle
for giving him knowledge, than to his
father Philip for life.”