The Rambles of a Rat

erienced in the doings of man. Once or twice Bob had brought to the shed things which he could not eat and did not wear. I

red with white spots (though the weather was bitterly cold, he never attempted to tie it round

he little lame child, that it seemed to me that never was a creature so wretched as that desolat

h to rest his languid little frame. He was always on the look-out for his brother, as soon as the sky began to darken. Well might he watch on that d

n the soft snow. The flakes were resting on his rags and w

exclaimed, and b

lly. "A big loaf!" and he tore it asunder in hi

ped round the shivering child a warm

ned into joy as he felt the unwonted warmth. "Oh! Bob!" he exclaimed, w

d the boy sank his head down upon his chest, and sob

most frightened by his brother's unwonted emotio

had my fingers in his pocket, and he c

mouth wide open, in alarm. "And did h

seemed ready to burst forth. "And he took me to a baker's, and got me this; and to a shop, and bought me that; and says he, "Has no one taught you to

" inquired Bi

tanding with a row of little chaps afore him. And the gemman put his hand on my shoulder, and spoke for me, and said a many things that I can't remember; but one thing I remember quite well: "You come here every evening," says he, "and you'll be taught

say all that?"

! And to see how gentle and kind he looked, as

m of me?" asked

er was dead and father in jail, and that we had no one to care for us, and tha

much surprised. "And will you

energy than I had seen in him before; "why, i

e me with you too?