[THE RATS AND THE MEAL.]
BY PALMER COX.
One summer's night when all was still,
And motionless the wheel,
Some rats ran through the village mill,
And stole a bag of meal.
And hurry-scurry, tooth and nail,
They dragged it to the door,
And then upon their shoulders soon
Away the treasure bore.
But as they hastened from the room,
Along a narrow plank,
The heavy load went in the flume,
And to the bottom sank.
And downward with the bag of meal,
Ere they could loose their hold,
With many a frightened squeak and squeal.
The thieves together rolled.
So then for life they had to swim,
But when they reached the shore,
They dried themselves around a fire,
And vowed to steal no more.
