The Rat Meeting

A FEW days after Blackie's tail was bitten Mr. Blackrat came through the door of his home almost as fast as a lightning flash. "Why, what can be the matter, my dear? Why so much hurry?" said Mrs. Blackrat, looking up from her work.

"Matter!" said Mr. Blackrat. "I almost lost my head just now,—why, my life is growing to be a daily misery to me. I cannot even go into the pantry for a slice of cake, or a sip of cream, or a bit of cheese, without being jumped at by that old gray cat,—my heart is thumping now like a churn dasher! If we rats ever expect to have any more peace, we have just got to get rid of that cat, or move out!"

"Yes," said Mrs. Blackrat, sweetly, "I know it. Life is hardly worth living since that hateful cat came here. He even bit a piece of Blackie's tail off the other day, and the dear little fellow has never been quite well since. He is still afraid to go out to play. I wish we could do something to get rid of this cat."

"And we shall!" said Mr. Blackrat, snapping his sharp black eyes. "I'll not run from that cat another time! Blackie, my son, run around to every hole in the garret and tell every rat you see to meet me to-night at twelve o'clock on the top pantry shelf. We will talk over a plan to get rid of that gray cat. Run, my son, run! Joy cometh in the morning!" That was Mr. Blackrat's favorite saying.

So Blackie ran, and stopped at every door, and told every rat what Mr. Blackrat had said; and sure enough, that night at twelve o'clock every rat in the Madison Square mansion, from the grayest, grizzliest one to wee little Blackie, Snowwhite, Brownie, and Ringtail, came dressed in their Sunday best.

They sat in rows on the top pantry shelf, and talked and talked and talked and talked, until the crack of dawn, about how they coud get rid of the old gray cat.

At last Mr. Blackrat said, as he stroked his long gray whiskers: "Ladies and gentlemen, a fine idea has struck me, and I have the best of plans. Why not hang a bell around the gray cat's neck? Wherever she goes the bell will ring, and we can then hear her coming, and get out of the way in a graceful manner, without falling over one another and almost breaking our necks in the scuffle!"

"Good! Good! How wonderful! How wise!" cried all the rats in a voice. "A most excellent plan indeed!"

"I think so," said Mr. Blackrat. "Now all who are in favor of this plan will please stand on their heads!" And every  rat stood on his head, with tail on high,—even little Blackie, and Snowwhite, and Brownie, and Ringtail,—all of them stood on their heads.

"Good!" said Mr. Blackrat, when they had all turned back. "Now, one more question: All who are willing to hang that bell around the gray cat's neck will please stand on their heads." And not a single rat moved,—not even Blackie, nor Snow-white, nor Brownie, nor Ringtail. They only sat still and blinked and blinked and looked at one another.

"I could n't," said Blackie; "he might get another bite of my tail."

"No," said Mrs. Blackrat, "I would n't allow Blackie to do such a thing; he is too little, and I have heart trouble, you know."

"And I have my family to take care of—I could n't," said Mr. Fatrat.

"Nor I!" "Nor I!" "Nor I!" came the answers quick and thick. "No, not for anything!"

"Why be afraid?" said Mr. Blackrat; "we are not cowards!"

"Oh, I just could n't," said Ringtail, "because—" But he never finished his excuse, because just then something came creeping, creeping through the pantry door—you know what it was,—the big gray cat,—and with one great bounce he sprang to the pantry shelf, and how those rats did scatter! Mr. Blackrat in the lead—helter-skelter, pell-mell, one right over the other they tumbled, in the most disgraceful manner!

The big gray cat laughed and laughed as he curled down in Mr. Blackrat's seat on the pantry shelf.

"Why be afraid, my friends?" he said. "Hang a bell on my neck, indeed! Ha, ha!"