The Rambles of a Rat

hich the cold crept in through the poor boy's tattered dress. "I won't stay here; let us go, let us go!"

"We've no-wheres to go to," replied Bob, in the same dull, lifeless tone. "Never you mind the rats, Billy, them won't hurt you," he added.

Hurt him! not we! If ever I felt pity it was for those ragged little urchins. We were well-fed, but they were hungry; Nature had given us sleek warm coats, but they trembled with cold. It was very clear that it was much harder to them to support life than if they had been rats. I wondered if in this great city there were many such helpless children, and if there were none to care for them!

"I say, Ratto," observed Oddity, licking his soft coat till the beautiful polish upon it made one almost forget its ugly colour, "'tis a pity that these children are so dirty; but may be they are not so particular about such matters as we rats."

In time a sort of acquaintance grew up between me and the ragged boys. We ceased to fear each other, and I would