What a capital little house this is!" Mr. Rat called out cheerily "So compact! So well plamled !

Everything here and cvcrything in its place! We ll make a jolly night of it. The first thing we

want is a good fire; I ll scc to that--I always know where to find things. So this is the

parlor? Splendid! Your own idea, those little sleeping-bunks in the wall? Capital! Now, I ll

fetch the wood and the coals, and you get a duster, Mole--you ll find onc in the drawer of the kitchen

table--and try and smarten things up a bit. Bustle about, old chap!"

Encouraged by his inspiriting companion, the Mole roused himself and dusted and polished with

energy and heartiness, while the Rat, running to ,and fro with armfuls of fuel, soon had a cheerful blaze

roaring up the chimney. He hailed the Mole to come and warm himself; but Mole promptly had ,another fit

of the blues, dropping down on a couch in dark despair and burying his facc in his duster.

"Rat," he moaned, "how about your supper, you poor, cold, hungry,weary animal? I ve nothing to

give you--nothing--not a crumb!"

"What a fellow you are for giving in!" said the Rat reproachfully."Why, only just now I saw a sardine-

opener on the kitchen dresser, quite distinctly; and everybody knows that means there arc sardines about

somcwhere in the neighborhood. Rouse yourself!. pull yourself together, and come with me and forage:

They went and foraged accordingly,hunting through every cupboard and turning out every drawer.

The result was not so very depressing after all, though of course it might have been better; a tin of

sardines--a box of captain s biscuits, nearly full and a German sansage encased in silver papcr.

"There s a banquct for you! observed the Rat, as hc arranged the table~ "I kalow some animals who

would give their cars to be sitting down to supper with us tonight!"