Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER HI THE WHITE RATS There's a lesson in the sunbeam, There's a lesson in the flower. There's a lesson in the moonbeam. There's a lesson in every hour. As we look at God's creation, From the tiniest to the great. There's a parable for every one Who watcheth at Life's gate. ONE day, as my Beautiful Lady and Harry and I were busy in the sitting room, we heard a great commotion outside, and running to the window, we saw a number of boys. Arthur seemed to be the ringleader. He was naturally boisterous—a "genuine boy," his mother called him — and whenever he appeared on any scene an awakening was sure to follow. He and another boy were carrying between them a large wooden cage, which they set down on the North porch. We opened the door, and Arthur exclaimed in a loud voice: "I've got some white rats, mamma, and dandies they are, too! Just come and look at them. They have pink eyes and their coats are as soft as silk. They are a regular circus, for they can do many tricks." Rats! Why, any woman is supposed to run away at the very sight of a rat or a mouse. My Beautiful Lady had- been able to make a pet of nearly every creature, but against rats she shared the prejudice of her sex. She did not come very near to the cage, and was doing her best to control her fear. She alwaystried to show that she could be both brave and tender. Arthur took two of the largest rats in his hands and started towards my Beautiful Lady. "Don't come any nearer, Arthur, or I shall scream," she said. Arthur laughed and exclaimed: "Afraid of a tame rat! What harm could they do you? See how they cuddle up to my cheek! They are different from wild rats, but no rat will harm anyone if he is not first attacked. Come, mamma, lay your hand on them and see how cute they are." Bu...