end one back
To your old, loving
Uncle Jack.

Don't you think that the children OUGHT to have had a good time if all
received as dear little valentines as these?

THE VENTURESOME RAT.

He was a fine young rat and lived with his father and mother, and
brothers and sisters in a farm-cellar.

Now this young rat was not of a very quiet disposition. In fact he was
quite gay, and thought the life in the farm-cellar was very dull and
stupid and longed to see more of the world.

He sat near his father and mother one day when they were entertaining a
caller, a stranger who seemed to have travelled all over the world, and
told in a very interesting manner of the many wonderful things he had
seen. "Why," said the caller, "how you can be contented to live as you
do I cannot imagine, and to bring up your children in such ignorance
fills me with surprise. They would learn more in one night prowling
through the big house to which this farm belongs than they will learn
here for the rest of their lives."

After this caller had taken his leave, the young rat decided that he
would venture forth himself. He would that very night visit the big
house and see what was to be seen there. He pretended to cuddle down on
his own bed, and go sound asleep. He was really watching his parents
out of the corners of his wicked eyes, and as soon as they were sound
asleep, off he started. He found his way to the house much more easily
than he had expected; in short, almost before he could believe it, he
was in a fine great pantry. A pantry whose shelves were covered with
such good things to eat as he had never seen. Rich cake, pies, cookies,
and cheese such as he had heard the caller describe. The first nibble
fairly melted in his mouth.

After he had eaten his fill he began looking about the pantry for other
means of amusement. Suddenly he saw a curious thing; it seemed to be a
little house or hut made of wire. Inside the hut was a piece of cheese.
"I really think I have eaten enough," said the young rat, "but if that
cheese is so fine that it is kept in a house by itself it must be very
fine indeed." With these words he crawled into the hole in the side
of the hut and ate the cheese, but when, later, he tried to get out he
could not to save his life.

Hours and hours he remained there until the night passed, and the day
came. Indeed he had fallen into a little nap when he was awakened by a
loud cry. Some one was shouting, "we'