Ye see, I stole these from the Jardin de Plants. But I told
the animals over there that they were fer the Elephant and they said
that was all right. Are ye in bed? Now I am goin' ter suppress de
candelabra. [Blows out candle.] Whew! listen to it rain. How the rain do
be runnin' down the legs of this here house. That's first class thunder
too. Whew! that's no slouch uv a streak uv lightnin' nuther. Here, calm
down there, gentlemen, or ye'll topple over this edifice. Time ter sleep
now, good-night. Shut yer peepers!"
"Oh, sir?"
"Hey?"
"What's that noise?"
"Why--it's--rats."
"Oh, sir."
"Hey?"
"What is rats?"
"Oh--rats--is--mice."
"Sir?"
"Hey?"
"Why don't you get a cat?"
"Oh--I--I did have--a cat and--and the rats eat 'er up."
"Boo-hoo. Will they eat us up too?"
"Ah--no--they won't eat you. You ain't got enough meat on you. Besides I
got 'em all screened off with a wire. They can't get at ye. See here--Ef
yer goin' ter be afraid, take hold er my hand an' I'll lay down long
side o' yer and go ter sleep--Now I fergot ter tell you gentlemen that
when ye wake up--I'll be gone, fer business calls me early, but ye're to
make this yer home jes' as long as yer wants ter and come here jes'
whenever yer wants ter.
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