540 INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A RAT. 



Rev. J. Winterbotham's travels. How I came there, and in what man- 

 ner Mr. Winterbotham's amusing adventures got there also, I will, with 

 your permission, proceed to state. But let me tell you, Mr. Editor, in 

 the first place, that had I not been fired by the glowing colours in 

 which Mr. Winterbotham paints the marvellous events, which happened 

 to him in his renowned journey (for I can assure you it is much talked 

 about), the idea would never have entered into my head of publishing 

 the true history I am about to relate, and my valuable lucubrations would 

 thus have been lost to the world. 



I was born in a hay-loft, over some livery-stables in Trinity St. Leeds, 

 and with nine brothers and sisters my young ideas there first " learnt to 

 shoot." I shall not weary your readers with a detail of the various 

 perils I ran, and of the numberless " hair breadth 'scapes" I had, before 

 I arrived at " the years of discretion ;" nor the ridiculous adventures 

 which befell me owing to my inexperience. I write this with a different 

 motive; to instruct the minds of my fellow rats, as well as to afford 

 amusement to the human animals, if they should condescend to read my 

 narrative. 



Having been out one night on a foraging party, and having been 

 pretty successful, I, and three or four other " choice spirits," were trot- 

 ting homewards as the morning's gray and flickering beam just began to 

 appear ; and all being jovial and ready for a lark, we determined not to 

 go soberly to bed, without some frolic at least. Journeying on, unde- 

 termined what to do, we arrived opposite Trinity Church. Having often 

 been struck with the magnificent height of the spire, which appeared to 

 me to touch the clouds, and being moreover of an adventurous disposi- 

 tion, I thought now was the time to satisfy my curiosity now was the 

 time to explore this lofty pile, raised in honour of our common Maker. 

 I imparted my thoughts to my companions, and it .was immediately 

 agreed upon, and we forthwith entered the church. After playing our 

 gambols in the middle isle some time, we took a comfortable rest on the 

 pulpit cushion, and held a consultation what was next to be done. I 

 proposed to ascend the spire, and off we all scampered up-stairs, until our 

 legs were quite weary. At length, however, we arrived at the top, and 

 here I must pause to describe the delight and wonder I then felt at the 

 scene before me. Having never explored further than the neighbouring 

 streets to where I was born, I had acquired the idea that Leeds was the 

 whole world, and that I knew the greatest part of it : conceive my asto- 

 nishment at now beholding around and beneath me, houses and streets 

 innumerable, spires, domes, and magnificent buildings of all descriptions, 

 of which being utterly ignorant until that time, I could by no 

 means have credited ; and extending my view further, I saw, as far as 

 the eye could reach, the most beautiful scenery imaginable. The sun 

 was just rising in its Phcebean splendour, giving brilliancy and light to 

 all around ; and the air had a delightful freshness 'that was quite en- 

 chanting ; at a distance the landscape looked lovely, and never having 

 seen anything like it before, it possessed, to me, an additional charm. 

 Long I remained silently gazing, until at last the loud and deep tone of 

 the bell aroused me from my reverie, and made me think that the crash 

 which will heap us into our original chaos was come. I however soon 

 recovered from my fright ; and, retracing my steps, I passed one of my 



