'MY INFANCY' 



39 



unless you are quite sure that you want them. You 

 will find that a very good piece of advice. 



My father was a pretty good father, according to 

 our ideas. That is not saying a very great deal, 

 however, for fathers count for very little among us. 

 Very few rats ever see their father, and a good 

 thing too ! for he is just as likely as not to eat one 

 of his own children if food is scarce, and sometimes 

 his wife helps him. Just fancy how you would 

 feel if your dad strolled into the nursery or school- 

 room one day, with his hands in his pockets, 

 whistling a cheerful tune, and then, when you all 

 ran up to him, hoping to be taken out for a nice 

 safe walk, suddenly seized and devoured the 

 tenderest and juiciest of you ! If that sort of thing 

 was liable to happen to you any day, you would 

 not be so anxious to be made of ' sweets and spice 

 and all that's nice.' ' Snips and snails and puppy- 

 dogs' tails ' would be much better, but I doubt 

 whether even that would save you, if he was as 

 hungry as Papa Rat often is. 



1 heard great bumpings and squealings going on 

 in the house next to ours one day, and I went to 

 our door to listen, and presently out came a great big 

 ' buck rat,' as we call our gentlemen, licking his 

 lips, and looking half- cross and half-pleased. I did 



