THE MONKEY FAMILY. 



77 



verian. " Point cT argent, — point de Suisse," as 

 the old French saying has it. Luckily for me, 

 these audacious theives can no longer enter my 

 house nor the out-buildings ; — so effectually have I 

 barred their entrance into these important places. 



But, they have punished me awfully in other 

 parts. They have rooted up and eaten all the 

 crocus bulbs, stormed the potatoe-pies and fleeced 

 the celery. 



The gardener came to me in a white passion, 

 and he informed me, that " them rattens " had 

 totally demolished every early pea, which he had 

 cherished with such care. I tried to pacify him, 

 by observing, that sometimes such misfortunes 

 will happen, in the best regulated families, take 

 what pains we choose, to protect our goods. 

 "Them rattens are a hungry race, George," said 

 % " and I don't know what we can do, because 

 they are our masters, A winter in Nova Zembla, 

 or a summer in the tropics is all one to them. 

 Hanoverians will fatten on fish in Iceland, and 

 luxuriate amid carrion, in the burning plains of 

 tropical America. The cellar and the garret are 

 all one to them, provided prog be within reach." 



Once when I was studying poetry at college, 

 I attempted to celebrate in verse, the arrival of 

 <e them rattens " in our country. The song began 

 thus : 



