The Rats Wedding

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Article Index The Rats Wedding Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 2 of 6 The potter overwhelmed the Rat with thanks for his obliging kindness, and choosing out a nice well-burnt pipkin, insisted on his accepting it as a remembrance. The Rat was delighted at the exchange, and though the pipkin was just a trifle awkward for him to manage, he succeeded after infinite trouble in balancing it on his head, and went away gingerly, tink-a-tink, tink-a-tink, down the road, with his tail over his arm for fear he should trip on it. And all the time he kept saying to himself, -What a lucky fellow I am! and clever too! Such a hand at a bargain!- By and by he came to where some neatherds were herding their cattle. One of them was milking a buffalo, and having no pail he used his shoes instead. -Oh fie! oh fie!- cried the cleanly Rat, quite shocked at the sight. -What a nasty dirty trick!–why don-t you use a pail?- -For the best of all reasons–we haven-t got one!- growled the neatherd, who did not see why the Rat should put his finger in the pie. -If that is all,- replied the dainty Rat, -oblige me by using this pipkin, for I cannot bear dirt!- The neatherd, nothing loath, took the pipkin, and milked away until it was brimming over; then turning to the Rat, who stood looking on, said, -Here, little fellow, you may have a drink, in payment.- But if the Rat was good-natured he was also shrewd. -No, no, my friend,- said he, -that will not do! As if I could drink the worth of my pipkin at a draught! My dear sir, I couldn-t hold it! Besides, I never make a bad bargain, so I expect you at least to give me the buffalo that gave the milk.- -Nonsense!- cried the neatherd; -a buffalo for a pipkin! Who ever heard of such a price? And what on earth could you do with a buffalo when you got it? Why, the pipkin was about as much as you could manage.- At this the Rat drew himself up with dignity, for he did not like allusions to his size. -That is my affair, not yours,- he retorted; -your business is to hand over the buffalo.- << Prev - Next >>

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