"Lead?" exclaimed the other. "What! I precede so great and
illustrious a rat as you? No, indeed - after you, sir, after you."

Pleased with this great show of deference, the Friend went ahead,
and, leaving the hole first, was caught by the Cat, who immediately
trotted away with him. The other then went out unmolested.



The Member and the Soap



A MEMBER of the Kansas Legislature meeting a Cake of Soap was
passing it by without recognition, but the Cake of Soap insisted on
stopping and shaking hands. Thinking it might possibly be in the
enjoyment of the elective franchise, he gave it a cordial and
earnest grasp. On letting it go he observed that a portion of it
adhered to his fingers, and running to a brook in great alarm he
proceeded to wash it off. In doing so he necessarily got some on
the other hand, and when he had finished washing, both were so
white that he went to bed and sent for a physician.



Alarm and Pride



"GOOD-MORNING, my friend," said Alarm to Pride; "how are you this