Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

A lady who was a notable housekeeper here many years ago, found the eggs in her well stored larder diminishing daily. She did not like to suspect her domestics of nullification. She secreted herself in the room and watched. A company of rats came. A large full furred rat, the principal thief, grasped an egg with all four of his legs, and rolled over on his back. Two others, his accomplices, laid hold of his tail with their teeth, and lugged their load manfully to a sly rat-hole hard by, where, it is fair to infer, all hands feasted on the spoils of victory.
Portsmouth Journal.