Page:Stories of the Rhine country, (IA storiesofrhineco00alle).pdf/26

22 the souls of the poor people whom he had murdered.

This is how the castle came by its name. And to this day it is called the Rat Tower, or the Mouse Tower.

Do you remember Longfellow's poem, “The Children's Hour”? In this poem he speaks of the Mouse Tower. The poet sits alone in his study in the twilight. His three little girls are in the hall outside. They laugh and whisper as they plan to rush in all together and give their father a surprise. He hears them.

He thinks of his big easy chair as his castle. His children are trying to take possession of it. He keeps very quiet. Suddenly

they break in upon him. He says: