The native American., 1840-01-01
81.
From the Fanny Mngesme.
A SINGULAR PRISON AMUSEMENT.

dropping to pieces, his hands and feet heavily
ironed, the prisoner was thrown into one of the
most noisome dungeons Of the fortress. A sprnk-
ling OF straw formed his bed; covering ii had
none. The only light and air which penetrated
INTO this den OF torment came through loop hole,
which narrowing gradually from the inside TO the
outside had diameter Of not more than five inches
at tho larthest extremity. This loop hole was
secured and darkened by fourfoll iron grating,
SO lngcnously contrived that the bars of one net
work covered the inscrsticcs Of another; but there
was neither glass nor shutters to ward of the in
clemency of the weather.
| The interior extremity Of this aperture reached
within two feet and half Of the ground, and
served the captive for chair and table, and some
times lie rested his arms and elbows on it, 10
| tighten the weight Of his feers. Shut out from
all communication with his fellow beings, Latude
found some amusement in The society Of the rats
which infested his dungeon.
| His first attempt 10 make them companionable
was tried upon single raj, which IN three days
by gently throwing bits of bread 10 it, he rendered
so tame that il would take food from his hands.
| l'he animal even changed lis abode and establish
ed Itself in another hole, in order to be near 10
him. In few days a female joined the first
conner. At the outset she was tImid; but il was
not long before she acquired bollness, a. d would
quarrel and fight for the morsels which were given
! by tUc pTISUucT w lleH H.y ulHDeT was brought
| in says Iatude Il called my companions the
male ran to me dircctly the female according to
custom come slowly and tim;dIy, but at length
approached closer to me and yentured TO take what
| / offered her from my hard. Some time after,
third appeared who was much less ceremonious
than my first acquanances. After his second
visit he constituted himself one Of the family, and
made himself SO perfectly athomo thai he resolv-
ed to introduce his comrades. The next day lie
came, with two others, who in the course of a
week brought five more; and thus, i'll less than
Efornght, our family circle consisted Of TEN large
rats and myself gave each Of them names
which they learned to distinguish. When called
them they came to eat with me, from the dish or
off the same plate; but this found unpleasant,
and was soon forced to find them dish for them
selves, on account of their slovenly habits. They
became SO tame that they allowed me to scratch
their necks, and appeared to me pleased whenI
did, but they would never permit me to touch the
back Sometimes / amused myself in making
them play, and joined in their gambols. Occa-
3 onally threw them piece Of meat scalding
hot; the most eager to seize it, burned them
selves, cried out and left it; while the less gree
dy, who had waited patiently, took it when it was
cold, and escaped into corner, where they di-
vded their prize: sometimes made them Jump
up, by holding piece Of bread or meat suspend
ed in the air. In the course Of year his four
footed companions increased to tweniy-six.--
Whenever an intruder appeared he met with
hostile reception from the old ISLANDERS, and had
to fight his way, before he could obtain footing.
Latude endeavoured to familiarize spider, but in
this he was unsuccessful"
WHAT SOME CALL LUCK One person will swa-
low penknives and yet live many years; while
another, in eating, gets small bit of liver in
his windpipe and dies. One has the shaft ola
gig passed completely through his body and rec
overs; another only runs thorn in his hand and
no skill can save him. One is thrown fifty or an
hundred feet down cliff, and survives; anoth-
er has his neck broken, by a mere oveIturn in
his gig on a smooth plain. W. have lately seen
an aged and healthy minister who fell from the
belfry of common steple to the ground, few
years ago; but we have also seen a lady die in
consequence Of falling down gently, on a level
floor So that the race is not alaOays to the swift,
nor the battle aloays to the strong.