The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-04-25
cite Californian.
TOR TIE BOYS AND GIRLS
Gnawing q File.

here was once All OH mouse, anu Ill tHdt
house lived an old rat. BY means Of cracks
and knot holes, and sundry other holes of .
hi. own making, he had an extensive circuit
through the whole house From front to ell,
snd f;o:n cellar 10 garnet, where ever there
WA an, thing that would minister to the COM
fort Of his outer man. he was sure to find Vt
ana help himself. One room was used as "a
.o,. ct .ranary, and the door Of which was
Kept carefully closed. The old rat used to
hear The sound of he gram, as it was poured
ulon tie floor or into barrels; and a strong
,v.irr possessed Tim TO know, from personal
observation. what was in tina, room. But there
was no WAY fer BIN 10 crafty that desire but
Nv making an entrance through an oak board
PARTITION. SO one night, after all was quiet
in tie house. he set himself vigorously about
the undertaking; and though be found It
rather a sw aching operation, yet he kept up
,uch an incessant n,bblin., that long before
ia, light bis task was accomplished. and his
hard ioi. was rewarded 10y a plentiful repast
at the PIKE Of grain. For some days and
nights he a>>ed in and out at pleasure. and
-nioveG the tall living. without let or hind
GRANGE. But ,te proprietor a: length discov-
partition ana at once concluded that he would
lay an emhargo upon that sort of fun; so he
thrust large file into the hole.
The next time the old rat essayed to pass
in. he touni slight im:reiimrnt in his way
and he tIiei n vain to remove it. Atlength,
said his rat ~, :" know what can do. for
know Via; F.re done can cnaw tfl
that stick. - r MT halt as thick rs the oak
LOard throv- hich gnawed the mole. So
at it he went again. lie thought the file was
a good deal harder than the board. but he
was determined not to give it ~. Indeed it
was promine mt article in his creed, Nrrer
his chips" said he, as he looked and discov-
cred quite little pile, that looked very much
like ivory saw dust, though he wondered that
hi. chips should be so light co'ored
Il shall fetch it yet" said he; and he ap-
pied himself with enewc'l ,isor.
But a, length he discovered some b'ool on
H.. file where he had been .nawing. lie in
.tan,ly capped his paws to his bleeding
mouth. when behold he had mad. this dis
"ovcry: that instead of gnawing the file the
file had artnally gnswcsi his teeth quite down
II
founded. At last he san! -" For once have
made fool of myself" And so he had ; for
he was not only Obliged to 20 snppercss to
he'd hut what was Of vastly more consequence.
he Lad lost what won! be quite Indispensable
in procuring his future suppers. And here
We will take leave OF his rat>hp in order to
make an aspiration Of the story.
Men ought to be wiser than rats; but they
are not, for ,l:ry also frequently g'.n~ Il Pile.
person @naws a file when. just tor the sake
Of barring lis cn"n way. he ot,>rnatelv persists
in dom. that which Is against his own inter
est,-iha: which ininrc> himself vast deal
more than anvil body e'>e.
Here is an illustration: A boy carelessly
ronsrqu nee. it arhcd drcaitnly. He in
.tpty made up his mind that lie would lave
his revenge. So he got down and went to
heating the stone with his fist and he only
.!-e!>'cd when he ceased to fre any pain in
his tont. IN consequence o: the much more Sc
we're pain il. his brai>el knuckicS. Now he
had his own wayne took his revenge, but it
was y''amiry ,ile.
Here is another: \ hov whose name
feel LITTLE delicary about mentioning, once
got littl" grouty at so.nethin. which his
mother required him to do: 90 When he was
cAllc! +" dinner. to show on. his in!epend
rnce, SAID with pointing lips, 81 don't want
any dinner" Now be was hungry enough.
Int he vas ',et rninrd he wouldn't eat ou'
81 spite. he overheard his sister say 'Gaess
hell yr: hu;@ry by 'uFp"r time : but he
thought within himself, You'll see. So h.
"norr'>hr,i hi. wrath 10 keep i, warm" all
III" afternoon; an! when his sister called hin
To Ills supper he grou'e'i cut more grou'.
than ever" Gon't want Any supper
Bat - he t!rnel to 90 oi he heard hi
mother say, "You'I Ia. d cheap boarder At t!,i
rate" So he had the be>st,l satisfaction of
ha''n. his o~n way, and went supperie>S +
bed. where he rerented at bis leisure. Their
l." LAY an'l thought the matter ali over. aga,
&aGa;!:. He finally cane to the unaninou
conclusion IN his own mind" that he was
great fool Tor having done a. lie had for h
injured Eo mortal living much ~ bins"i
1t is aim"st unnecessary to add. that be ha
remarkably good appetite for his break fast
AM! that. from tine to time. he was of til
mistaken opinion that it was miscrably poo
policy to G"n'c q pie.
We might si vc illustrations equally pert
nent. from tio.e Of ripper wears, but We fo1
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