Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
Knawing a File.
A STORY FOR BOYS.

There was once an old house, and in tina:
house lived an old rat. By means of cracks
and not-holes, and sundry other holes of
his own making, he had an extensive cir
cult through the whole house. From front
to L. and from cellar to garret, wherever
there was anything that would minister to
the comfort of his outer man, he was sure
to fiud it and help himself One :oom was
used as a granary, and the door was kept
carefully closed. The old rat used to hear
the sound of the grain as it was poured upon
the floor or into the barrels, and a strong
desire possessed him to know from personal
observation, what was in the room. But
there was no way for him to crafty that de-
sire but by making an entrance through an
oak board partition. So, one night after all
was quiet in the house, he sat himself vigor-
ously about the undertaking; and though he
found it rather Jaw wacbing operation, yet
he kept up such an incessant nib6ling, that
long before day light his task was rewarded
by a plentiful repast at the pile Of grain.
For some days and nights he passed in and
out al pleasure, and enjoyed high living,
without let or hindrance. But the proprietor
at length discovered the Eole VIII ch he had
made through the partition,and at once con-
cluded ;hat he would lay an embargo upon
that sort of fun; SO he thrust a Fl lie into the
hule.
The next time the old rat essayed to pass
in he found slight impediment in ais way;
and he tired in vain to remove it. At length
said his ratship, 81 know what can do, for
] know what ! hdue done. | can knaw off
that stick, for il isn't half as thick as the
oak board through which gnawed the hole
So al it he went again. He thought the
file was good deal harder than the board.
but he was determined not to give it up. In
seed,i it Was prominent article in his creed,
never to back out. sAh "a workman is known
by his Chips said he, as he looked and dis
covered quite little pile, that looked very
much like ivory saw-dust, though he xon-
dered that his chips should e SO light-col-
ored d shall fetch it ye1,' said he; and he
applied himse If with renewed vigor.
But at length he discovered some blood
on the file where he had been gnawing. He
instantly clapped his paw to his bleeding
mouth when behold! he made this discovery
that instead of gnawing the the file had
actua ly gnawed his teeth quite down to the
gums. For moment he stood confounded
At last he said, For once have made q
fowl of myself And so he had; for he was
not only obliged to go supperless to bed
= but what was of vastly more consequence
he had los, good set of teeth that woul'
be quite indispensable in procuring hN
future suppers. And here we will leave hi
> ratship, in order to make an application o
the story.
. Men ought to be wiser than ts;but they
. are not, for they also frequently gnaD file
: A person gnaws file when, just tor tn
sake of having his opn aOaJ, he obstinatel ly
- persists in doing that which is against hi
. own interest-that which Injuries himself
vast deal more THAI anybody else.
: Here Is al iituetra.iun.-A boy narplessl
hit bis foot againsta stone, and as natura
consequence il ached dreadfuly. He in
= stantly made up his mnG that he woul
= have his revenge. So he sat down and wen
: beating the stone with his fist; and he onl
desisted when he ceased to feel any pain
n his foot, in consequence of the more sever
pain in his bruised knuckles. Nov he ha
. his own way-he took his revenge, but
was gnswing a file.
:. Here IS another: A boy, whose name
feel little delicacy about mentioning, one
got little grouty at something which. h
mother required him to do: so when he WI
called to dinner, to show his independence
= said, with pouting lips, Il don't want ar
=, " dinner Now, he was hungry enough, b'
ne was determined he would not eat, out
70 spite. He overheard his sister say, 'Gue'
= he'll get hungry by supper time;' but
~ thought within himself. You'll see.'
~ he nourished his wrath 10 keep it W arm al
~ when his sister called him to his supper,
- " grouted out more grouty than ever, q dor
~ want any supper
=. But as he turned to 60 off he heard
.. mother say you'll be cheap boarder
Gu this rale.' So he had the blessed satisfa
:, ton of having his own way, and went su
-" PEERLESS to bed, where he repented at his lie
:. ~ sure. There he lay and thought the matt
- " all over again and again. He finally can
to the Unanimous conc lusion' in his ow
-, mind that he was great fool for havin
-, 'a done as he had;for he had injured no mort
~ living SO much as himself. 1t is almost
necessary to add, that he had a remarkab
an good appetite for breakfast; and that, fro
that time, he was of the mistaken opinis
m. that it was miseraoIy poor policy to gnaU
-, file!
he We might give illustrations equally per
ere nent from those of ripper years, but We fc
bear,