True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-09-30
GNAWING A FILE.

that house lived an old raj. By means
of cracks and knot-holes, and suidry,
holes Of his own making, he had an ex-
tensive circuit through the whole house.
From front 10 L., and from cellar 10 gar
ret, wherever there was anything that
would minister 10 the comfort of his outer
man, he was sure to find it and help him
self. One room was used as a granary,
and the door was kept carefully closed
The old rat used 10 hear the sound Of the
grain, as it was poured upon the floor, or
into the barrels, and strong desire pos
sessed him to know, from personal obser-
vation, what was in the room. But there
was no way for him to crafty that desire
but by making an entrance through an
oak board PARTITION. So, one night after
all was quiet in the house, he sat himself
vigorously about the undertaking; and
though he found it rather a jaw.aching
operation, yet he kept up such an ince s.
SAINT nibbling, that long before daylight
his task was accomplished, and his hard
toll was rewarded BY plentiful repast
at the pile Of grain. For some days and
nights he passed in and out at pleasure,
and enjoyed high living, without lei or
hindrance. But the proprietor at length
discovered the hole which he had made
through the partition, and at once con-
cluded that he would lay an embargo upon
that sort of fun so he thrust file into
the hole.
The next time the old rat essayed to
pass in, he found slight impediment in
his way and he tried in vain to remove
it, At last said bis ratship,"I know
what | haze done. can gnaw of that
stick, for it isn't half as thick as the oak
board through which gnawed the hole" p"
So of he went again. He thought the file
was good deal harder then the board,
but he was determined not to give itup,
Indeed, it was prominent article in mis-
creed never to back out "Ah, workman
is known by his chips" said he, as he
looked and discovered quite little pile,
that looked very much like ivory sawdust,
though he wondered that his chips should
be SO bright colored. 81 shall fetch it
yet" said he, and he applied himself 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 file, the file had actually gnawed bis
teeth down to the gums. For momen
he stood quite confounded. At last ht
, said; "for once / have made fool of my
SELF" And so he had for he was mo-
only obliged to go to supperless to bed
but what was of vastly more consequence
= he had lost a good set Of teeth which
would be quite Indispensable in procuring
his future suppers. And here we will
leave his ratship, in order to make an ap
plcation Of the story.
Men ought to be wiser than rats; bu
they are not, for they also frequentl.
, gna,O a file: .Aperson gnaws al file when
Just tor The sake of having his oaon 'Oay
he obstinately persists in doing that whic
is against his own interest that whc
Injuries himself vast deal more than any
body else.
Here is an illustration A boy care
lessly hit his foot against stone, and. q
natural consequence it ached dreadfully
$ He instantly made up his mind that h
e. would have his revenge. Sohe sat dow
s and went to beating the stone with h
s fist and he only dessted when he cease
a TO feel any pain in his foot, in cons
If quence Of the more severe pain in h
1t bruised knucF les. Now he had his ow
h wpy-ae took his revenge, but it wi
n gnawipg file.
h Here is another /; boy whose name
n feel little delicate about mentioning
= once got a little grouty at something whIc
p his mother required him to do; so whe
y he was called to dinner, to show his il
n dependence, said with pouting lips, .
y don't want any dinner" Now he w
ID hungry enough, but he was determine
IL he wonld not eat, out ofSpite. He owe
it heard his sister say, "Guess he'll G
If hungry by supper time," but he thoug
a within himself, you'll see." So /
nourisbedhis wrath to keep it warm, a
when his sister called him to supper,
= grunted out more grouty than ever,
II, don't want any supper" !"
o. But as he turund to go off he heard
Ie mother say, (" ou'll be cheap board
i at this rate" So he had the blessed s;
h islac,ion Of having his own way, and we
supperless to bed, where he fepented
!" his leisure. There he lay and thoug
the mater all over and over again q
in again. He finally came to the "unal
nous conclusion in his own mind Il
We he was great fool for having done as
sls had for lie had injured no mortal liyi
he SO much as himself. tits almost unnec'
I'm sary to add, that he had rernarkal
wv good appetite for breakfast ], and th
on from that he was Of the mistaken opi
ion that t was ,eniserahly poor policy
h, Wemight give Illustrations equally P