The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-18
Mice md Men" Important If True"
-Rsow u few Accommodating Rats
Made one Family Wealthy and an
nfhnr lnAr.

n
How 81 few Accommodating Rats
Made one Family Wealthy and an
other Poor.
Two rather comfortable, casy-going, lazy
heads of families dwelt for more than thirty
wears near Ashland City, in Cheatham
county, Tenn. Their old log houses lie ad-
iaccnt to each other. In times past, when
everything was smiling and prosperous
with them, they cut wood for steamboats,,
and got hard cash therefor. Their corn,
hay, and whiskey supplies were easily and
abundantlv obtained. One of the old gents
happily produced large crop OF boys, ana
the other still more happily raised ON I'M
mcnsc family Of girls but the female heads OF
the respective families were extremely az va
rance, and could never agree on anything
EXCEPT to hate each other; so that the boy
crop and the girl production were taught 10
dislike each other very heartily; and 1t was
said that there had been, years ago, many
a pitched battle between the junior mem
hcrs of the male and female families; the
ten Inert girls invariably defeated the
twelve Harris boys most shamefully. The
natriarchal wood-choppers never took part
IN these inter-tamily jars and battles, but
drank healthy and stimulating beverages at
a neighboring shanty nearly every evening.
Old Harris made frequent trips to Nash
Vile. where he remained some weeks ut II
time enjoying the select pleasures Of the
capital, while old Ubcrt remained at home,
boarding and increasing his pile.
This was one, and the principal, source of
strife between the lady mothers, for Mrs.
Harris could not bear the idea Of her neigh
Dor going up in the world while she stood
still-compelled to stand still by reason Of
her husbands extravaganza habits. The
Ubert girls were nearly all married Off to
thriving chaps in the country, and could
sport a buggy on great occasions, and make
8 respectable show at revivals and pic-nics,
while Mrs. Harris and her graceless boys
were more or less ragged. Most OF these
latter ut length scattered themselves in va
rious directions over this great country, seek
ing fortunes, and Mrs. Harris and Mrs.
'Ubert were left nearly alone, as they had
been nearly Il quarter Of century before.
Long and loud were the wailings Of Mrs. Har-
ris upon her lone condition, and fierce the
nightly lectures she gave her husband upon
the subject of their fortune. The poor mans
life Was a misery to him. He became more
reckless, neglected his business, and drank
more LIQUOR in very despair. When he had
run himself down as low as it was possible
for him to GO, he was compelled to work for
others. and neglected his own farm. Even
in this state of careless and happy poverty
Mrs Harris continued to Caudle him with
renewed energy and perseverance. Out in
the hot summers sun, in the woods and in
the fields, he toiled, while the daily life Of
his spouse was prolonged growl around
the house and the yard.
Sitting by the fire one morning last WIN
ter enjoying smoke before going to his
days chopping, and rejecting upon his
happy condition, trying to digest q morn
ing's meal of buttermilk and corn bread,
he observed rat come into the room
through hole under the head of the bed
wherein his beloved wife was lying. The
rat carried in considerable quantity Of
hay and deposited it in a corner, and darted
of again. In very short time another rat
brought in by the same passage more straw,
and dispesed Of il in like manner. After
that q regular Indian file OF rats continued
10 bring straw and make sort OF bed with
it. This was interesting. Old Harris re-
filed his pipe and put g fresh coal on it,
and lust as he was putting out the first
cloud a rat appeared with very large gold
coin in his mouth, which he carefully de-
posted on the bed of straw prepared for
i. The long file of rats continued to come
in in endless succession with pieces of gold
,s various values until the pile they drew
from was exhausted. -
The old lady Harris in the mean time
swoke from her slumber, and was tongue
flashing her husband with unusual yigor;
but he never answered word. Having
exhausted herself scolding, she slept again.
The treasure was secured by Harris. He
went to the spirituous headquarters of the
place, aud spent the day in delightful
series Of talks and drinks, quite refreshing.
A reasonable time having elapsed after his
good luck, be purchased some elegant fur
niture and cattle, and began to put on a
respectable exterior--in fact, was going
ahead Of his aeighbor Ubert. Mrs. Ubert
could not stand this. She insisted on un-