The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-05-16
Anecdotes of Rats.

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e Anecdotes of Rats.
Perhaps at no time is the sagacity Of rat
exhibited in so remarkable degree us whei
an attempt is made to poison them. some
what singular incident, which shows the pos
session of something very nearly AKIN to rca
son on the part of these pests, happened II
Wayne County, New York, some years ago
"A certain distillery was almost overrun with
, rats which were attracted thither by the malt
lupon which they Jared sumptuously. All eff
forts to get rid of them were unayalling
TRAPS of every sort were set and Daited with
the most tempting morsels, but the rats gave
them wide berth. All the boys and dogs in
the nelghborhood paid periodical visits to
the distillery to engage in grand rat hunts
but the rats increased and multiplied and
grew familiar in spite Of them AT last the
proprietor, in desperation, determined upon
a grand coup ~ etat. He poisoned the malt
that was one day thrown out of the distilery.
The consequence was that some of the out
buildings had to be removed in order TO clear
away the bodies of the victims. For a while
after that there was less noise about the dis
tillery of nights, and the boys were obliged
to give up their Saturday afternoon rat hunts :;
but in six months matters were as bad as ever.
Boys. guns traps and terriers, as before, had
no effect Another general poisoning was
resolved upon, but this time the result was
far different. There was not a single victim
that could be found and, more than that, at
the end Of two days there was not a rat about
the distillery. And now comes the strange
part of the story. The proprietor was present
when the poisoned malt was thrown out, and
prompted by curiosity waited to see what was
going to happen. During that time but one
solitary raj made his appearance-au old fel-
low, gray with age, which came creeping
from his hole, and with an air of distrust and
cunning went to the malt, and after smelling
of it scampered away in great haste. Was he
one of the few who survived the general
slaughter, and did he discover the danger and
warn the others?
The rats in our country are quite as fond of
cream rs their transatlantic cousins, and eX-
hbit the same ingenuity in securing it. If
the Scottish rats were smart enough to skim
pans of milk with their tails, so were those
who flourshed in Livingston County few
years ago; only they did not confinc them
selves to cream, but flshed butter out of deep
Jars in the same way. The rats no doubt APP
preciated the last named article, and well they
might, tor better buttermaker than
Mrs Sackett never lived, not even in Llvings
on County
The neat old lady frctted and scoded and
set traps and tried various devices to protect
her milk pans, but all to no purpose. One
morning waggish young fellow, Charley
Hosmer (peace to his ashes he went out with
the gallant Seventh, and never returncd) hap
pened in, and after listening TO the story of
The lady's grievance offered, in consideration
IF the plate Of doughnuts which she was then
rying, to rid her of the rats at once and for
aver The doughnuts were placed before him,
and Charley ntp thpp with "A In wi MI la
n his eye. The lady watched him with evil
lent satisfaction, il never occurring to her
good soul, to inquire how she would get the
ioughnuts back again in case the boys plan
allied. When the last one was gone Charley
disappeared through the cellar door. De
ccnding the steps and seating himself upon
hem, he reflected few minutes, and then
himself after this fashion:
Now, rats" said he II think it's shame
he way you're acting QIere Charley paus.
q moment, for one of the rats which had
led at his approach thrust his head from his
lole, and looked at him meditatively). I'm
ak to you old fellow, and want you to
eel the others what I'm saying" he went on
TITS Il shame the way YOU'RE doing. Here you
AVE been getting your living off Mrs. Sackett
II these years, and want it stopped She's
Woodworking woman, and needs the cream
Hu DullcT you steal. NOW, there's Neigh
,or Markham. He is rich, his corn cribs are
nll there are more milk pans in his spring
ouse than there are here, and if you want
God living you had better go there. You
'W 90 there, if you know what's good Tor you. |
When | come back don't want to hear CT
ut on this farm 2"
Charley arose to his feet, and the old rat
,hisked back into his hole. The boy went
p stairs, took another doughnut and walked .
If after assuring the lady that she would
lever more be troubled with rats iad sic |
'dsHf Perhaps Charley was quite as much |
urprised at the effects Of his speech as the
ady; but it is fact that in week from that !
ime there was not rat about TIE house, and !
Markham had more hhan he want
ID. There are at least two persons still in ex. !
istcncc who know this to be a true statement.
". Y. FeeHg.