Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-12-11
Rats---"Draw Poker

IA IdI 10 OhC ol IhC liSSl oPCAL$S
of the genus mus, a rodent mann
pal which infests cor cribs, stores
and sometimes proves q veritable nul-
ganee. To ''smell a rat" is to be
suspicious. Bro. MARROW did not
smell a rat until it was too late. This
is a very poor habit to get into.
Preachers Marlowand Headington,
both of this county, are very great
friends. Bro. NARROW spent Thanks
irving with Bro. Headington, who
lives in East Mexico. During the
morning, while Mrs. Headington
vas preparing the Thanksgiving dan
ner, such as only she knows how to
serve, the two preachers costly dis
cussed politics, religion, &C., &c.
1t was about Is minutes to twelve
O'Clock, and yet the clock seemed
slow to these two diyiEcs. when the
question was touched on, whether
Noah took rats into the Ark or not.
1t was agreed that he was not a con-
sistent man, for being jew, he took
liam into the Ark, but the gentle
men could not agree about the rats.
Bro. Marrow did not seem to hold to
that idea at all-he dweIt in glowing
terms on the fatality of such acOurse
by Noah referred to the ravages rats
had committed, even within his OBJ
servation how they had wen killed
and devoured sick and starving men,
to what size they grew, &c. In the
meantime one of Bro. Headington' )
little boys had brought out into the
room a large rubber rat he had for o
toy, to ask whether that was the rat
Noah had in his Ark, when Brother
Harlow happened to look around.
lie did not ''smell Il rat" but sup
posed he saw one. 1t was a big one.
He looked over triumphautly at Bro.
II. and said in a stage whisper: Just
look at that, will you? Do you sup
pose Noah took such n beast as that
INTO his Ark? Do you suppose he
would have had any cheese left when
he landed, if lie did? Before Bro.
IL. had time to dispet Bro. Ms de-
fusion and make him smell, rather
than see a rat, he had reached for
the poker, which he grasped valiant
ly, poised himself for a moment,
when cruelty 10 animals began. The
first charge sent the rat through a
French glass mirror, but being OF
rubber, of course it rebounded, and
seemingly a thing of life, rolled
around the TO ON from place to place.
Bro. H., not wishing to spoil the
sport, simply said under his breath
Into the valley of death rode the
Valiant Six Hundred" &c. Bro. NJ.
wishing to establish his opinion about
Noah, or have blood, carried his cru
SADIE into the enemy's camp, and
warmed up in his work. He thought
he had the most hardened sinner tc
deal with. The devil of a rat just
would not give up the ghost.
Reason-He did not stop to pray,
but trusted too much in his own weak
powers The rat, like the G.. b
party. did not amount to anything,
but seemed hard to kill, Reason foi
both the same-dead in the start
Chairs were broken, tables over-turn,
ed and the Thanksgiving dinner al
but demolished. The war q not
ended until the beseiging army bat
to stop for breath. This fleeing enc.
my also stopped to rest, but it die
not seem at all wearied nor frighten'
ed. Bro. M. looked at Brother III,
Brother Ell. smiled Bro, M. saw the
point. Ee laid down his weapons o
warfare, but said nothing out loud
Matters and things were put to rights
and dinner was dsvoared in silence.
Bro. II. is a better, but a o sus
picious, man. He believes no mor'
in outward appearances and can nov
'ssmell a rat"
Smoke "Full Value" cigars. Fo