The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-10-07

ed, announced that ten thousand prisoners
were to be exchanged immedtuteIy! MANY
times deceived by similar run,ors, we vet
jumped at this as authoritative and all over
the yard men could be seen rushing about,
hat crazy with excitement. If this seem
strange in men of intelligence and expert
ence, reflect that. But no. you that we're
never cribbed IN durance vilest of the vile,
you who never gazed forth upon the glori-
GUS landscape of animated Nature from be
tween the bars of a watched window, and
never waite / day upon day. with sinking
hearts and failing health, for the life renew
ing order to-"come forth-and be ye free
you cannot know, nor comprehend, the
soul destroying anxiety that this day racked
ten thousand breasts of men who have faced
Death on many a battle field, and would
gladly do SO again, if only relieved from these
horrible shambies.
Well, the telegram In the inquirer seemed
an assured fact, and even the most incredu-
lous could not escape the Joyous innocula-
ton. But-Hark Fresh fsh!t Fresh
an hundred OF Early's officers captured in
the Valley last week. And now. our exalt-
ed hopes take a tumble an hour later after
hearing the tale of the new corners the air
castle OF the morning Is an heap OF ruins
and we lie, tied hand and feet, IN its cellar.
This Is a specimen of our ups aud downs r
October lst.-.Did you ever see such a
lot OF demoralized men, Remarks of this
nature are heard on every side with refer
ence to the new arrivals. They are by all
odds the most wo-be gone, dilapidated, and
detected set Of officers | ever beheld ; worse
still a good many ot them are uhtppedt Their
looks and clothing might be attributed to
continuous marching aud fighting, joined to
lpnn frayal on tho oaro from, Win.baStar
hither. But what can be said of such talk
as this:-'The South might as well give
up. I've are beat. and its no use fight
ing any longer. The Yankees can whip
us they've got more men, and better guns
and better curdiry." This last remark, by
the way, is unfortunate for although Sherl-
dan un :Oubtedly had as many caUdhy as our
entire force Of all arms, surely one infantry
man ought to be "a match for two butter
mixers such as Sheridan leads. God help
usi-if the tone Of these prisoners be gen
eral in our armies Their statements caused
me to remain awake all night last night.
For who can force the outcome of the
shadows that are fast setting on the land !!
RAT CATERS.
The catching and eating of the huge rats
which infest the Island has become a com
mon thing. 1t Is a curious sight, grown
men, uniformed ana WnlSker6u Of1cerS, VINO
have already 'set a squadron in the field
sauatting, club in hand. near one of the
many breathing holes, which the long tailed
rodents have cut in the hard earth, patient
ly awaiting a chance to strike a blow for
fresh meat, and rat soup for dinner /.
They generally succeed in getting one or
more rats at a sitting. Indeed the surface
of some portions of the yard appears to be
honey-combed with these amphibious bur
rowers, which are not the ordinary house
rat, but a larger water rat, somewhat like
the Norway. They are eaten by fully a
score of the officers, and apparently with
relish. When broiled or stewed they much
resemble young squirrels-m tOons!! have
not yet mustered stomach" enough to nib
bic at one though once ON the Potomac
island-three years ago their brethren nib
bled at me, in no pleasant manner. The
flesh of these rodents is quite white, and
when several are upon a plate with plenty
of dressing, they look SO appetizing one can
not help regretting his early mis- education
or prejudices. That our antipathy to rats
is all prejudice, the rat eaters" firmly as
sert. ''Why"-quo,h one of them-"you
eat wagon loads OF hog meat, and everybody
knows a rat is cleaner than a hog a rat
wont touch many articles of filth that your
hog gulps down. Rats are just as dainty as
chickens or squirrels. Try a piece p
Thanks; my prejudices unfortunately are
not yet abated
TO BE CONTINUED.