The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-02-24
A Hundred and Twenty-Five Rats in
H1p FraT.


UNCLE AARON lived near Hartford.
and was matter-of- fact man. His
barn and out-houses fairly swarmed
with rats, and Uncle Aaron was telling
a friend from another town who was
visiting at his house how he was troub-
led By rats and how he had seen a
hundred at least a. time. The friend
lauyhingly told him hundred was
good many rats. and begged him to
take OF few.
Uncle Aaron replied to the effect that
he was ixng a trap. and if his friend
would wait few davs he would con-
vince him he was not Wing.
"All right" answered his friend; ''if
you will catch anywhere near hum
dred, just let me know
Uncle Aaron. too, said: "All right,
adding: - i'li let you know"
When his frienI started for home the
last thing be said was: - Be sure and
let me know how many rats you catch.
A hundred is good many"
The trap Uncle Aaron was at work
on was a sort of platform almost as
! large az big barn door. and the plan
was to weight it with heavy rocks, raise
one end about three feet from the floor,
/ and have it so rigged that the pull of Il
string would spring it and let it fail to
the lioor, making it decidedly uncOm-
Portable for any living thing that might
happen to be under it. After arrang-
| ing it to his mind he began to bait it.
| He threw meal all around and under
the trap, and went to place convent
emily near and watched things. He did
not have to wait long before he counted
at least twenty rats buSily investigating
that meal. But they did not 90 under
the platform. This was kept up for
| several days, and after while the
patient watcher. who spent an hour or
two every day in seeing them ma
neuver, had the satisfaction of seeing
several of the rats venture under
the trap. Then he knew his plan
would be success. He could
pull the string almost any time,
of day, and catch a dozen Or twenty.
but he was ''laying low for bigger
haul The upraised platform was no
longer terror to the animals. They
took the bait from under it as readily
as could be desired. Finally Uncle
Aaron thought the time was ripe to pull
the string. He had not baited il the
night before, so the rodents would have
a keen appetite when he sprinkled the
cheese crumbs and meal that morning.
After doing this he took up his position
and waited. First one rat-a sort of
pioneer-came gliding out and began
to partake of the feast. Next pair
came out; then three or four, then q
dozen. They came from all directions.
Uncle Aaron was actually trembling
with excitement. He could hardly
keep his hand from pulling the string.
But he waited until the space under the
platform seemed fairly alive with the
creatures; and then-he pulled. Down
went the heavy platform with a crash.
A number of the rats were seen scam
pering off; but Uncle Aaron felt conf
dent he had nailed some OF 'em. AS
he came up he saw heads and tails pro-
truding, and he thought he would give
them all good square chance to die
before he raised the trap. He waited
till night, and then he lifted it. He
counted one hundred and twenty-five
dead rats. He put them in a box anu
expressed them to his friend, accom-
panied by note which read as follows:
Il take this method of letting you
know how that barn-door trap worked.
Count 'em and see for yourself. I'm
going to bait the trap again tomorrow.
Would you like to have me let you know
how many / catch next time? A hun
dred is a good many, but hundred
and twenty-five rather beats it. Hart
ford Comm Times.