Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
A Big Rat.Killer.

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 friend from
another town who was visiting at his
house how he was troubled by rats and
how he had seen hundred at least al
time. The friend laughingly told him
hundred was n good many rats, and beg
ged 70 take off few.
Uncle Aaron replied TO the effect that
ne was fixing trap. and if his friend
woul | wait few days he would convince
him he was not lying.
"All right, answered his friend; ''if
You viii catch anywhere near hundred,
just let me know"
Uncle Aaron, too, sadd "Ali right,
adding: "I'll let you know"
When his friend started for home the
last thing he said was; "Be sure and
let me know how many rats you catch
A hundred is good many"
The trap uncle Aaron was at wc;Ia on
was sort of platform almost as large as
a 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 rugged that the pull of string
would spring it and let it fall to the floor.
making it decidedly uncomfortable for
any living thing that might happen to be
under It, After arranging it to his mind
he began to bait it. He threw meal all
around and under the trap, and went to
o place conveniently 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 go under the platform This
was kept up for several days, and after a
while the patient watcher, who spent an
honr or two every day in seeing item
manGuvre, had the satisfaction of seeing
several of the rats venture under the
trap. Then he knew his plan would be
q success. He could pull the string
almost any time of day, and catch
dozen or twenty, but he was "laying
low" for bigger haul. The appraised
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 ii
the night before, SO the rodents would
have keen appetite when he sprinkled
the cheese-crumbs and meal that morn
ing. After doing this he took up his
position and waited. First one rata
sort of pioneer--came gliding out and
began to partake of the feast Next a
pair came out; then three or four, then
dozen. They came from all directions.
Uncle Aaron was actually trembling with
excitement. Hecould hardly keeph his hand
from pulling the string. But he waited
until the space under heplatform seemed
fairly alive with the creatures; and then
lie pulled Down went the heavy
platform with crash. A number Of the
rats were seen scampering off; but Uncle
Aaron felt confident he hid nailed some
OF 'em. AS he came up he saw heads
and tails protruding, and he thought he
would give them all q good square
change to die before he raised the trap.
He waited till night. and then he lifted
it. He counted one hundred and twenty
two dead rats. He put them in box
and expressed them to his friend. accom-
panied by note which read as follows:
81 take this method of letting you
know how that barn-door trap worked
Count 'em and see for yourself. Tn 90
i-~ to bait the trap again tomorrow
Would you like to have me LET You know
how many / catch next time. Ahundred
Is a good many, but hundred and
twenty-five rather beats it.--Hartford
Times.