Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-22
ANIMAL STORIES.
Horned Toads on a Spree.
gu-.IGa mi ktxa. DraaQ I

A man living up in Willow-Creek
canyon was in town last Thursday for
grub. and told the reporter queer
yarn. He prefaced his story by saying
that he always keeps a supply of whis-
KEY on hand as remedy in case OF rat
tlesnake-, scorpion, centipede-. or la
rantula-bites. lie has several times OF
late been annoyed by coming home from
his work at night and finding the demi-
John lying broken on the floor and the
whiskey wasted. Thinking it the re-
suit of accident. he kept sending to town
for more demijohns so often that his mer-
chant began TO suspect him of taking to
hard drinking, and this was particular
w regretted from the fact that he has
always been known as very steady,
temperate, hard-working man. Last
Wednesday. not feeling very well, he
took lay-of, and was lying reading in
bed, when, hearing a noise, he looked
around and was astonished to see a
regular army of horned toads, Of all
ages and sizes, coming through a crack
under the door. Having a curiosity to
see what they were after he did
not disturb them, but waited for
developments. The one appearing to
have command Of the foraging-party
went straight TO q convenient chair, from
which he climbed up the window-caSing,
and thence to the shelf where the whls-
key was kept. Finding a new deml-
John, he signalled to his companions,
and dozen Of the largest went to his
assistance. Gradually crowding them
selves between the top of the demUohn
and the wall, they managed to tip 1t
from the bottom. when it was an easy
matter to send it crashing to the floor.
Then ensued scene indescribable.
The whole mob came tumbling over one
another to the spilled whiskey, and
eagerly drank what did not run away
through the cracks in the floor. In about
ten minutes there were in the neighbor-
hood of 100 horned toads as drunk as
drunk could be, and having more fun
than circus. After laughing himself
well he rose to drive the topers out, and,
looking through the cracks in the floor
saw another army under the house as
drunk from the leakings as those IN the
house. He says that while he had a
whole lot of amusement, it was at the
expense Of both his pocket and reputa-
ton. and he has put lashing around
the demijohn and stopped up the cracks
III the cabin.
A Sociable spider.
Some years ago. writes a correspond
ent to the Cincinnati Enquirer, | was
living in st. Louis. All day long | was
busy, hut in the evening was my own
master. Letting down my curtains and
poking my fire to a steady blaze one
evening, | drew my chair up to table
near the wall and began writing. Soon
was surprised to find that my room
had another occupant, no other than
an immense black spider, which adj
yanced socially toward me upon the
table. was quite surprised to find that
he showed no fear, but sat looking at
me with attention. pulled a straw
from the broom and drew IT gently over
his body and legs. to his great delight,
for ten minutes. when he retired. The
next evening he reappeared, to my sur
prise, and we went through the same
antics with the broom-straw, to his evil
dent pleasure. This was kept up all
that lonely winter, and the solitude of
my evenings was greatly relieved by
my big spider friend, who came out
regularly every night for frolic with
me and the brOom-Straw.
Why the Dog Wouidn't Eat.
lChambcrs's Journal
1t is related by Professor Bell that
when friend of his was travelling
abroad he one morning took out his
purse to see if it contained sufficient
change for a days jaunt he proposed
making. He departed from his lodgings
leaving trusted dog behind. When he
dncd he took out his purse to pay, and
found that he had lost a gold com
from it. On returning home in the
evening his servant informed him that the
dog seemed to be very i'll, as they could
not induce it to eat anything. lie
went al once TO his fayorite, and as soon
as he entered the room the faithful
creature ran to him, deposited the gold
coin at his feet, and then devoured the
food placed for it with great eagerneSs.
The truth was that this gentleman had
dropped the coin in the morning the
dog had picked 1t up and kept it IN Its
mouth. fearing even to eat lest it should