The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-16

of mortals may be equally overmatched
in some distant part of the world not
yet discovered?" The world has been so
thoroughly discovered since the days
of CULVER that these reflections now
are applicable only to conjectures regard
ing the inhabitants of other planets as
such they haunt today the dreams of
astronomers. The farmer took CULVER
home with him, where his wife and
daughter were delightedly interested in
the manikin-as they called the famous
traveller.
1t was about IL at noon, and servant
brought in dinner. 1t was only one SUBJ
stantia dish of meat CIT for the plain
condition of a husbandman) In a platter
about "a feet in diameter. The company
were the farmer his wife, three children
and the old grandmother. When they sat
down the farmer placed CULVER on the
| table at some distance from him. The
table was 80 feet from the floor. and
CULVER, in a terrible fright, kept as
far from the edge as possible for fear
of falling off. The wife minced a piece
of meat, crumbed some bread and placed
| 1t on a trencher before the diminutive
stranger, who took off his hat and made
| her a low bow by way of acknowledge
ment; at which she was nightly pleased.
Then the farmers wife sent her maid for
small dram-cup, which held about two
| gallons, and filled 1t with drink. CULVER
with much difficulty raised the cup in
| both hands and drank to the health of
the lady, whereupon they all laughed
heartily, for they comprehended by his
actions what he would be at. The liquor
tasted like small cider and was not I'M
| pleasant.
| The farmer then made sign for Guilt
yer to come close to him and in doing so
the intrepid traveller fell over crust Of
bread and nearly broke his shin. Picking
himself up and observing that the good
people seemed much concerned, he took
off his hat and, waving 1t in the air, cried
out three times, "Hurrah, hurrah, hur-
rah!' to show that he was not hurt.
But advancing toward his master Gas he
| now began to call the farmer) the latter's
| son, an arch boy of about 10 years and
full of mischief. suddenly grabbed the
medical gentleman by the legs and held
him so high in the air that he trembled
| in every limb. The father snatched the
doctor from the roguish urchin's hand and
| at the same time gave the boy a box on
the ear that would have felled Euro
pean troop Of horses to earth. Then he
ordered him away from the table. But
CULVER fearing that the boy would bear
him malice as the cause of his punish
ment and might do him severe injury on
the sly, begged so hard for the urchins
pardon that the farmer. understanding
the mankin's gestures of entreaty, for
gave his mischievous son.
| In the midst of the dinner the good
wife's favorite cat leaped into her lap.
CULVER heard a noise behind him like
that of dozen stocking weavers at work
and, turning, saw that the noise was the
purring of the animal, which seemed
about three times larger than an ordi-
nary OK, as he counted by the size of
her head and claws, which appeared
above the table. Thei fierceness of the
creatures face entirely discomposed him,
though he stood at the further end of the
table, about 80 feet off, and though the
good wife held pussy tight for fear she
should give spring and catch the man.
ikin. Having by his experience In his
many travels found that the surest way
to make a wild animal attack you is to
show fear, CULVER resolved to show no
1 manner of concern and walked with in
trepidity two or three times within half
yard of her, whereupon the cat drew
back, showing signs of fear and wonder.
CULVER was less apprehensive concern.
ing the dogs, four or five of which came
into the room while the family were at
dinner. One was a mastiff equal in bulk
to four elephants, and one a greyhound,
taller but not so bulky.
When the dinner was over the farmer
came in with a child of a year old in
his arms who Immediately espied Guilt
yer and began to cry for him as for
new toy. You might have heard that
infants squall from Chelsea to London
bridge. The mother, through sheer indul-
gence, took up the illustrious traveller
and held him toward the baby who i'm
mediately seized him and got his heal
in Its mouth. But CULVER set up such
a shout that the infant was frightened
| in Its turn and let it's new playthins
| drop, so that the traveller would infalIi-
bly, have been dashed to pieces had not
the mother held her apron under him.
| When dinner was over the farmer wen.
back to his labors In the field, and Gull
yer, being very tired. made his good wife
understand by signs that. he wanted to
sleep. Thereupon she placed him upon
bed in a room between two and three
hundred feet wide and about 200 fee.
high. The bed was 20 yards wide and
the handkerchief with which the farm
er's wife covered him was larger than
the mainsail Of a frigate, and. to the
sight Of CULVER, appeared much coarser
After a sleep of about two hours the
weary traveller awoke. He desired to get
down from the bed but did not dare to
make the leap, as it was eight yards to
the floor. Suddenly he was filled with
alarm to see two rats run up on the bed.
| One of them came quite close up to him,
whereupon he drew his hanger to defend
himself The other rat ran up and Gull
liver was attacked by these fierce crea-
4 lures on both sides. One Of the rats
got his feet on Gulliver's collar. but the
| intrepid doctor had the good fortune to
rip Its belly up before 1t did him any
mischief, and the other rat, seeing the
fate of it's comrade, ran away. These
rats were of the size OF a small mastiff,
| but infinitely more nimble and fierce.
Had not CULVER had his hanger on he
would have been torn to pieces and de-