Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1874 — The Last Rat Story. [ARTICLE]

The Last Rat Story.

The Cincinnati Timu speaks of a wah* of extermination made upon rats lii fl certain establishment in that city, and vouches for the truth of the following: It was about ten o’clock this morning, while the workmen were engaged tn r claiming out the cellar aforesaid, they came across rats of all colors, sizes, ages, that numbered by actual count .1,000 to an aught. The rodents, when they saw their enemies, who came upon them unawares, had pressing business in other

parts of the building. All -of them started out at a rattling rate on an excut sion, but about 500 or less never reached the secure retreat of friendly holes. They dropped by the wayside, and breathed their last. When the lively interest of the discovery had ebbed to wondering talk over the affair, afresh impetus was given to the astonishment of the workmen by the finding of one of them of a large bottle with a capacious opening. In this bottle was a rat of uncommon size, living as snugly as if he desired no other happiness than to remain there always and look out on the frisky sports of his kind. A very good reason for this wish can be offered in his inability to come from his glass casing without breaking it. He went in there

when quite young, as reasonably supposed, a very sick rat, and it devolved upon his companions to bring him such delicacies as a very sick rat would crave. His disease being prolonged, owing to the incompetency of his doctors, nature used her own restoratives, and the afflicted rodent became well again. But he found that in the meantime he had reached maturity, and, through the unceasing,attention of his nurses and the good things which were provided for him, that he grew

to be of large, vigorous frame and had a superabundance of muscle for an ordinary rat. So well did he fare and grow that when he was able to leave the protection of his glass palace he Could not squeeze through the only exit. He contented himself with the situation, inasmuch as he would be able to live like a lord on the contributions of his friends for the rest of his days. But the destroy-: ing workmen, frightening away a part of his race and killing the rest, came across his citadel, and, satisfying their curiosity for a time by inspecting it and him, demolished it with a club. At this display of deadly will the rat, released, scampered to the nearest hole, but taking part of his curious house with him, stuck fast * just as he got out of sight. His enemies punched with sticks until he gave up the battle, and was drawn out a bleeding corpse. If any one does not believe this the dead rat can be produced.