Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1875 — Capture of a Toad by a Mouse. [ARTICLE]

Capture of a Toad by a Mouse.

It is my custom during the summer months to visit the Huguenot Sulphur Spring every evening and morning. Having arrived at the before-named place about six o’clock p. m. on the 2d of September, I drank aud took my seat on the masonry that incloses 1 the spring. In the two most southwestern corners of this inclosure,, which is an octagon, are two holes, each about three inches in circumference. After sitting a short time a -shrew-mouse made its appearance in front of the hole nearest to me, seeming to he earnestly in search of something. After encircling its threshold for a short time it proceeded around the walk Presently, to my great surprise, I heard a scream, and on looking up perceived that it had encountered a large toad. At first the shrew seemed unwilling to make an attack, aud , returned a short distance; but at this I time, as if its courage was renewed, it re- | traced its steps, and leaping over the toad : seized it by one of its hind legs. The | toad made no show of fight, but, striving I to escape, put forth those pitiful screams j that wouid have moved the heart of any- ! one to its rescue but of one whose curi- | osify was not yet satisfied. When the j shrew had wearied its prey the former i undertook to carry the latter into the near- ; esthole; but this was impossible, as the : shrew had cut the cavity in the wall to tit itselt and not the toad, which was larger round by two inches. When several unsuccessful attempts had beeu made to carry the toad-tinto this diuing-room the latter succeeded iu getting free; but was soon recaptured and taken back to undergo the same treatment, the shrew no doubt Blinking that it had swollen itself to prevent being carried through the -threshold entrance; but unfortunately lor the shrew the toad's frame was too large. Finding it impossible to accomplish its purpose at this corner, the shrew dragged its prey (which by this to have given up all'hope of escape) to the next hole, and laying it near the entrance ran quickly to find fro several times, as if seeking a place to put it. The shrew now .commenced again the task to take a toad that measured five inches ground into a hole that was only three inches in circumference; but this being of no avail it seernea as if to say: “To take supper in my dining-room this evening is impossible, so I will enjoy it the beat I can out in the cool porch.” And so it did, for it gnawal off and devoured one of the hind legs of the living toad, when I set the latter free to spend the remainder of its life with only three legs. During the whole of this scuffle, which lasted about half an hour, the tqad screamed most pitifully.— Cor. Richmond (la.) Dispatch.

How to weigh a load of coal: Weigher —•‘This load is too heavy; jump on there, 1 Patrick, and take off a few baskets.” Patrick jumps on the load and shovels off coal until the weigher cries “ stop,” and the purchaser of the coal pays for 100 pounds of Irishman which he does not receive. „! f ' Whex the Mexican authorities catch a train-robber the aforesaid robber lives just six minutes. In case the guns hang fire he may live six and a half. A max’s position in society is virtually determined by his own conduct. As he sowetb, socially reap.