Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 119, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1903 — Took Off His Clothes And Swallowed Them. [ARTICLE]

Took Off His Clothes And Swallowed Them.

School Janitor Spriggs, at the sohool houses, has a pet Texas horned toad whioh had been off its feed for some time, and refused its natural and customary nourishment of flies. Charley caught a oommon Indiana wart toad and pat with it, thinking its example in the fly swallowing line might arouse the ambition of the emaciated Texan. They were plaoed in a barrel where the ohildren throw their apple ooree, and where flies were therefore very numerous.

The warty ope did not wait for any further invitation bnt proceeded'to start a stream of flies down his throat, forthwith. After swallowing 51, by aotnal count, he began to rob bis stomach and sides, like a boy with too many green apples.-and Mr. Spriggs supposed from the same cause. Events proved -however that it was not the stomaoh ache but too tight a fit of his old clothes that troubled the toad. He felt about until be found where they unbuttoned, or at least oame loose easy, and-then began-** to strip off; pulling first oo one side and then the ether aDd then over hie head Rustlike s boy when ie is going in swimming. Bnt as kst as he got his garments off he lacked them into bis month and swallowed them. When all the old dads were disposed of and the landsome new suit was soen to fit all right and to be right up-to-date in fashion, the toad winked bis est eye, and began regular business again with the flies. This palling off and swallowing their old skins, when they get a letter one under it, is the toads’ regular custom, but it is very seldom that people get a chance to obs eivethe process.