Uncle Aaron's Rat Trap

Únete Aaron lived near Hartford, and was a matter-of-fact man. Kis barn and out-houses fairly swanned wilh rats, and Pude Aaron was telling a friend frota another town vvho was visiting üt hs house huw lie was troubled by rats and how lie had seen a hundred at least at a time, The friend laughingly told him a hundred was a good niany rats, and begged him to take ol'f a lew. üncle Aaron replied thát he was flxing a trap, and if his friend would wait a few days he would show him a haul of rato which would eonvince him he was not lying. All right," answered his friend; "if yon wíll eatch anywhere near a hundred just let me know." Únele Aaron, too, said "All right," adding, ] '11 letyou know." When his friend started for home the last thing lie said was "Be suroand let me know liow inaiiy rats you catch. A hundred is a good many." The traji l'ncle Aaron was at vork du was a sort of platform ahnost as largo as a big barn door, and the plan was to weight it with heavy rocks, raise one end about three feet from the tioor, and have iL so rigged that the pull of a string would spring it and iet it f'all to the Hoor, inaking it decidedly uncomfortable for any living thing that miglit happen to be under it. After arranging it to his mind he began to bait it. He threw meal all tuound and under the trap, and went to a place eoneniently near and watched tJiings. He did not have to wait long before he counted at least twenty rats busily nvesügatingthat meal. 'Hut they did not go under {he platform. This was kept up for severa] days, and alter a while the patiënt watcher whospentan liour or two every day in seeing them maneuver, had the satisf action of seeing severa] of the rats venture under the trap. Then he knew his plan would be a succes. He eould pul] the string almost any time of day, and catch a dozen or twenty, hut he was "lying low" lora 1 ligger haul. The upraised platform was no Ion'ger a terror to the 'animáis. They took the balt from under a as readily as could be desired. Finallv I QCle Aaron thought the time waaripe to pull the string. Ho had not baited it the night before, so the rodents would have a keen appetite when he, sprinkled the cheése crumbs and meal that morning. Af ter doing üiis'he took up his position and waiteö. Fii'st one rat - a sort oí' cama gliding out and began to partake of the t'east. Xext a pair came, out;,, then three or four, then a dozen. They came from all directions. Uncle Aaron was actiially trembling wit h excitement. lle could hardly keep his hand from pulling the string. Hut he waited until the space under the platform seeim-d fairly alive with the creatures; and then - he pulled. Down went the heavy platform with a crash. A number of the rats vvere seen scampering ofï; hut üncle Aaron was eonfldent that he had nailed some of them. As he carne up he saw heads and tai Is protruding, and he thought he would give them all a good square chance to die before he raiged the trap. He waited till night and then he lifted it. He counted 122 deacl rata.