-only that kindness and mercy shown
to even so humble a creature as a toad will bring pleasures and a sure
recompense."

--Writing from Tecumseh, Mich., a correspondent sends this: "A few years
ago our house was infested with a large number of rats, which had taken
up their abode in a recess of the cellar that had formerly been used as
a landing-place for a dumb-waiter, but was now filled with odds and ends
of every description. We had endeavored to rid ourselves of these pests,
but all our attempts were in vain, and they held their daily matinees as
usual. On hearing more of a commotion than common, one afternoon,
I softly opened the cellar door, and, to my amazement, saw nine rats,
one of which had mounted a box containing potatoes, while the others
were stretched out in a line leading to their den--the recess before
mentioned. Now comes the most curious part of my story: The rat that
stood on the box of potatoes would push a potato over the edge, then the
rat in line nearest the box would roll the potato to his neighbor, and
so on with each one till the potato was safely stowed away. I watched
them for some time, and, seeing the potatoes disappearing rather
rapidly, I dispersed the earnest workers by a stamp of my foot."

PUZZLEDOM.

NO. CCCLXXVII.

Original contributions solicited from _all_. Puzzles containing obsolete
words will be received. Write contributions on one side of the paper,
and apart from all communications. Address "Puzzle Editor," GOLDEN DAYS,
Philadelphia, Pa.

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES.

No. 1. Calendar.

No. 2. B E S T O W
E P A U L E
S A C R E D
T U R B I D
O L E I N E
W E D D E D

No. 3. Wise-acre.

No. 4. C A L A B O O S E
A N I M A B L E
L I M E R O D
A M E N D E
B A R D S
O B O E
O L D
S E
E

No. 5. Mark Tapley.

No. 6. M O C H E S
O T I O S E
C I C U T A
H O U D A H
E S T A T E
S E A H E N

No. 7. Good-humored.

No. 8. F A I R S
A B N E T S
I N T A I L S
R E A L L I E D
S T I L E T T O S
S L I T H E R
S E T E E
D O R
S

No. 9. Byrnehc, Pygmalion, Traddles.

No. 10. G R A T I S
R E V E S T
A V E N E