Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-12-13
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BIDDY MALONEY'S CAT.

BlODY MALONEY'S CAT.
Mathew MaIoney, better known
by the boys at the mill as "Father
Mat on returning from work one
evening, was met at the gate by
Biddy, his better halt, in a high state
of excitement.
"Mat," says she, "there's strange
cat in the cabin
"Cast her out, thin, and don't be
botherIn' me about the haste.
"Faix, au' I've been sthrivin' to do
that sama for the m1tther of ten
minits past, but she's jest beyant
my rache, behint the big rid chist
in the corner. Will yez be afther
helpin me to dhrive her out, Mat?'
ITO be sure | will. bad luck to
the consate she has for me house;
show her to me, Biddy. till l tache
her the RESPECT that's due a man in
bis own house--to be takin' posses
sion without as much as by yer lave
the thafe of the world!''
Now Mat had special antipathy
for cats, and never let pass an oppor-
tunity to kill one. This be resolved
to do in the present case, and instant
ly formed a plan for the purpose.
Perceiving but one mode of egress
for the animal, he says to Biddy-
"Have yez meal bag in the house,
lie darlint?"
"Divil a one is there, Mat. Yez
tux it to the mill wild yez to bring
home chips wild, this morning.
"Faix, an did, and there it is
yit, then Well have yez nothing
at all in the house that will tie up
like a bag, Biddy?'
"Troth, an | have, Mat; there's
my Sunday pitticoat--ye can draw
the strings close at the top an surs
it will do better nor lettin' the cat be
lawn yez.''
"Biddy, darlint, yez a jewel to be
thinkin' O that same; be afther bring
in it to me-"
Biddy brought the garment, and
when the strings we're drawn close it
made very good substitute for the
meal bag, and Mat declared it was
elegant"
So holding it close against the
edge of the chest he took n look
behind, and saw pair Of bright
eyes glazing at him.
can is it there ye are, ye devil?
But out o that now: bad luck to all
yer kin, We thavin' vagabone We.
Bedad, an We won't leave me house
at all wild perlite akin? Yer self
will bates pigs intirely. Biddy,
have yez any hot wather in the
houses"
"Yis, I've q plenty, Mat; the tay
kettles full Nv it."
"Be afther castin' the matther of
quart thin behint the chist, till I
see how the shay divil likes it,
"Hould m close, Mat; here goes the
wather."
Dash went the water and. out
jumped the animal into Mats trap
"Arrab, by the howly poker ]
have him in Biddy,' says Pat drawing
close the folds of the garment; snow
bad cess to yez, we thafe, it's nine
lives we have, is it? Be afther akin
me forgivness for the thavin' ye have
been dom in me house, for I'm
thinkin' the nine lives ye have won't
save ye now any way. Biddy, saize
hoult of the poker an whin I'll
shoulder the haythen yell beat the
daylights out of i'm
Mat threw the bundle over
his shoulder and told Biddy to play
st. Patrick's day in the morning on it.
Biddy struck about three notes of
that popular Irish air and suddenly
stopped exclaiming-
bate the ould haythen, thin; yez
i'll niver have better chance. Bate
the horns off i'm; lather i'm like
blazes, me darlint!"
"Augh," says Biddy, "I'm faintin'
wild the power NV i'm. Cast i'm off
yez, Mat"
'Howly st Father!' says Mat,
throwing down the sack. sBiddy,
the beast is a pole-cat! Lave the !
house,yez ill be kilt entirely. Muir
ther an turf how the haythen
smells? Och, Biddy Aaloney,
purity kittle of fish yez made Nv its
to be shure, to be mistaken that little
divil for a harmless cat |
Mat, for the love of God, if yez
be convenient to the door, be afther
opening it, for I'm narely choked
wild i'm. Och, Biddy Maloney, bad