Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-04-23
BIDDY MALONY'S CAT.

the boys at the mill as Z" Father Mat"
on returning from work one evening, was
met at the gate by Biddy, his better half,
in a high state of excitement.
Mat" says she "there's a strange
cat in the cabin"
"Cast her out thin, an don't be both
erin me about the baste."
Fax, an I've been sthriven' to do
that same for the matther of ten minits
past, but she's jist beyant my rache, be-
hint the big red chist in the corner. Will
yez be helping me to dhrive her out,
Mat ?"
To be sure I will, bad luck to the
consate she has for me house; show her
to me, Biddy, till tache her the rispict
that's due a man in his own house-to
be takin' possession widout as much as
by yer lave, the thafe O the world?'
Now Mat had special antipathy for
cats, and never let pass an opportunity
TO kill one. This he resolved to do in
the present case, and instantly formed a
plan for the purpose. Perceiving but
one mode of egress for the animal, he
says to Biddy:
Have yez iver a male bag IN the
house, me darlint?"
" Diyil wan is there, Mat. Yez TUX
it to the mill wild yez to bring HON chips
wild, this mornln'."
Faix, an l did, and there it is yit,
thin. Well have yez nothin' at all in the
house that will tie up like bag, Biddy?"
Troth, an l have, Mat; there is my
Sunday petticoat-ye can dhraw the
strings close at the top, an sure it will
do betther, nor lettin' the cat be LAWN
yez."
Biddy, darlint, yere jewel to be
tbinkin' o that same; be after bringing
ito me"
Biddy brought the garment, and when
the strings were drawn close it made a
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 a look behind and saw
pair of bright eyes glaring at him.
And is it there ye are ye divil? Be
out o that now bad luck to all yer kin
ye thavin' vagabone ye. Be dad, an ye
won't lave me house at all wild perlite
akin? Yer self-will bates a pigs intire.
ly. Biddy, have yez any hot water II
the house?"
- "Yis, I've pinty, Mat; the tay kit
q ties full of it,
"Be after castin' the matter of quar-
f thin behind the chist till l see how tn,
shay divil likes it,"
:. Hould i'm close, Mat here goes tn,
# wather."
Is Dash went the water and out iumpe
= the animal into Mats trap.
n "Arrah, be the holy poker 1 have 'er
e Biddy," says Mat, drawing close tn
folds of the garment now bad cess t
+ yez, ye thafe, its nine lives We have, is il
80 Be afther akin me forgiveness for tn
,f thavin', We have been doin' in me hous,
II for I'm thinkin' the nine lives We hav
le won't be savin' ye now any way. Bic
lie dy, seize hoult of the poker, an when
re shoulder the haythin, yen bate the day
o. lights out of im."
III Mat threw the bundle over his shou
n der, and told Biddy to play St. Pa
Us rick's day in the mornin' on it. Biz
III dy struck about three notes of that d.
le pular Irish air, and suddenly stopped, e1
to claiming:
he What smills so quare, Mat? 1t
an takin' me BIRTH away with the power
We it. Och murther, Mat, sure an We ha,
ee the devil in the sack"
y " Bate the ould haythan' thin yez
or niver have better chance. Bate Il
I'll horns Of i'm; lather i'm like blazes. n
n darlintl''
e "Och," says Biddy, ".Pm faintin' W
d. the power ov i'm! Cast i'm off We
Mat"
be "Howly St. Patrick says Mat, thro,
ing down the sack. Biddy the haste
a pole-cat Lave the house, or yez
Of be kilt intirely. Murther an turf, he
the haythan' smills! Och Biddy NJ
~ lony, purity kittle of fish yez made
as it, to be sure, to be mistaking that lit
he divil for harmless cat"
es. Mat, for the love NV God, if yez
OILS convenient to the door, be afther openir
sro ii, for I'm narely choked wild i'm. DC
nd Biddy Mallory, bad luck to yez for lavi
ould Ireland, to be murdered in ii
in way Holy Mary purtict me NJ
n; I'm clane kilt intirely; take me out
n, this p
x Mat drew her out of doors and IN