Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-07-16
is c Ell L A n Y.
CATS GRE ASE.

hluOnS uuc VAIN liOuuSto VI viz
kingdom we are not aware that cats grease
holds very high rank. However, when the
people of certain Swiss town-meaning
that person has made a bad bargain-de-
clare that she has bought cats grease" we
might be inclined to suppose that the proven
bal expression was based on the small value
of the article said to be purchased. At least,
we may be inclined to adopt this hypothesis,
were we not aware Of the strange incident to
which the. expression owes its origin.
One day, some few centuries ago, the
witchfnder of the town IN question--himself
secretly wzard--was taking his afternoons S
walk, when he suddenly perceived cat, of
the male sex, sitting in tho warm sun, and
looking very thin and miserable. He had
known this cat in better days he had been
the chief favorite of rich old maid, who had
trained him up in luxurious living, so that
he had been regarded in the neighborhood as
a sort of prize cat But the ruthless scythe
of death had moved down the ancient virgin,
and had thus soon brought Toms happy
days to disastrous end. Persecution at
hands of boys and dogs had taken the place
of universal adulation, and he was now as
shaggy and as meagre as he had formerly
been sleek and fat However, though Tom s
body had wasted, the pride of his heart had
not diminished, and, therefore, when the
wizard said to him, " How much shall
offer you for your fat? ?" he looked not little
fierce, and gave the conjuror to understand
that the remark, in his opinion, revealed a
large amount of bad taste. He considered,
in fact, to use sadly vulgar expression, that
he was being chaffed' for his lean condi-
ton.
Tom was mistaken The worthy nccrom-
aucer was perfectly serious with his question,
and was really thinking how he should
transact little business with the fallen
favorite. Cats grease was an invaluable in
gredient for certain magical preparations,
provided the cat, to whom it belonged, will
lingly made a donation Of it. This proviso
rendered good efficient cats grease an exceed
ingly rare commodity; for, though there
might be no great difficulty in finding fa'
tabby or tortoise shell, the discovery of O
tabby or tortoise-shell willing to part with
its fat was no such easy matter.
Now, here was cat in a state of despera-
tion-a cat to whom the vicissitudes Of for
tune had rendered life burden. Such ca
with the tested capability of growing fat
when well fed, seemed exactly suited to tn
purpose of the wizard So in round terms
he offered Tom whole lunar months lux
urious living on condition that, at the expira
ton of the said month, the said Tom woul,
voluntarily lay down his life, yielding up al
the fat that he had acquired through tn
high feeding of four successive weeks. Tom
who saw no alternative beside dying ofhunge
and being killed from repletion, chose tn
better mode of terminating his existence, an
without hesitation accepted the wizards Pre-
posal. A contract, signed by both parties
gave due formalty to the transaction.
Such high importance did the arch-wizar
attach to an abundant supply Of cats greas'
that, as soon as he had taken Tom to his ow
house, he resolved to spare no pains in NAL
ing him as fat as possible. The apartmel
destined for his lodging was fitted up as a
artificial landscape. A little wood Wa
perched on the top of little mountain, whic
rose from the banks of the little lake. Q
the branches of the trees were perched dain
birds, all roasted, and emitting most savol
odor. From the cavities of the mounta
peered forth sundry baked mice, all season'
with delicious stuf6ng and exquisitely lard
with bacon. The lake consisted of the ne'
est milk with a small fish or two at the be
tom. Thus, to the enjoyment of the epicuI
was added the excitement of imaginary a.
craftsmanship.
Enjoying freely all the lu1uries that t
arch-wizard had provided, Tom now becar
as fat as that worthy necromancer could {
sire; but as he grew fat, he also grew
Elective, and the thought that the next mo
would bring with it the termination of
life, was far from comfortable. So differe
are the views respecting life and death ent
tanned by the same individual in state
desperation and a state of comfort
As he was TO be killed for his fatness, L
nationally concluded that any expedite
tending to reduce or check his growing o
sity would be as good as a reprieve.
therefore, began TO scorn the dainty food
before him. The roasted larks and stui
mice had lost their charm SO, likewise,
the cushion, placed for the repose of his lu
rlous limbs-the wizard having wisely G
cluded that nothing is more favorable to
increase of fat than absolute uninterrup
laziness. Tom now preferred run upon
house-top, and such meal as was aHor
by the capture of a live mouse or sparr
Thus he maintained himself in good vii
GUS state, but it was not the state desired
the wizard, who wanted feline fat and
feline muscle.
Seeing the cat obstinately adhere to a
tain mediocrity of stoutness, the wizard,
Rodrigo, began, at last, to suspect tina
was fobbed. lie expostulated with the
representing to him that he was bound BY
the laws of honor to get as fat as he coult
the appointed time, and explaining that
morbid love of health was extremely unhi
some. Tom sulkily defended himself by
marking that there was no claim in the
tract binding him TO adopt any partic
mode of diet, and that he had, oonsequer
right to live just as he pleased, which 7
he most assuredly intended TO exercise,