Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-03-31
Biddy Malone,,s Cat.

/
Mattley Maloney, better known by til
boys of the mill as Father Mat" on return
: ing from work one evening, was met at tn
gate by Biddy, his better half, in high stat
! Of excitement
"Mat, says she, "therc's strange cat il
the cabin" ..-.... .s. .-... Id.
"Cast her out thin, an don't be botherin
Inc about the baste."
'Faix, an I've been sthriven' to do that
same for the matther of ten mints past, but
she's jist bcyant my rache, behint the big red
chist in the corner. viii yez he afthcr help
in me to dhrive her out Mat?"
"1o be sure | will, bat luck to the consatC
she has for me house show her to me Biddy
till tachc her the rcspict that's due man
in his own house--to be taken possission
widout as much as by her lave the thafc O
the wurld p
Now Mat had special antipathy for cats
and never let pass am opportunity to kill one
This he resolved to do in the present case
and instantly formed plan for the purpose
Perceiving but one mode of egress for the an
imal, he says to Biddy: ..-...
"Have yez ivir male bag in the house my
darlint ?" .. ........ ......-. ....r
"Divil wan is there, Mat Yez tux it 10
the mill wild ycz to bring home chips wild
this mornin'." -
"Faix, an did, an there it is yit thin
Well have yez nothin' at all in the house
that will tie up like bag, Biddy?"
"Troth, an have, Mat, there's me Sunday
pctticoat--yc can dbraw the strings elose at
the top, an sure 1t will do bctther nor lcttin'
the cat be LAWN yez." sa.s
"Biddy darlint, ycx a jewel to be thinkin'
o. that same; be afther bringing it to me-"
Biddy brought the garment, and when the
strings were drawn close it made very good
substitute for a meal bag, and Mat declared
it was elegant"
So holding it close against the edge of the
chest, he took look behind and sawa pair
of bright eyes glaring at him."
3 can is it there ye are, ye divil ? De out
o that now bad luck to all yer kin, ye shay
in vagabone ye. Bedad, an ye won't lave
my house at all thin wild pcrlite akin? Yer
sclf-wilI bates pigs intirely Biddy, have
yez any hot wathcr in thc house 2"
"Yis, I've plinty, Mat; the tay-kettle'l
iul iul ~ ~ d. .JF-..g = ,.-.-sr r.- lF.
Be afthcr casiin' the matther Of quart
thin behint the chist, till say how the shay
diyil likes il. '-tav4 4.J-. - .-.r...
q '1iould i'm close, Mat ); here goes the wa.
therr" ia-t4 .l,f,c. q era ,4I .s-7s --..
Dash went the water, and out jumped thu
cat into MATS trap. b.
"Arrah, be the howly poke, have i'm il
Biddy," says Mat, drawing close the folds o
the garment nov, bad cess to yez, ye thafe,
its nine lives ye haze is it2 BE afther akin
the forgiveness, for the thaying ye have beer
dom in me house, for I'm thinkin' the ni2I
lives ye have won't save ye now, anyway
Biddy saize hout of the poker, anlwhin II
shoulder the haythen, yell bate the daylight
out o I'm" - ,a-...'-.-''-- s7
Matt threw the bundle oyer, bis shoulder
and told Biddy to play st. Patrick,s day n
the morning on it, Biddy, struck abou
three notes on that popular Irish air, sudden
ly stopped exclaiming sg-,Isg b, IA
'f'what stnils so quare, Matt It's take
nc birth away with the power NV It. Och
murtber, Mat, sure an ye have the diyiI Il
the sack y 's"sz -as ssBssl
Bate the olild hathen, tlsp,;; .yez III nese
! hassis ksger shslfs.I Base lths lbogps Of in
Iathem i'm like blazes, me darlint .