Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1860-03-03
ETAT DE LA LOUISIANA.
Paroisse de Quest Baton kouge.
THE SCHLLDBURGHERS and THEIR
C.AT

It happened that there were no
cats in Schilda, and so many mice
that nothing was safe, even in the
bread basket; for whatever they
put there, was sure to be gnawed
or eaten, and this grieved them
solely.
Up n time there came trav-
eler into the village carrying a cat
in his arms and he entered the ho-
tel. The host asked him:
What sort Of a beast is tLat!'
Said he 8 it is a mouser'
Now the mice at Schilda were so
quiet and tame that they never fed
before the people, but ran about all
day long without the slightest fear.
So the traveller let the cat run,
who, in sight of the host, soon
caught numbers of mice.
Now when the people were told
this by the host, they asked the
man whether the mouser was to be
sold, for they would pay him we'll
for it.
He SAID that it certainly was to
DO sold; but seeing that it would
be SO useful to them he would let
them have it if they would paw him
what Was right; and he asked a
hundred forins for it.
The Doors were glad to find he
asked so little and concluded bar
gain with him, he agreeing to take
half the money down and to come
again in six months to get the rest.
As soon as the bargain was struck
on both sides, they gave the travel
er half of his money and carried
the mouser into the granary where
they kept their corn, for there were
more mice there.
The traveller went off with his
money at full speed, for he feared
greatly lestthey should repent them
OF the bargain and want their mon
ey back again, and as he went along
kept looking behind him.
Now the boots had forgotten to
ask what the cat was to be fed up
on, SO they sent one after him in
haste to ask the question.
But when he with the gold -drst
saw that some one was following
him, he hastened so much the more
SO that the boor could by no means
overtake him; whereupon he call
ed out to him from afar off,
What does it eat! what does it
eat?
What you please! what you
pleasen quoth the traveller.
But the peasant understood him
to say men and beasts, men and
beasts therefore he returned home
ward IN great affliction and said as
said as much to his worthy masters.
On hearing it they become greatly |
alarmed, and said, when it has no |
more mice to eat, it will eat our
cattle, and when they are gone, it !
will eat US. To think we should |
pay our good money in buying such
4 thing
So they held a council together
and resolved that the cat should be
killed, but no one would venture to
ay hold Of it for that purpose
Whereupon it was determined to
burn the granary, and the cat in it,
seeing that it was better that they
'hould suffer common loss than
III lose life AID limb.
So they set fire to the granary
But when the cat smelt the fire, it
prang out Of window and fed to
mother house, and the granary was
'urnt to the ground.
Never was there sorrow greater
han that Of the Schildburghers,
ghen they found they could not kill
he cat. They counselled with one
mother and purchased the house to
which the cat had fed and burned
hat also. d But the cat sprang out ,
pom the roof and sat there, wash {
ng itself, and putting its paws be- |,
ind its ears after the manner Of
ats. And the Schildburohers nm ,