Litchfield enquirer., 1860-05-17
THE CATS FUGUE. (FROM THE GERMANY

rounded and shaded by wild roses anG orange-trees- the background, on it. glorious site, Naples, the queen of all cities and overarching all, the overlapping Ital ian sky. A scene so rich in colors as this is really an enchanting one for eyes hal blinded by winter snows and ice, and ou1 longing souls dream over all this luxurianct of beauty, until we at last get to speak O ltaly's clear, dark blue sky, as if we too had felt the inspiriting, gladdcning suns kiss and had gazed, with our own eyes, upon tbe strange, bewitching splendor of the south And DOW that you have refreshed yourselves for moment by the contemplation of this picture, turn your eyes towards an old, neg ligently dressed man, who sits before the door of the house, and gazes, lost in thought into the distance. An orange-tree strews now and then, few fragrant blossoms over him, but he doesn't notice it roses coquet tishly kiss his forehead gayly-colored but terlics flutter sportively about him-to nc purpose the sigus of life and stir make nc impression on him; and still there was pas sion and sensibilty in his dark, nobly-cut features, and the burning Italian eyes con- trasted strangely with the northern SHOWS on his head.
 It was the Maestro Alessandro Scarlatti A harp was leaning upon his chair, in front of which, with an indescribably earnest mein and inimltabIe dignity was large black cat He was occupying himself with aourisling the tip of his tail, which, as well as his left ear, was of a dazzling whitenesS, gently over the chords, which singular experimen, very naturally brought forth all manner of strange sounds. It was his habit, in fact, since his lcrd and master never took his musical stud ics amiss to abandon himself, every morn ing, with utter rcckessness, to his genius, accompanying the movement of his tail with the most absurd gestures and sometimes in the overflow of his feelings, he sang one Of those ancient melancholy strains of his fore fathers. which, as has been asserted, have Eower to soften the hardest stone, and drive the calmcst of men to madness. All this caused not the least disturbance to Master Scarlatti {; OH the contrary, he laughed like q good natured devil, whenever the cat fell into his musical tcstacies. In the evening, however the cat always Sat in corner of his beloved masters room, with an express ion like that of sentimental privy counsel Tor, and then it was the Master who played the harp and that must have been gIori- ously worth listening to; for all the little birds who saEg among the orange-trees an, myrtlcs came tlyiuy to the open window, to hear it, and the roses crowded in their little heads, one after the other, in such haste and impaticncr that many tender bud lost its young life
 The Muster, on these occasions, looked like that wonderful old bard Ossian, only not so shattered by pain and grief. What won- der if these magic tones caused tine sens- tive soul of the cat, who Was still mourning wi.hui, for the death of a beloved bride, to melt, and his green eyes to overflow, like the King of Thu|e's! Whenever Scaratti perceived this, he took up his faithful four legged companion into his lap, and stroked, carcsscd, and kissed him, until he had recov- cred his mad, romping humor. On the whole, the cat led perfectly charming life with his gentle master, to whom he was all in all-friend, wife, and child, whom he nev- CT left by day or by night. When the old Master was engaged in composing something, Ponto sat quietly upon his left shoulder, and brushed his forehead softly with his famous whitc-tippcd tail. Sometimes Scurlatti would get impatient and vexed, when an idea was not clear, when his hand got wearied, or the malicious ink spread out upon the paper in a shapeless blotch at such times, upon a sudden angry shrug of his masters should CTS, the cat would spring down from his lof- ty seat, into the middle of the room He never took offence at this rough treatment, but continued placidIy affectionatc, like q sensible wife with scolding husband, and always stole quietly back, after few min utes of grievous banishment, and mounted again, with comfortable purr, upon the forsaken throne. For this, too, he got a thousand caressing words, when his master, at length, thrust pen and paper, and other things, aside, which put him into state of boundless cctasy.
 All this was very nice and comfortable, if it had not been for tue Sunday, the only dark day that Ponto experienced; for, every Sunday, jovial, mad fellow, was in the hab- it of beating up to Master Scarlatti's quart, rs and staying with him until the still night had enveloped the earth, exhausted by the days heat and brightness, in her mantle of stars The young Sunday guest was fa- vorte scholar of the Masters, who had come long distance, from Germany. and was named Hasse this the cat had remark. cd, as we'll as his red and white complexion and his brown locks. Now there could no, possibly be, in the whole wide world, bol der, jolier fellow, than this same young Ger man, who tormented and insulted the vener | able Ponto in every imaginable way ;-nov he would fasten little bell to his tail, now put baby-shoes on his feet, now crown hin with wreath of roses, or strew orange blossoms over him. whose strong scent tn, cats nasal organs could by no means tole rate, and against which he struggled witl incessant convulsive snceziug. To cap tn. climax, the young German possessed a littl'
 frolicking dog, of whom even Ponto, hi sworn enemy, had to confess, that he wa
 enchanting. dazzling white, nimble, ane
 graceful, with intelligent brown eyes. Thi
 spoiled pet was, if possible, more mad, wan
 ton, and reckless than his owner, and th cat grleVed, even to cancellation, over his i'm
 pudence.
 And it was Sunday, as the cat. sprineip,
 up and down, was drawing forth wild. far
 tastic strains from the harp, and his maste
 was gazing so full of thought into the di.
 tance, as have described him-and behold
 the dreaded visitor appeared, in the middl
 of the first prelude. With light, joyou
 step, he drew near, this youth, with th