North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-04-17
A STRANGE CAT.i

Pat Malopey, better known by the name
of Father Pat, on returning from work one
evening, was met at the gate by: Biddy, bis
better halt. in high state of excitement.
"Pat," says she, there's strange cat in
the cabin"
"Cast her out, thin don't be botherin'
me about the baste."
"Faix an Eve been strivin' to do that
for the mather of tin minits past, but she is
beyant my reach, behind the big red chest
in the corner Will yez be after helpin
me dhrive her out, Pat I"
ITO be sure will bad luck to the con
safe che has for me house. Show her to
me, Biddy, till l tache her the respect that's
due to man in his own house-to be tax
in possession without so much as by yer
lave-tbe thafe O. the world y
Now, Pat bad special antipathy to cats,
and never let pass an opportunity to kill
one. This he resolved TO do in the present
case, and instantly formed plan for The
purpose. Perceiviug but one way of egress
for the animal, he says to Biddy:
"Hav yez iver male bag in the house
me darliut 2" .r...
"Divil one is there, Pat. Yez took it
to the mill wild yez, to bring home chips,
this mornin'." .. ..o@ slt rs
"Faix an did, and there lit 10 yet, thin.
And have ye nothin' at all at all in tie
house that viii tie up ike bag, Biddys'|
"Tro;h an | have, Pat there's me Sun
day petticoat--ye can draw the strings
| close at the top an sure it will be better
| for not lettin' the cat LAWN ye." e.. =
"Biddy, dqrlint, ye're jewel; just be
after bringin' it to me al waist"
Biddy brought the garment, and sure
enough it made good substitute for
bag. Pat declared at glance that it
was "illegant."
So, holding it close against the edge OF
the chest, he took look behind and saw
pair Of eyes glaring at him. j..
San is it there ye are, ye devil! Be
out O that, now, bad luck to yez, ye tha-
vim vagabone. Bedsd an ye won't lave
at all with perlite axin'--yerself will bate
the pigs in,irely. Biddy, hav yez any
hot wather?
"Sure I've the full Of tay kettle all a
bilin', Pat"
''Be after castin' the matter of a quart
| thin behind the chest, and we'll see how
the baste minds the like. O that"
"Howld close, thin, here goes the steam
in hot water" So saying dash went the wa
ter and out came the animal into Pats trap,
"Arrah, be the howly poker, have him
now, Biddy," says Pat. us it nine lives
ye have, ye baste? Well, now, be akin
me pardon for all the thavin' ye've bin
doin' in my house or its nine lives will
not save We. Biddy, SAFE howld O the
poker, and whilst | shoulder the bag, just
whack daylights out o the haythin divil
intirely.'
Fat threw the bundle over his shoulder
and Biddy struck about three blows to the
tune of St Patrick's day in the morning
when she suddenly stopped.
"What smells so GUAR, Pat? Sure its
takln away wild the power of it. Oh,
mturther, Pat it's the devil ye have in the
sack"
"Bate him, thin-bate the horns offI'
"I'm faintin," said Biddy; "cast him off
ye, Pat"
"Och, muether! murtherl Biddy Ma
loney, what have ye done! Ye've went
and mistaken a horrible pole Cat for
harrumless tame cat g
| "Pat, for the love O God, if ye're con-
vaniept to the door unclose it, for I'm per-
isht intirely. Oh. Biddy Maloney, that
iver you should lave ould Ireland to be
smothered and murthered in this way =
"Fax the little vilhn bates the divil
himself; he's ruined me house and kit
Biddy, an put me out o consate wild me
own self. Oh, the murtberin' haste!
BY the dint of washing and securing and
airing, and the burial of Biddy's best pet
ticoat under the ground for space of
time, things were at length set to right
again. But not little recrimination took
place between them on the occasion, and
neither ever forgot the expulsion from the
cabin of Biddy's "strange cat"