The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-12-19
Jim Wolf and the Tom Cats.

Here is one Of Mark Twain's good s,o
rles. lie knows how to make the reader
laugh, and If the following does not prol
woke smi!eit is because there is no mirth
in mankind during the hct weather:
I'VE were all boys, then, and didn't
care for nothing, and didn't have no trou.
oIe', and didn't worry about nothing only
how to shirk school and keep up a revivin
state Of devilment all the time. This yer
jim Wolf was talking about, was the
prentice, and he was the best hearted fel.
ler' he was, and the most forgivin' and
onseihsh, L ever see-well, there couldn't
be more bulle' boy than he was, take
him how you would and sorry enough
| was when | see him for the last time.
"Me and Henry was always pes,erinp
him and p!astering boss bill, on his back
and putting humble bees in bis bed, and
so on, and sometimes we'd crowd in and
bunk with him, Notwithstanding his growl,
ing, and then we'd let on to get mad and
hight acrost him, so as to keep him stirr-
ed up like. He was nineteen, be was,
and long, and !ank, and bashfu, and we
was. fifteen and sixteen, and tolerabe law
and worthless.
$50, that night, you know, that nv sis
ter Mary give the candy pulliu', they star.
ted US off TO bed early, so as the compa.
ny could have full swing, and we runc in
on jim to have some fun.
"Our window looked out onto the roof
Of the ell, and about ten o'clock a couple
OF tom cats got to rarin' ard chargin'
around on it and carryin on like siu.-
There was four inches Of snow on the
roof, and it was frozen so that there was
a right smart crus. Of ice on it, and the
moon was shining, bright, and we could
see them cats like daylight. First they'd
off and e-yow-yow-yow-yow, just the
same as if they was cussin one another
you know, and bow up their backs and
push up their tails, and swell around and
spit, and then all Of sudden the prav
cat he'd snatch handful Of fur out O
the yeller cats ham, and spin her around
like button on barn door. But tn,
ysller cat was game, and he'd come ant
c'inch, and the way they'd pouge, an,
bite and howl and the way they'd max
the fur fly was powerful.
e "Well, Jim. he got disgusted with tb,
4 row, and 'low'd he'd climb out there anG
3 shake bin off'n the roof. Hs hsdn'
= RELY no notion Of doin' it, likely, but ",
everlas.inely logged him, aud bullyrag
5 ged him, and lowed how he'd alway.
> Dragged how he wouldn't take a dare
} and SO on, till bimeby be higsted up tb,
winder, and 10 and behold you lie wsn
went exactly as he was-nothin on bu
shirt and i was short. But you oueh
to have seen him ! You ought to see b i'm
} creepin' over that ice, and diggin' his to,
nails and finger nails in for to keep from
siPpin'; and 'bove all you ough. TO hav,
seen that shirt happin' 10 the wind, and
+ them long ridiculous shanks of his'n
} glistenin' in the moonlight.
} "Them comp'ny folks was down ther,
under the caves, the whole squad Of 'eu
under that onery shed OF old dead Wash
inton Bower vines--all settin' round a
bout two dozen sassers Of hot candy
: which they sot in the snow to cool. Ant
they was laughin' and talkin' lively; bu
they didn't know nothin bout the pauo
rama that was goin' on over their heads
Well, Jim he went a sneakin and A snea
kih' up unbeknowus to them tom cats
they was swishin' their tails, yow-yow
in and threatenin to clinck, you know
and not payin any attention-he was ,
sneakin' right up to the comb Of the roof
till be was in foot and bali Of 'sm
and then all Of sudden he made a grail
for the yalsr cat But by gosh he misset
fre and slipped his holt, and bis heel
fiew up and he Topped on mis- back ant
shot otf'n that roof like a dart ! went .
smashiu' and cussin' down through
them old rusty vines and right in tn,
dead centre OF them company people -
sos down like an earthquake in them two
dozen sassers Of red hot candy, and lei
OIL howl that was bark from the tomb
Them girls--weil they felt you kuow.-
The seen be warn't dressed for company
and so they left. All done in a second
It was just one little war whoon. and q