The Cecil Whig., 1867-07-06
Biddy MalOney's Cat.

| MutHtW DellPr knOWn Dy III
boys at the mill as "Fa,her Mat" on re
the gate by Biddy his better half in q higl
state of excitement "Mat," says she
there's strange cat in the cabin"
Cast her ont, thin, and don't be bother
in me about the bastc."
''Faiy an I've been sthrivin' to do tha
same for the maiher of tin minits past, bu
she just beyent my rachc, behind the bi!
rid chist in the corner. Will yez be afthel
helpin' me to dhrive her out, Mat?n
| ''To be sure | will, bad luck to the con
safe she has for my house show her to me
Biddy, till taclIe her the rispict that's due
Il man in his own house-takin' possession
without as much as by yer lave, the thale O
| the world ~
Now Mat had a special antipathy for cats
and never let pass an opportunity to Kill
one. This he resolved to do in the prcsen,
case, and instantly formed plan for the
cgress for the animal, he says to Biddy---
"llave yez ivcr u male bag in the hoose,
me darlint?'
'Divil Il one is there, Mat Yez TUX it to
the mill wild yez to bring chips wild this
mornin'.''
FAX, an did, and there it is yit, thin.
Wall have ycz nothin' at all in the hoosc
that will tie up like bag, Biddy?'i
''Iroth an | have. Wait; there's me
Sunday petticoat--ye can draw the strings
close at the top, an sure it will do better,
nor let the cat be lawn yez."
"Biddy, darlint, ycz a jewel to bc think.
in o. that same: be after bringin' it to me.
Biddy brought the garment, and when the
strings were drawn close, it made Il very
good substitute for the meal bag, and Mat
declared it was "illigant." 50 holding il
close against the edge Of the chest he took
u look behind and saw pair Of bright eyes
blaring at him.
AN is it there ye are, ye divil? Be ont
Of that now, bad luck to all yer kin, yc
lerseli' $ will bate pigs intirely. Bddy,
have yez any hot water in the honse?'
"lis, I've Il plenty, Mat the tay kettle S
inll OF it,"
''Be alther castin' the matter of u quart
thin behind the chist till see how the she
divil likes it,"
"llold i'm close, Mat, here goes the wa.
ther.n
Dash went the water and out Jumped the
animal into Mats trap.
"Arrah. he the howly poker | have i'm
in, Riddy,' says Mat, drawing close the
folds OF the garment ''now bad cess to yez,
ye thaie, it's nine lives ye have, is it? BE
aither akin the forgiveness for the thavin
ye have been doing in my hoose, for I'm
tlinkln the nine lives ye have won't save
ye now anyway. Biddy, saize hoult of the
poker, au' whin FL shoulder the hayihen
ye Il bate the daylights ont Nv i'm
Mat threY the bundle over his shoulder,
and told Biddy to play "St. Pairick's day
IN the morning on it. Blddy struck about
three notes OF that popular Irish air, and
suddenly stopping, exclaimed:
'N hat seems so gnare, Mat? It's taken
me BIRTH away with the power of it. Och,
m"r'hcr, Mat; sure an you have the devil
i'll me petticoat"
Bate the old haythen, then: yez' Il niycr
have u better chance. Balethe horns of" IN :;
lather i'm like blaYes, me darin'l'
'Hngh' says B,ddy, ~ N iaintln' wild
tie power Of in. Cast i'm oil yrz, Mat"
"lowly st. Patrick e. says Mai, throw,
ing down the petlicoat. ''Eddy, the basle
is II pole cat! Leave the hoose. or yez' II
be Kilt intircly Murlher an turf, how the
haythen sniils Och, Eiday Maloney, a
purity kittle Of fish yel made ii it, 10 be mis-.
taking that diyil for harmless cat, ="
MAT, for the luv of God, if yez be con.
yanieni 10 the door, be after opening it, for
/ M narl!y choked wild i'm. Och, Bddy
Maloney, bad luck 10 yr7, for LAWN ould
Ireland, to be murthered in thIs way p
Howly Mary pnrtict me? Mat, I'm clane
kilt iniirrly take me out nv hist
Mat drew her out oi t|oors, and broke for
the pump like u quarter horse, closely Sol.
lowed by Bidly.
"Shure, that little villin bates the diviI
intircly; he $ ruined me hoose an kilt Bid
dy, an put he out OF eonsa.e Wid myself
for a month to come. Och, the dcSayin'
vagabcne, bad luck to i'm = and Mat plum.
gcd his head into the horse trough up to
his shoulders.
sect out O. that, Mat, I'm nearly blind" :"
and Biddy went under the water. "Och
the mrrtherin' bastc,'' says Biddy, spulter.
pe,ticoat is split inlircy. Mat MaIoney,
divil a trap will liver help ycz sit for Cat
again.
"Don't trouble yourself, Mistress Malo.
ney, ycve played TIE Givl as it is. Niver
fear me again askin' ha' porth o. yer as
sistance. It's nath raj fool yer are to be
takin' II baste nv pole cat for II hoosc cat. "
Mat and Biddy went cautiously back to
the cabin, from which the offensive quadrup.
ed had taken his departure. Things were
turned out OF doors, Biddy' petticoat buried,
the bed, which fortunately escaped, moved
to a near neighhor's, the stove moved out.
side, and for II week they kept house ont of
doors, by which time by dint Of scrubbing,
washing, airing, the house was rendered
once more habilablc, but neither Mat nor
Biddy have forgotten the ''Strange cat.
/