Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-02-08
A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR CATS.

When was little giri, knew Two
old maids who were so jolly and nice that
am always ready. beforehand, 10 love
anybody who is called en- old maid. To
be sure have never yet seen any others
in the leas, like them; and | begin 10 be
afraid ths, that particular kind Of old maid
has died out. like the big birds called
Dodos, which used to live in Australia.
But am always hoping 10 see two more
before die, and ,ha, shall fad them
living together in a pretty little yellow
cottage, just like III, one tie Miss Ferrys
lived in. and that they will keep four
splendid cats, just like the cats the Miss
Ferrys had. never saw such cats. No.
body ever saw such cats. They were
| almost twice as large as common cats.
Miss Esther Ferry used to say that il
there was nything in the world she III
terly despised the sight Of. j! was little
dwarf OF cat; and as soon as she began
to talk abou, it, her black ca, Tom used
to stand right up and bulge himself until
all the hairs Of his fur stood out like The
spokes of wheel. Tom was the clev-
crest cat OF the four. He really did un-
ders,snd more than half Of all that was
said before him, and sometimes Miss Es-
lher used 10 send him out Of the room
when tie neighbors were telling her any
gossipping story. OF course know
that Tom can't repeat it, she would say;
but it does make me nervous 10 have
him listen so, and he is just as well of
down cellar. Tom and Spiiffe were
Miss Es,her's csis; we thought they were
little handsomer than Spunk and yell
low, who belonged TO Miss Jane; but
think it was only beca use we loved Miss
Esther beet that we thought so. Slran-
gers never could decide which Of the four
cats was the best looking. Tom wa, as
black as ink.-no, a white or gray hair
about him; Spil6re was Maltese, Of the
lovelest scft mouse color all over, with
great white star on her breast; Spunk was
pure white, and her eyes shone like TO-
PAGES in The sunlight; Yellow was
,or,oise-shell cat, black and yellow and
white; he was the largest and fercesl Of
The four. We were all more afraid Of
him than Of any dog in town. You will
hardly believe it, but these CATS used TO
sit in high chairs at the table, and feed
themselves with their paws like squirrels.
They had little Tin plates. with their names
stamped on them; and one Of the things |
used 10 like best to do,when went there
TO tea, was 10 change their plates, and
then watch 10 see what they would do.
Yellow was the only one who would eat
ou, of any plate bu, his own; he was al.
ways greedy, and did moi care. But The
other, would look down al the plate. smell
Of it, and begin 10 new; and once black
Tom jumped righ, across The table at
Spunk, who had his plate, pushed her
out OF her chair. and dragged the plate
away. 1t was some minutes before he
would lei her come back 10 the table
without ,piiting al her. Blu. the bes,
time we ever had in that dear yellow cel-
lsge was al Christmas party which the
old ladies gave for their cats. don't be-
lieve there was ever such thing heard
of before or since. knew about i, week
before il came of, and i! was the hardes,
secre, ever had to keep. My mamma
came home one evening just a, dark. l
wsslyipg on sofa in dark corner,
where sho could mol see me, and papa
was sitting by the FIRE. She went up to
his chair and kissed him, and burs, out
inio such laugh. a, she said, Dazzling,
what do you suppose those dear absurd
old Ferrys are going 10 do p! They're
going 10 have Christmas Tree for their
cals.'
You ara moi in earnest, Mary said
papa.
'Butl am. though. said mamma sitting
down on his knee. and putting her arms
around his neck. II makes the tears
come into my eyes even now, TO Iemsm-
ber how my papa and mamma used TO
love each other. Since have grown up.
and seen what men and women really
are, know how wonderful il was.
They have been 10 heaven q great many
years, but il would be hard 10 make me
believe they are very much happier than
they were here.
Blu, an. You always think am
joking ----
Because you always sre.' interrupted
papa.
Don't interrupt. You are always in
terrupliue,' esid mamma. Il have been
at the FerIys' for an hour this afternoon.
and the dear old sosls are quiis- beside
themselves sboutit. They are going TO
have linen drilling pu. down over their
carpets. and ,tey are wondering whether
j, will do 10 have ss many as twenty csn
in the room with twenty children