Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-25
What the Cat Found.

Squire Gray was somewhat celebrated
lawyer, and most Of his time, Just now, was
employed upon an interesting case in which
he was retained as chief counsel 1t wa, a
contested will case, and Mr. shaw, by whom
| Squire Gray was employed, uuqucstionably
/ had the right of it, The issue involved sew
cra hundred thousand dollars and YOU may
be sure that Squire Gray worked hard for his
client II he gained the suit for Mr.. Shaw
his fame and fortune would be made, but if
he lost it, it would be severe blow to his
professional reputation
There was one very important paper, which
he felt sure would establish Mr.. Shaw's claim
and this paper had been intrusted to his keep
ing Without this paper, Mr.. Slmw's case
was hopeless
The Squire was up late one night, eXamn-
ing evidence, for the case would soon be
tried and when he retired he left the impor-
tant paper with several others lying on the
study table. And in the morning, when he
went down to resume business, he found that
paper missing.
Every nook and Granny of the place was
! searched and yesearchcd all the drawers, and
shelves, and pigeon-holes of desks and tables
were ransacked but it could not be found
The squire was dismayed 1t was worse
than useless for him to appear in court with
out that paper And where in the world
could it have dsappcarei2 After several
/ days search, the squire came to the eonclu-
sion that perhaps it had been stolen and he
inserted an advertisement in the papers, Of.
feriug a reward Of five hundred dollars for its
/ discovery.
But time passed on, and there were only
two days more before the court would meet,
and still no news of the lost document.
The squire was sitting sad and gloomy
enough, by his desk, leaning his forehead on
his hands, late one evening when Alma stole
softly into the room Jp followed her, hi.
mischievous eyes pecring wickcdly at the ar.
ray of loose papers ON the floor, and his long
tail whisking about like banner on tn,
Fourth of July.
Don't feel so bad, papa said Alma, steal
ing soft arm around his neck perhaps
something will turn up
Yes, | reckon something will said tn,
squire, spying .jip That cat will upset GOV
ernmcntl I'd as lief have boiled down
hurricane III int IbDli bIAt Hlll bul. Ol
he'll tear all my papers into tat,ers
4 Jip Jip! cried Alma leave the room
this instant, ,Jip!' But twas too late Jip'
little round eyes had caught sight Of nous
scampering for the wainscot behind the grea
od.fashioned bookcase, and he was lost i
e pursuit. The space was very small, but Jip
head was narrow, and eats body will pas
= where the head can be put through, 70
know and Jip worked himself in.
There was a great scratching and rattln
behind the bookcase and then directly il
backed out, greatly disGgured about the hea
and whiskers by dust and cobwebs, but wit
a triumphant air, which proclaimed him vic
tor He had crumpled, torn paper in hi
mouth, and as Alma sprang forward to tax
it away from him, out dropped three littl
silky, baby mice, and any quantity of du'
g and bits of paper.
e o. mouse's nest houses nest III
, cried excitedly Did you ever see the liz
t of it! o, Jip q papa
- But Jip was busy crunching one Of ii
E little mice, and Squire Gray, with II fac
a glowing like the morning, had seized on Il
= paper which had formed the nest.
IS BY love cried he it is that missil
h affidavit Huuah All right now! And
y snatched up Jip, and gave him such huggil
e that the astonshed kitten put up his ba,
n and spit at him quite as spitefully as he W
s. in the habit of doing at Col. Jones's d,
N prince,
n, Papa, said Alma, little mischevousl
Sc is one eat around the house any too many
he No, darling said the squire, enthusiast
cally dozen wouldn't be too many, il tn
r. We're like Jip
d. SO you see it came out right. The squi
= gained the case for Mr.. Shaw and Alma "
re allowed to keep Jip in nice basket in t
n sittmg-room and in the long winter evenin
lie he used to sit ON the squires knee, and drea
y perhaps of the happy hnting-grounds, whe
$. mice and rats abound, and squirrels can
he had for asking.--OW Boys and Girls,