The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-05
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An accident begins II On either pillar Of
the gate stately peacock had perched him
self In all the oalmness Of conscious beauty.
We were grouped o ~ vcnsdsh, now and
then admitting then, Svsn ssoush to have
satisfied their own vHin fssarts could they
have understood The praisipg. Our lttle
darllngs, ducks, chickens, goose, turkeys,
dogs aud cats enjoyed themselves, each In
its favorite way, under the great mulberry
tree before us. The woods on ono side, tho
waters on the other, slumbcrcd iu the after-
noon sunshIue-a quiet, pleasant scene.
Suddenly the wind rose. Az We looked
out scaward, there came tho whlte-cappcd
waves bounding, bounding like q vast Aock
OF frightened sheep; the thick clustered trees
awoke, tossed their strong arms, and
groaned; the children retrsated to the
verandah, the pcacocks forsook their sta-
lions and Few up 10 the topmost branches
Of the mulberries, while tho ducks and geese
alone remained OF all our late outside COM
panions- A storm was coming. 1t
: That moment was a strange one 10 be
clsscn BY the teacher" for aproposltion
ssNo, no, no, no, no, no 7" exclaimed al
least half dozen lady voices all at once, &C.
cording 10 their wont, while two answered
bravely, '1yesi" Among the gentlemen,
alone accepted. Then prstestations were
many and urgent. But the adventurers I'm.
medfately started, followed 10 the bench by
the rest Of the guests 10 . supplicstlng ring.
hscn our host, familiar for years with the
storas Of this region, represented their dan
ger.
Pass ov,r the farewolls. The wind blew
a - uAnA htxhnr iii d..
Jew frightened. and darker and lower
droopcd the vast cloud, lightning.torn and
muttering thunder.
Our graceful boat seemed 70 feel O peculiar
Joy In 1cappg over the pillows, while they
were mot lcss happy In leaplng over us. II
was q refreshing bath, AFTER q sultry day.
"The teacher" laughed, and molly managed
his sail and rudder; Louise smiled and was
lovely; Pauline, full Of fun and frolic,
wouldn't sit still O moment, though often
ordered By the captain 10 be quiet under the
penalty OF going overheard. She didn't mind
that, not she; she couldn't be more thor
oughly ducked by all the great ocean than
she was already by is tossing spray. did
what could, obeying commands, and bore
myself In my usual philosophic manner.
Scarcely had wo advanced mile when
the indications Of violent storm became
oyerpowering, and We sought safety al
Pussy Place" We landed before droT
Of rain had fallen. No accident yet. Aftei
awhile will do. We were interested here
and thought not OF the future.
Through bushes and tall grass TO the
servants quarters. There We obtained two
colored women az guard, each armed with
a club. Aiming ourselves In q similar way,
and preceded BY the dark Amazons, We ap-
preached tho mansion. Notwithstanding
its pacific name, "Pussy Place" abounds in
terrors, rom the fact that over two dozen
fierce dogs are kept about tho house.
"'Tis sweet to hear the wsteh.dos's homes,
Bay d.sp:nou.hed welcome As We draw
occurred to my memory, but under the cir
cumstances / didn't admire the poetry, for
simultaneously the whole pack, with raven
Gus, outstretched jaws, were upon Us. The
shouts and nourished weapons Of the sable
sisters, (Louise and Pauline thought their
own were Important aids, together with the
lowed US passage. As we entered the hos
pltable door down fell the food, and thu
woods and the waves, heaven and earth
were In high carnival. We had much tall
with the farmer, his wife and their tall son,
about crops and the state Of the Union, O
all Of which We knew litsle, TN Pauline dis
covered . plano, and immediately drowned
| our voices and the thunder with grand
very grand march. .'r
So came tea time, and We went up stey
and down . step-for the house ID old ash
Toned, as all houses arc In this vielnlty--til
long table, alluringly spread, appeared be
fore US. The room was large and low, III
rafters visible, furnished In an antique style
the furniture venerable, but neither pretty
| nor comfortable. A single picture, gall,
colored In "hlgh an" hung over the awk
wardly shaped maniel, but the sidsboart
was proiusely ornamented, for on Its broad
polished top stood the figures Of sig cats
1--we OF which were white with brown spots
the remaining one being grey, all, as sup
posed, formed OF plaster-of-paris. They wer
wonderful representations Of life. locke,
at them frequently during the meal, and q
each glance more and more admired them
and resolved, when We should rise, to visl
their rather obscure corner, and CAREFUL,
study these extraordinary productions.
Our host and hostess noticed my admlra
tion, smiled, and were evidently proud Of be
Ing the possessors Of Its objects. But VIII
was there so much uniformity In attitude
All were seated, with fore paws close To
gether, head Turned In one direction. Why
with single exception, all colorsd alike
Why all placed In . straight, soldier-line
Why all on the sldeboard Other rooms ha,
II
pushed myself, and was silent.
This, at least, seemed plain they wer,
connected In some way with the curioui
name Of "Pussy Place.
Tea ended; as we rose, the whole COMPANY
Of cats sprang instantly TO the foot Of the table
They had been carefully taught thus 70 wal
at each meal, aud at the conclusion Of eaei
were amply rewarded for their patience AM
dignity. The original number 40 drilled wa
fourteen, but the limo had boon diminishe,
tribe.
| 1t Is scarcely necessary TO write that thes
fellnes are the pets Of the lady Of the mar
sion. As TO tho designation, PUSSY Place,
that WAS given long ago by merry nelshbo
The fury OF the storm and Of The piano.
for the latter broke forth afrssh amer supps
WAS over, and the full moon came out IN
looked as sweet and calm as II nothing teri
bic had ever happened. Away again HON,
ward, but scarcely started, when--Paulin
fell overheard Head foremost, . capt.,
dive. She had attempted to walk, or dane,
perhaps, on the very edge Of the boat. eth
teacher" sprang amer her. sat still, like
philosopher and no swimmer, and eItende
my hand as tho dripping damsel was brough
up. Louise also sat still, undecided wba
else TO do, and feeling entire confidence, as
felt, In the skill and strength OF 18Th
teacher" Pauline Issued from the water
radiant as Venus, and soon was laughin
I and talking JOLLY from the midst Of pile
coat covering, which she had donned
keep of cold. She didn't move again fro
the bench till she disemberked. "Tl
teacher" 1t Is said, will now teach her
swim. She already understands q portion
the art, and since her accident has receiy,
among US, and will ever bear, the eognom,
Of the "Dlying Belle"
Ere we reached our verandah, We We
obliged to Chamber over tho ruins Of one
the mulberry trees, which had been blow
down by the storm. Its fall had endangers
the buildings shocked and put TO flight a
the household, and seriously incommode
tho peacock on Its topmost bough. Nor al
the damage cease here Cedar Hall yielde
to the rushing wind and rain. Carthage d
Lsndd est. But orders were at once issued |
restore and enlarge 1t. The beautiful pi
lures will soon reappear through Its odorov
portals, improved only by the tempest
which they have been exposed, revarnishe,
as II were. for more enthusiastic admiration
Lately, when We were out sailing, o bal
eagle new over us, like cloud. The stretc
Of Its wings was at least seven feet.
swooped upon an osprey, or fish hawk, al
In mid air robbed 1t Of It's nnny prey. I'll