Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-09-01
SeIstt glnrg.
Jim Wolf aud the Thomas Cats.
BY MARK TWAIN.

I knew by the sympathetic glow upon
his head knew by the thoughtful look
upon his face-E knew by the emotional
flush upon the strawberry on the end of
the old free livers nose, that Simon
Wheeler'a memory was busy with the
olden time. And SO I prepared to leave,
because all these were symptoms Of a
reniniscence-signs that he was going to
be delivered of another Of bis tireaome
personal experiences-pWt was too slow
he got the start of me. As nearly as
can recolect, the infection was couched
in the following language:-
1--WE we're all boys then, and didn't
care fer nothing, and didn't have no
trouble and didn't worry about nothing,
only to shirk school and keep up a revi-
vim state of devi.ment ali the time. This
yah Jim Wolf I was talking about was
the prentice, and he was the best hearted
TELLER, he was, and the most forgivin'
and onselfish [ ever see-well there
couldn't be more butler 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 Fostering
him and plastering horse bills on his back
and putting bundle bees in his bed, and so
on, and sometimes we'd crowd in and
bunk with him, outstanding his
growing, and then we'd let on to be mad
and fight across him SO as to keep him
stirred up like. He was nineteen, he was,
and long, and lank, and bashful, and we
was fifteen and sixteen, and tolerable lazy
and worthless.
So that night you know, that my sister
Mary gave candy pullin', they started
US to on to bed early, so as the company
could have full swing, and we run, in on
Jim to have some Sua.
Our windcr looked out into the roof
of the ell, and about ten o'clock a couple
Of old tomcats got to rarin' and chargiE'
around it and carryin' on like SIM
There was four inches Of snow OH the
roof and it was frozen so that there was
a right smart crust CT ice on it, and the
moon was shining bright, and we could
see them. cats like daylight. First they'd
stand off and e-yow-yow-yow, just the
anne as if they was aussin' ope. another,
you know, and bow up their backs and
push up their tails and swell around and
spit, then alb of a sudden the gray cat he'd
snatch a handful of far out of the yallar
cats ham, and spin him round like the
button on barn door. But the yaller
cat was game, and he'd come and clinch,
and the way they'd gouge, and bite, and
howl, and the way they'd make the fur fly.
was powerful"
well, Jim: he got Disguised with the
row, and lowed he'd climb out there and
shake him oH'n that roof. He hadn't
RELY no notion of dom it likely, but We
everl as.inly logged him, and bully-rag-
ged him, and flowed he'd always Dragged
how he wouldn't take dare, and so on,
till bimeby he highsted up the winder,
and 10 and behold you. he went-went
exactly as he was, nothin' on bnt shirt,
and it was short. But you ought to have
seen him. You ought to have seen him
a creepin' over that ice, and. aiggin' his
toe-nails and fnger-nails in to- keep. FROM.
slippin'; and Dove all. you ought to seen
that shirt-tail Aappin' id the wind, and
them long ridiculous shanks of his glis-
TENN in the moonlight"
"Them company folks was down there
under the caves, the whole squad of 'em
under tie ornery shed of old Washin'-
ton Bower vines-all sett'n round about
two. dozen sassers Of hot candy. which
they'd sot in the snow to, cool. And they
was laughin' and talkin' lively; but bless
you, they didn't know nothin' bout the
panaramo thar was goin' on over their
heads. Well, jim, he went sneakin'
up, unbeknowns to the tom cats-they
was a swishin' their tails and VOW
yow'in' and threatenin' to clinch, you
know, and not payin' any attention-he
went a one akin right up to the comb of
the roof, till ho was in foot'n half of
'em, and then all of a sudden he made
gard for the yaller cat But by gosh he.
missed fire and he slipped his holt and his
heels few up and he Topped on his back
and shot off'n that roof like dart went
a slashin' and crashin' down thro' them
old rusty vines and landed right in the
dead centre of them comp'ny people !