The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-03-08
Young Folks.
The California Family Cat.

bore. saw, and hammer ut everything
about the house aud barn, and 80 dam
aged the estate at the rate Of twenty
dollars per month. Jimmy found q
drum, fife, q harmonica and tin
toot horn. His mother next day was
sick and all from that tin toot horn. Mr..
Crab had sent 1t to Jimmy. Mr.. Grab
is an old suitor to Jimmy's mother;
she refused him now he never neglects
an opportunity to torment the family.
Jane found for herselftwo gold fish ana
a canary.
Everybody found Christmas presents
save the family cat. He rubbed and
purred around, wishing to show that
he took part in the general rejoicing,an
wondered why he did not receive his
usual share of attention. He was
large, portly cat, in color gray, streaked
with black, with large yellow eyes and
English whiskers.
He sat there, occasionally stroking
his whiskers with his right paw, yet he
looked none of the rage which boiled
| inside. There was an occasional open
ing of the two yellow slit5 where his
eyes were /; 1t was sort Of lazy selfsatis-
fed, reflective closing and shutting as
if agreeable, soothing thoughts were
passing through his mind. If you had
watched him closely, however, you
would have seen that head once in
| while turn quickly In the direction OF
the canary bird and the goldfish, and
the two yellow orbs would widen to
their utmost and glare with all the fury
of his race. He was laying plans.
The Christmas dinner was over. The
turkey, the pie and the pudding made
everybody sleepy. Every one was glad
| when it was bed time; everybody went
early to bed.
And still the family cat seemingly
dozed by the smouldering sea coal fire,
The house became silent. Only the
nibbling of midnight mice was heard,
and the cracklings and settings which
come to all houses at night. Then the
family cat reused himself He was
different cat. He was no longer good
natured, fawning, caress begging cat,
as when with arched back and tall erect,
he rubbed against your ankles. He
looked mischief and business. His tail
had settled to the floor; his whiskers
were pointed at different angles; his
eyes were very wide open,
"So," said he, ,"I am to have no Christ
mas, am /? Well see. Do they take
me for fool ?'
The mice were heard nibbling in the
dark corners. "Nibble away to night
said the family cat. "They may eat
rats and mice in Paris-and cats, too
if they like; Pm after a game supper.
Let's see; what shall have-fsh or
fowl? Fish, of course. That always
comes first on the bill of fare. Where's
the soup, through? Hum-chowder I?
I'll drink my soup out Of the goldfish
basin. It's weak, but fresh."
The canary bird and the goldfish? 1t
was for them the family cat had been
laying his plans.
We will not describe the tragedy
When all was over the goldfish globe
lay shivered on the floor; the bird cage
was there also, upset and empty
Empty? No, not quite. In it against
the wires, lay the yellow head, torn
from the body. Not soul in the house
had awoke amid the racket-the cries
and flutterings of Tip, the crash OF glass,
the fall of the cage. Turkey and plum
pudding had brought deep slumber on
that household. This tho family cat
knew we'll to this he had trusted.
And there, by the dying, dull red
gleam Of the coal fire, was seen the room
just as the family had left 1.-THE din
ner table, the fruit dessert not removed,
the chairs irregularly huddled together
inanimately sociable-and in his ac
customed corner sat the family cat clean
ing his whiskers. BY him were scat
tered feathers and few fish bones.
"Well," said he, ~ feel refreshed.-
| This feels like Christmas. l think I'll
60 down to the club" The family cat
went out by door near the roof. All
arlstocratic cats veprivate doors made
for them.
Just as he was descending from the
roof to the yard, who should come along
but poor old Black Dick? Black Dick
was vagrant, pauper cat. He had
but one eye and snub tail. He lived
in miserable manner, begging from
other cats aud prowling about peoples
kitchens at night.
"Say," said Dick, ,"give me something
to eat, won't you? haven't had meal
to-day"
The family cat was about TO snuh
Black Dick, AS usual. Cats are hot gen
erous to their own kind. They save
much of their affection for the huma n
race.
Suddenly an idea came to the family
cat.
| Somebody" said he to himself
"must be punished for this scrape O.
mine. The majesty of the law must be
vindicated. The victim might as well
be Black Dick as any one else. Juriei
of late have been very lax about con
, victing. There must be a reaction soon
They organized a Vigilance Committed
the other day at Los Angeles. They
} must do the same here, and hang oi
shoot me without trial. In the regular
, courts there might not be so much Il
fear. But I'll fix it,"
"Black Dick" said the family cat
"there's my private door. You've beer
in my house before. You know th'
road to the dining room. Dinner still
on the table; cold leavings-turkey
chicken, wine, fresh fish, bloody canary
Scat 7"
Black Dick rushed for the privat
door. The family cat sneaked softl.
after him and turned bolt; Black Dicl
was prisoner inside.
There was next morning an execution