Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-06-17
Che family Circle.
Tassy'S Mistake.

| Frank Day Is Il Connecticut farmer son,
twelve years old, and he owns dog and
cat. The dogs name is Halifax, and the
cats name is Tassy. | do not know how
Tassy got her name. but Halifax was so
called because friend of Franks father
tshed him out of the sea at Halifax, n. s.,
when he was puppy, after some boys had
| flung him into the water with stone
around his neck.
! Halifax is Il mongrel, partly Newfound-
land, and of full-bred size, but with enough
other blood in him to make him mouse
colored instead of black.
Halifax has two peculiarities: first, he be-
comes drowsy after a frolic, and drops
down and takes nap, no matter where he
happens to be: second, while he lies asleep
the tip of his shaggy tail keeps moving.
One day in haying-time. Frank and his
dog had been rOmping together on the
new mown hay in the meadow, when one
of Halifax's drOwsy fits came on, and
down he lay, and was soon fast asleep
Frank playfully covered him up with hay
and went off to the barn, leaving him COM
petely concealed, except that weighing bit
of tail
Now Tassy is n great mOuser, and I'M
proves her time daily, rs a good cat should,
hunting far and near for game. Hardly
had Frank disappeared, leaving Halifax
asleep, when TaSsy made it in the line of
her business to visit the meadow where the
dog lay. With careful eye and pricked-up
ear, she moved softly across the mown field
little dreaming that her canine friend was
at that moment near by, taking nap under
the hay.
But Tassy had eat experience enough to
know that mice love just such hiding places
as hay fields afford. and seeing the pile of
hay that covered the dog, she stole slyly
that way Nearer and nearer, and still
more softly she crept.
Then she stepped and stretched her
neck to look and listen, All. what was
that just under the edge of the heap? 1t
moved and rustled about, and even showed
the color gifts fur among the loosc timothy.
Surely, if her eyes ever saw Il MOUSE they
saw one now,
Crouching down again, Tassy crawled
several feet nearer; then gathering herself.
and rapidly measuring the distance to
make sure of her aim, she vaulted into the
air. and dropped down all claws and teeth
upon her prey.
Never did eats expectation come to a
more surprising catastrophe Up rose the
pile ofhay as if a can of gunpowder had
burst underneath, and a big living mass
bounded out, giving utterance to Il deafen- |
ing howl
Poor Tassy did not wait to ascertain the
origin of this ferocious yelp, but with |
every hair on her body bristling. she dart
ed for the orchard as fast as her four feet /
could carry her. Her sole object in life |
Just then was to get up a tree.
p,,+ h. 4; h,
ment to herself. Halifax was rs much
put out as Tassy. To have something
come and bite his tail. Just as he was in
he savorest bliss of a beef-bone dream
was more than he could stand With his
eyes yet hardly open, failing to recognize
lis feline playmate in the bundle of furry
right before him, he gave chase across
he meadow bowling in his anger at every
imp.
Tassy reached the fence. and undertook
o scale it; but making an unlucky step
he faced about with loud sputter, and
out her back up to fight.
For Il second OF two, dog and cat stood
staring at each other. not three feet apart
Then whimsical look ofrecogniton came
'ver both their faces that said. as plainly
IS brute features can speak, We are sold.
1tilIaX topped MS ears. narrowed his +
,reat mouth to a kind of silly grin, and ,
ipped his head in queer, side-wise gaze I.
t the cat. Tassy drew in her claws, and !;
he stiff fur wilted upon her back and tail =,
they both realized the ridiculous /
oke and appreciated it. Exactly what i,
assed between them there at the fence no !,
ne knows; but certainly good nature was :
restored, and as they sauntered :
way, one could fancy that they agreed 6
'gether not to tell anybody how they were :,
,oled. And all the rest of the summer :
Halifax showed signs Of funny recollection q
very time he met the cat He would (
visit his head in quizical way. and seem ~
say: 6
Well, lass, how about that mouse over :,
lere in the meadow" -