The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-18
THE STORY OF A CAT,
by IyNcr.u npapor

eoAo "hp Oblsy MOSS lived with the
parents, on farm in the western ceuntr
Mr: Moss was a hard working man. m
with the aid Of lf-grown bow To
Magee, did all the outdoor labor. Will
Mrs. Moss attended to the variozs dn Il;
of the household. "u "a
Mr. moss had been successful with b
!arm his barn and corn cribs were aiva
!uli, and his live stock was reckoned ri
best for miles around. He had also save
up considerable money, and was able
bestow fair sums in charity every YEA,
ne was good Catholic and q WORTHY man
,suu n nnn nStle family knew nothing this
YVES contrary to religion and morality.
One winter day Mr.. Moss came into I'll
kitchen and sat down by the prsat Ore
place ne spread out his hands to meet tb
Warmtn from the huge burning logs. AM
rs ne ala so, said to Mrs. Moss:
.,a Sear, came to propose that 70
this afternoon"
renisa If fear Art it's going to sno~ Patrick,
1hat's just the reason want to pa,
know ae vls w5at rs skaa the husband "Yo;
t now ION! long they last, and you know also tina
me Cheltens are very ill-provided for ,
great storm. 1 thought we might tax
with us little store of provisions. and
that Tom might drive behind MS with 8
!oao OF wood. We can spare both, vol
they
mlght save onr poor friends from starving
and freezing!"
GOOD Mrs. Moss needed no stronger ar.
guments, and hence, when Tom brough,
the great numbering carriage to the door
ana Followed, after hitching the horses
she had on her bonnet and cloak, and was
ready with the provisions.
Fa1rlck Moss put on his hat and great
coat, and, with a smile of satisfaction.
kissed Bessie and Daisy and stood wait.
&c ood- bye, darlings,n said Mrs. Moss. as
sne also kissed the children. "Be good
girls while we are away. We shall be
back shortly after dark"
~ And the worthy couple departed with
rom on their Grand of charity.
80, besse and Daisy were not afraid to be
dren. That their father and mother wish
ed them to remain and "keep house" was
sufficient for them. They had firm faith
That their parents would not quit them I'M
less their safety was assured, and they
knew that the Blessed Virgin watches over
all good girls and boys.
They had fine times playing that winter
AFTERNOON they. enjoyed themselves thor
oughly. They were not in the least lone.
~, and 1t did no matter to them that the
snow soon commenced to fall, and, there
AFTER, steadily increased in volume or
W.
like some old ogre, and whirled the white
flakes remorselessly about with eyer-erow-
ing violence.
AT last it began to grow dark, and Bes-
SIC sat down on the hearth before the glow
ing hre, and, taking little Daisy on her
lap, commenced, in her childish way, to
tell her stories about the saints and 10 artyrs.
they had sat thus for about half an hour,
when Bessie suddenly paused in the midst
OF one OF her variations, and, leaning to-
wards the door, listened attentively. Daisy
listened too. Both the girls then heard,
outside the house, q faint scratch, scratch, |
scratch-and afterwards feeble miew.
''lt's cat" cried Daisy. "Scat! scat !"
For an instant after this all was still,
and then the scratch, scratch, scratch was
renewed, and again came the feeble miew.
"Poor pussy J" cried Bessie, putting her |
sister aside and rising. "She must be wet |
and cold. I'll let her in"
ana suitlng action to the word she
threw open the door, when in craWled q |
half-frozen black cat. -.
Bessie closed the door, and taking the |
poor creature in her arms, brought her to
the fire.
In the reviving heat, the cat soon grew
dry and lively, and then she. jumped out
of Bessie's arms and began running about
the kitchen, mieWiDg pitifully.
"She's hungry-poor pussy !" said Bes-
sic. cpl get her some milk.
Ger on the floor, and filled it from a pitcher
that stood in a closet.
The cat Tapped the milk ravenously.
At this moment Mr.. and Mrs. Moss re-
turned. At glance they saw the charit-
able action of their children, and looked
at each other.
"May pussy stay with uSi" asked Bessie,
;aking her fathers hand.
"To be sure she may" said Mr.. Moss
'and guess she'll be glad to, too"
That night the pauper cat had q nice,
warm bed near the hearth, and when the
amily retired, she was in it aud purripg
In the morning, when Bessie and Daisy
,ame down to breakfast, Mrs. Moss looked
1t them with a smile, and said:
my dears, the pussy you brought in out
If the storm, last evening, liked you SO
veil that she has induced another member
If her family to call and see you"
The girls ran to the cats bed in the cor
Ter, and there, 10, nestled close beside her,
vas b single small kitten, but few hours {
Id.
The children laughed gleefally at the