The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-09-17
The Cat with a Broke en- Tail.

The Cat with Broken Tail.
"She did cry-awful :"
"Oh, Jenny, how did it happen?"
"Jimmy shut the door on her tail"
81 didn't mean to, said Jimmy. 81
didn't know your old cat was there"
Mary and Jenny tried to fondle and
soothe the poor cat but she wouldn't
be comforted. Her poor, poor tail
How could it ever wave again? 1t was
surely broken by that cruel door.
"She can't waggle it," said. Jimmy,
with great sympathy.
"No!" cried Mary. "You broke it
for her."
81 didn't mean to. Perhaps it's not
broken-only pinched little"
"Oh it is; it is Poor thing. Do
see how it droops at the end.
anyway, it didn't come Off"
cts mercy it didn't, Jimmy Barnes.
How she would have looked if the piece
had come Off"
cit would have been awfuller still, F"
said Jenny, with great earnestness.
Meanwhile, the poor old cat lay on the
rug, moaning and mourning in true cat
language for her blighted tail. The two
girls bent over her with expressions of
the warmest interest and no doubt the
cat felt very much better for their kind
coincidence.
"It isn't the hurting, you know" said
Mary: "though that's bad enough. It's
the disgrace of the thing. How will she
ever hold up her head with broken tail
hanging down behind? She'll be so
mortified :"
"And the waggle won't run out to the
end" remarked Jimmy.
"No, poor thing; the 'spression will
only go part way"
"And the broken piece will hang
there, so limp and awkward, just like
my cuffs when the stiffening s all gone
And how it will look Oh, dear 1
think we ought to call the doctor"
Z" So we had. Why didn't we think of
it before? Run, Jimmy; run for Doctor
Green"
ooh guess he wouldn't come for
q cat.
He would if he knew how bad she
felt"
"Lets take her to him."
Lets. I'll get a basket said jim
my.
They all three concluded this would
be the best plan. Jimmy got the big
markell basket, and Mary ran for her hat,
while Jenny sat on the floor with the I'M
fortunate patient. She and the cat had
their things on, and could start right
away.
"Oh, Jimmy Barnes how stupid you
are We couldn't put her in that
| thing"
"Well, Mary, never mind. "Let's
| take her III our arms.
Shortly after this, Jimmy, Mary, and
Jenny appeared on the street in melan
choly procession. Jimmy went before
Jenny followed, with the poor, unfortu
rlate cat in her arms and Mary, al
sympathy, and with teary lashes, walked
beside her in the character Of nurse ano
general assistant.
Doctor Green opened the door himself
He was a young man, and very gooc
doctor, and when he saw the three chill
dren on the steps, he said politely:
"Good morning, children. What cal
l do for you 7"
"Oh Doctor Green, my cat has bro
Ken her tail, said Mary.
ct didn't quite come off," put il
Jimmy.
"Meow meowl' moaned the cat.
"The patient speaks for herself" sait
Doctor Green.
"Yes, sir she does. And, Doctor
don't you think you could fix it TO
her Z"
II Doctor Green had not been wis
man, he would have laughed. He di,
not for he was good surgeon and
very wise man, indeed.
1.-THE patient has my hearty sympa
thy. Bring her into my Office, and lie
me see her poor tail.
The children were surprised and ovel
joyed at this sudden turn in affairs, an
they marched into the little office, ca
and all.
ga cat with broken tail would be
truly pitiful object" said Doctor Greer
eyes, sir; and think how mortify
ing"
"The waggle would only go pai
! way" added Jimmy, with great solen
nifty.
D The Doctor was ready to cry wit
laughter, but he did not. He took til
unfortunate cat in his arms and exam
ined her injured tail. Puss seemed
. know that everything was all right, an
submitted TO the examination with gre,
moral courage. The children gathere
: round with the greatest interest, an
= then the doctor said, soberly:
! 1T is broken; but, perhaps, if v
\ put on a splint it will heal up again.
{ 81 hope so, said Mary, with sig
o of relief.
q "Let her rest on the floor" said IL
! Doctor /" and do you pat her gently al
@ keep her quiet while put on splint
f Mary and Jenny made the cat comfor
o able on the floor, and tried to soothe IN
feelings as much as possible. Jimm
meanwhile, stood in wide-eyed wond
II by the table, while the Doctor prepare
the splint First he took n sheet of vel