Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-11-20
The Charcoal Boys Cat.

Wtho OuOC ~ IVY WIZ lNCh III
the heart of deep forest and burned
charcoal for living. The charcoal boy
had nobody to live in his cabin with him
but cat, for his home and his brothers
and sisters were far down the valley.
When the cat first came to keep his
house for him she was forlorn and
wretched creature. Somebody had evil
IDENTIFY carried her away from civilization
and turned her loose in the woods. She
was a mere kitten, but so thin and shag
gy and wild eyed, when she appeared
and rubbed herself mewing against the
charcoal boys legs as he sat in the door
eating his supper, that she looked aged
and decrepit. The boy might not have
taken to her kindly, but he was all alone
in the cabin, and even the voice of cat
sounded pleasantly. So he gave her
part of his supper and let her lie epurring
round his feet all night. Before long
she grew sleek and spirited. She comb
ed her coat carefully, and settled into
DelnB very dOmeStlc cat.
The charcoal boy, to amuse himself in
his idle hours, taught her tricks, which
she performed with such spirit that he
grew really fond of her. His door had
a wooden latch, which was lifted by
string. He connected this string inge-
niously with his table, SO that puss
could at any time pounce upon the
table and with one sweep of her paw
open or shut the door. He also hung a
small trapeze from one of the raftersa and
taught the cat to whirl herself over and
over on it. This was great fun for the
boy, and in time he trained the cat SO
perfectly and communicated with her SO
we'll by means of "me-ows," that she
went through her performancein in regu-
lar routine, at any time that he signaled
to her! Often, when the pine sticks
were dying down to ashes on the hearth,
and he stretched himself to sleep on his
hard bed, he put the cat through all her
tricks and laughed at her till his eyes
grew too sleepy to watch her. But he
did not know that he was training her to
save him from danger.
One night, when the charcoal boy lay
down in his hut, he could scarcely sleep;
for all the money which he had been sew
eral months earning was laid in smooth
bills under his head. Next day he
meant to go down to the valley and carry
it to his home. His mind was full of
what he should see and hear at home.
He lay awake with his hands under his
head until the late owls hooted in the
wood. Puss was curled around his feet.
By y-and-bye he heard steps outside his
cabin, and two shadows passed between
bis little window and the moonlight. In
an instant heremember ed that couple
of idle, vicious looking men had been
lingering for several days around the
charcoal camp, and he felt sure that they
were now coming into his cabin to rob
him. He was no coward, SO he resolved
to give them singular reception. Slip
ping off his bed ard squeezing himself
under it, he uttert long "me-ow =
which puss undert tood. In an instant
she answered with another cat-note,
and, leaping upon the table, opened the
| door.
The two men were just ready to force
it open, but they started back at finding
it thrown wide open by invisible hands
However, the bolder of the two stepped
in, and the other followed.
"Me-ow |" continued the charcoal
boy. Me-owi" answered puss, spring
ing to her trapeze.
"There's nothing but cats in here,
whispered one man. "I hear 'en
jump"
"Strike light, will you9" said th,
other. 81 can't see anything"
So they struck light, and, peeriae
all around cautiously, saw hut unin
habited by any creature, save cat whirl
ing madly on trapeze over their heads
A wicked, ignorant man is easily terri
fed by an unnatural sight the TIVE
thieves quaked. r.....
"Ptz |" signaled the charcoal boy.
"The witches are in the house 2
whispered the men.
"Me-ow !" replied the cat, promptl.
obeying her masters signal, and leapint
back to the table to shut the door.
If the two men felt misgivings whel
the door opened to them of itself, the.
were completely frightened when i
swung slowly to without hands to NOV
it. The cat arched her back and hisse'
at them; but before she uttered the pro
longed howl which expressed her dislike
they both ran and clutched the door
latch and flew away from the cabin as
the rags of their shoes were little wings
AS for puss, she stood still on the table
waving her tail to and fro like victor
ious banner, while her master laughe'
till the tears ran down his cheeks.
| U1aI