Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-01
che family Circle.
The Cat with q Broken Tail.
BY CHARLES BERNARD.

She did cry-aWful!'
"Oh! Jenny. how did it happen?'
Jimmy shut the door on her tail?"
Il didn't mean to-" said Jimmy. Il
didn't know your 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"
Il didn't mean to- Perhaps it's not
broken-only pinched 4 little"
"Oh, it is. it is! Poor thing. Do see
how it droops at the end"
Anyway, it didn't come off"
Its mercy it didn't. Jimmy Barnes
How she would have looked if the piece
had come off,
1T would have been awfuller still, "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 condo
lence.
1T 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 behind9 She'll be SO morti-
tied.'
And the waggle won't run out to the
end,' remarked Jimmy.
No, poor thing; the 'spression will
only 60 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? think we ought
to call the DOCTOR
. SO we had Why didn't we think of it
before9 Run. Jimmy. run for Doctor
Green
"Oh. l guess he wouldn't come for a
eat
He would, if he knew how bad she
felt"
Lets take her to him.
). Let's I'll get basket said jim
my.
They all three concluded this would be
the best plan. Jimmy got a big market
basket, and Mary ran for her hat. while
Jenny sat on the floor with the unfortu-
nate patient She and the cat had their
things all 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 in 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-
nate cat in her arms and Mary, all SYM
pity and with teary lashes, walked beside
her in the character Of nurse and general
assistant.
Doctor Green opened the door himself
He was 4 young man and very good doc
tor, and when he saw the three children
on the steps he said, politely:
:" Good morning, children. What can
do for for you?'
"Oh. Doctor Green, my cat has broken
her tail" said Mary.
1t didn't quite come off, put in jim
my.
Meow. Mcow'' moaned the cat.
The patient speaks for herself said
Dr.. Green.
Yes. sir she does. And, Doctor, don
you think you could fix it for her?''
If DR.. Green had not been a wise man,
he would have laughed. He did not ; for
he was \ good surgeon and q very wise
man. indeed.
The patient has my hearty sympathy.
Bring her into my office and let me see her
| poor tail
The poor children We're surprised and
overjoved at this sudden turn in affairs
and they marched into the little office. cat
and all.
"A cat with Il broken tail would be 4
| truly pitful object said DR.. Green.
Yes, sir? and think how mortifving?'
The waggle would only 90 part way
added Jimmy, with great solemnitv.
/ The Doctor was ready to cry with laugh
ter; but he did not. He took the unfortu-
nate cat in his arms and examined her in
/ iured tail. Puss seemed to know that eve
~ thing was all right and submitted to the
examination with great moral courage
| The children gathered round with the
greatest interest; and then the Doctor said,
! soberly:
1T is broken; but, perhaps, if we put
on a spint it will heal up again
Il hope So said Mary, with 4 sigh of
relief.
Let her rest on the floor said the
Doctor; and do You pat her gently and
| http lltI IuiCl "HllC pun Ol a tIiHl
Mary and Jenny made the cat comforta-
feelings as much as possible. Jimmy,
the table. while the Doctor prepared the
spint First he took a sheet of very stiff
cloth from u drawer, and then with Il pair
of long shears he cut out piece about
four inches wide and ten idches long. The
| a., -
and stiff ike card borad. Then he took
two little rubber rings from box on his
desk and kneeled down on the floor by the
cat and gently Strengthened out her unfor-
tunate tail. The poor thing " meowed''
softly. but did not stir. The Doctor rolled
the cloth round the broken place, and then
with the tiny rubber rings he fastened it
securely, SO that the injured part would
keep in place till it healed up.
There said Doctor Green. Il think
that will answer" Nature will do the
rest"
The girls didn't know what this meant,
and Mary asked if they should put on any
| lniment.
mo. There is nothing to be done. It
will soon heal mp again. and perhaps be as
we'll us ever"
And the waggle will come out all
right?' said Jimmy.
YES said the Doctor, with a laugh.
THE expression will run out to the very
end"
"Oh. I'm SO glad to hear you say that"
said Mary. She does wave her tail beau
tifully sometimes-at least she used to do
So
"Shall we change her diet, Doctor?'
No. Let her have rs much milk as she
wants and keep her in the house for few
days"
$50 she shall not take cold in it9''
Yes
"Were very much obliged. Doctor"
said Mary, taking the cat in her arms.
"Oh, never work for thanks" said the
Doctor, with look of solemn gran
dcur.
You must Jay me for my trouble"
Il Have YOU any money, Jimmy?" said
Mary. i'll alarm.
Jimmy ti>hed 10 his pockets desperately
. No. Eve only ten cents and two glass
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