The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-26
A KNOWING CAT.
The Story That q North Carolina Paper

The Story That North Carolina Paper Tells.
The Wilmington IN. c. Journal, of
the 18th inst, has the following veraclous
narrative. Persons doubling the truth
of it can be shown the cat, and, II that
is not sufficient, the car also. IL says:
A friend tells us the story of cat, every
word of which can be unquestionably
established by an abundance of the most
reliable testimony. A part OF the story
our friend himself can vouch for.
In 1872 family of people named Da-
wants moved to Columbia from Fort
Mills, situated on the Columbia and
from Columbia. Previous to and at the
time OF the removal, the family owned
an unusually large Maltese cat, which
was the pet of each member OF the house.
hold, The cat not only knew his own
name. but seemed to know the name of
each one of the family, of which he prob
ably considered himself an honored
member.
When the removal to Columbia was
made, of course Tom went along, and
seemed to enjoy the ride on the railway
train beyond his limited powers OF ex-
preston. He was first in the lap of
mater fdmilias, then on the knees of the
mead OF the family; then he would cross
over to the seat occupied by his young
master or his young mistress, all the
while purring and curling MS long tail,
as much as to say, !"Isn't this fine tun.
this tast travelling, and we all Sc
snugly seated in warm car on
this cold December day" Arrived al
Columbia, Tom went along with the rest
of the family to the new domicile, follow
| ing readily when called to leave the car
and take his place In the carriage, and
| when the carriage stopped in front OIL
| the new home Tom entered it alongside OF
the first one who crossed the threshold
| still purring and curling his tail in the
ecstacy OF his delight at the change
| which was being made, and al the new
| scenes which it was then his privilege
| tor the first time to behold. And thus
Tom seemed contented and happy in his
new home for the space of ten days
The only change noticed in his conduct
was the fact that he was perhaps trif1e
more atfectionate in his manners to the
| rest of the household. But when tel
days had passed by Tom was missing
| He could nowhere be found. There was
a vacant place in the family circlt
that caused heartfelt sorrow until {
telegram was received from Fort Mills
bringing the intelligence that Tom haC
returned TO bis old haunts one hundred
miles away. He had taken passage on
freight train, and was safely back "a
Fort Mills, mourning the absence o
the rest OF the family. Only one freigh
car is switched off at Fort Mills, and il
this identical car Tom secreted himsel
before its departure from Columbia, an,
!. before it was locked up by the agent
so that when the car was unlocked OF
Its arrival at Fort Mills, out walke'
Tom. showing no evidence OF his bein
ashamed at having stolen a ride on tn
train, But when Tom went TO the depo
at Columbia to take passage, how did h
know precisely which was the car tina
was to be switched off at Fort Millsy .
: course he must nave noticed the diret
lions on the packages of freight, an
+ went with the freight marked Fo
Mills. No other way could he hav
known.