The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-01-28
The Charcoal Boys Cat.


out of the forest, and, after digging q
place in the ground, set the logs on end
in the shapeof an Indian wigwam; they
then covered the heap thickly, so that fire
would shoulder in it, and set it on fire {;
after several days OF slow burning, the
logs were changed into solid black char
coal; and charcoal you know is sold in
the markets and streets.
There were long rows of these heaps
where this boy worked. The men watch
ed them all dog while preparing new
heaps, and took turns guarding the fire in
them at night. Such workers arc called
charcoal burners.
Many time had the charcoal boy lain
stretched on the grass, with his hands and
n bunch ofpine boughs under his head lis
tening to the chat OF his companions, or TO
the signing noise of the great woods
around him. Frequently vivid pink
lights would flash out of the heaps, and
then they had 10 he covered more close
ly. a,.t
The charcoal boy had nobody to live in
his cabin with him but a cat, for his
home and his brothers and sister were far
down the valley. He was much like
Mother Goose's little dairyman, who lived
by himself until the rats and mice led him
such life that he had to go to London to
seek him wife!
However, the charcoal boy had cat, as
| said. When the cat first came to keep
house for him, she was forlorn and
wretched creature. Somebody had evil
IDENTITY carried her away from civilization
and turned her loose in the woods, She
was mere kitten, but so thin and shaggy
and wild-eyed, when she appeared and
rubbed herself mewing against the char
coal boys legs as he sat in the door eating
his supper that she looked aged and de-
crepit The boy might not have taken to
her kindly; but he was all alone in his
cabin, and even the voice of cat sounded
pleasantly. So he gave her part of his
supper, and let her lie purring round his
ieet all night. Before long she grew sleek
and spirited. She combed her coat care
fully and settled into q domestic cat. As
she sat in the door to welcome her master,
when he came home from his work, or as
she moved gracefully about his hut, she
was as comfortable puss as one could
wish to see.
The charcoal boy, to amusc 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.
lie connected this string ingenously with
his table, so that puss could at any time
pounce upon the table and with one sweep
Of her paw open or shut tie door. He also
hung small trapcze from one of the raf-
tiers, and taught the cat to whirl herself
over and over 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 performance in regular rou-
tine, at any time that he signalled 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 lie did not know
that he was training her to save him from
danger.
One night when the charcoal boy Law
down in his hut, he could scarcely sleep ;
for all the money which he had been sew
eral months earning was laid away 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
woods. Puss was curled around his feet
BY and by he heard steps outside his cab
in, and two shadows passed between his
little window and the moonlight. In an
instant he remembered that couple ofidle
vicious-lookiDg men had been lingering
for several days around the charcoal camp
and he felt sure they were now coming
into his cabin to rob him. He was no
coward, so he resolved to give them sim
gular reception. Slipping off his bed and
squeezing himself under it, he uttered
long "meow |" which puss understood
In an instant she answered with another
cat-note, and leaping upon the table, open
ed the door,
The two men were Just ready to force it
open, but they started back at finding it
thrown open by invisible hands. Howey-
er, the holder of the two stepped in, and
the other followed.
"Me, ow % continued the charcoal
boy.
Meow ~ answered puss springing to
her trapeze.
"There is nothing but cats in here 7"
whispered one man. ~ hear them
jump"
"Suike a light, will you ?" said the 9th
er. 81 can't see anything !"
So they struck light, and pcerine all
around cautiously, saw hut uninhabited
by any creature, save cat whirling madly
on trapeze over their heads A wicked.
ignorant man is easily terrified by an
unnatural sight; the two thieves quak-
ed.
"Ptz." signaled the charcoal boy.
"The witches are in this house ~ wills.
pered the men.
"Mc-ow!" replied the cat promptly obey
ing her masters signal, and leaping back
10 the table to shut the door.
If the two men felt misgivings when
the door opened to them of itself, they
were completely frightened when it
swung slowly to without hands to move
it!
The cat archcd her back and Missed at
them; but before she could utter the pro-
longed howl which expressed her dis
like, they both ran and clutch6d the
door-latch. and flew away from The cabin
as If the rags Of their shoes were little
wings.
AS for puss she simply stood still on the
table, waving her tail to and fro like vic
torious banner; while her master laughed
till the tears ran down his chceks.-The
Metropolitan.
In CAHooT.-Two white boys and
negro went possum hunting, the negro
furnishing the dogs. Next day the darkey
was asked how they came out. "Kocht
four possums." swell, what did you get 2"
Dunno, massa, yer see Yves gwine in ca
boot, and kocht four possums. Mars jim
took two, and Mars Mack two, and as we's