Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-12-20

oether, ana the StaP1
their heads as if mourning the treas
ures of which they were despoiieu. j,
But those we're not the grea'e''
annoyances. .no
Every night her door-bell rang
moved by some mysterious power, ,,
II was OF no use to wait in the nall
onan the door suddenly and dive
ont There was never anything 70
he captured except a dirty piece u
cord.
one never-to-bc-forgotten morning
Mis-. Wing rose from her couch, pre-
nared her solitary breakfast, theh
called the cat to get hers.
For the first time in eight years
Tabby failed to answer.
She opened the wood-hoase ooo'
In fear and trembling.
There suspended from a beam py
one OF Miss Wing apron'strlng7
was poor Tabby, stone-dead.
pinned I'm the string was a dir'y
SCRAP Of paper, on which was VIII
ten:
CATERPLERs cOMPELMoNT''
For the first time in many years
Miss Wing sat down In low chali
threw her apron over her head anu
wept. -
willingly now would she have
held out the white flag II 1t wooid
only bring back poor Puss.
strang to say, from that very day
there was a cessation Of hostilities
Whether 1t was because they were
exhausted and needed rest to thihk
Of something new, or whether there
was really nothing left for them 10
do. Miss Wing could not tell.
As days passed on and no fresh
mischief was done, she gradually
gave up looking for 1t, and possessed
her soul la quietness.
And now, as she sat grim ana
solitary by her kitchen fire, excep'
for vague feeling Of bitterness as
she looked at Tabby's empty corner
she had almost forgotten Carterpii-
lar.
1t was quite n shock to her nerves,
therefore, when her door-beli was
rnng with violent jerk.
"That imp is at his mischiefagain,'
she exclaimed.
The ring was repeated, but she
paid no attention TO II; and finally n
shulling, irresolute step was heard
on the side stoop, followed by f.
knock on the Kitchen door.
"Come in" said Miss Wing, in a
most uninvitable manner.
The door was opened slowly, and
a colored man appeared.
SIS you Miss Wing?" he asked.
"nl be-
There's It poor little mig up in the
settlement, say he want to see you.
Folks calls him Caterpillar. Don't
know he name?"
"What does the little scamp want
Of me?"
"IIe mos gone, Miss. He done
got galIopin' consumption"
"Pity he hadn't galloped off some
where before he killed my cat. I'd
like to trOunce Eim," said she.
The man looked at her moment
and then said solemnly:
missy, dat chile done got someiin
on he mind. He axes for you dc
whole Dressed time; and If you's
n Christian woman you'll go dar,
Good night, Missy
Miss Wing shut the door, and sal
down again with her knitting,
But somehow the room was not al
pleasant as before. The fire didn't
burn MS clearly, and her chair seem.
ed very uncomfortable.
She couldn't compose her mind
Several very uncomfortable verses
Of Scripture would force themselves
upon her.
In tho little church over the way
she could hear them practising their
anthems for the morrow.
Clearly and distinctly out on the
frosty air their voices rang.
Over and over she heard them
sing:
Peace on earth good will to men
She knew very well that she fell
neither peace nor good will.
~ wish they would stop their
noise,n she said, rs she fidgetted
from her chair to the window and
back again to the stove.
Still they sang on, louder and
clearer, stirring Miss Wing up In ar
unaccountable manner.
Her better nature was having q
terrible struggle with the other; and
being much smaller, was In grea,
danger Of defeat.
At last she started from her chair
snatched her hood and blanke,
shawl, and started towards the door
Little better nature had conquered
Miss Wing hardly knew herself nj
she stepped out into the frosty night
1t WAS many years slHce she had Wis
tied the sick, or gone out upon an
errand Of mercy. Such charity al
she had given had been like throw.
ing bone to dog.
When she reached the tumble
down house where Carterpiilar'l
mother lived and knocked ut tn,
door, she heard a shrill voice pip.
up:
"Dar she am, nanny; mos know
OATS her.